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Vancouver Canucks Roundtable: Reviewing the 2015-16 Campaign

By Janik Beichler

Apr 25, 2015; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Vancouver Canucks players reacts to the goal by Calgary Flames left wing Jiri Hudler (not pictured) during the third period in game six of the first round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Saddledome. Calgary Flames won 7-4. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 25, 2015; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Vancouver Canucks players reacts to the goal by Calgary Flames left wing Jiri Hudler (not pictured) during the third period in game six of the first round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Saddledome. Calgary Flames won 7-4. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Vancouver Canucks’ 2015-16 campaign had lots to talk about, which is exactly what we will do.

As a Vancouver Canucks blog, we have to review the past season and glimpse into the future, even when there are dark times past and ahead. In our first off-season roundtable, we took a look at what happened in 2015-16 and what we can make of it.

Throughout the spring and summer months, we will discuss various offseason topics with our staff and share our thoughts with you. Ready? Set. Go.

1. The 2015-16 campaign was an up-and-down season for the Canucks — with more lows than highs. Still, there must’ve been something: what was your personal highlight of the season?

Sarah Laug

Yes, it’s true that the 2015-16 campaign was far from ideal but there were definitely memorable moments. Technically, I have two personal highlights.

One was most definitely Daniel Sedin scoring his franchise-leading goal versus the Boston Bruins… seriously, that could not have been timed better.

The second was a moment I saw at a game live when Bo Horvat scored a great goal all on his own effort late in the game to ensure victory against the Carolina Hurricanes. It was quite the goal from a player that has all the potential to be the next franchise leader down the line.

Gerald Morton

I’m guessing, as a Canucks blog, we have to ignore the whole John Scott All Star thing because that was delightful madness. My personal Canucks highlight is both cheap and petty, but oh so satisfying:

That’s right, the ol’ Brandon Prust spear to the groin of Brad Marchand. Prust’s time in Vancouver came to a fizzling end, but it was all worth it for that moment of catharsis.

Jeff Godley

After watching the exploits of Jacob Markstrom in Utica last season, during which he carried the Comets to the AHL finals, I was itching to see him in a Canucks uniform. After all, Jim Benning believed in Markstrom so firmly that he traded away fan favourite Eddie Lack, who had carried the team in the absence of Ryan Miller last year.

Due to injury I had to wait for a few weeks into the season before Markstrom made his first appearance. But he looked every bit the part of a No. 1 goaltender this year, particularly when Miller again suffered an injury and Markstrom was thrust into a starting role.

Markstrom has paid his dues and is ready to carry this team into the future. He showed outstanding positioning, and reads the game well. When he’s dialed in, he knows exactly where the puck is going to go and arrives there early, making difficult saves look routine. I loved watching Markstrom’s arrival this year.

David Joun

Although fighting is going away in hockey, I value old school hockey when played with proper respect. Remember the “line brawl”? The overtime win at home against the surging Florida Panthers (who were on a 12-game winning streak) must have been the best point in the season for me.

Perhaps one of the most entertaining games of the season with so many storylines for the Canucks. It was a Markstrom vs. Luongo showdown. It was Bobby Lou’s homecoming. Daniel Sedin showed us that he is still a force to be reckoned with.

And the Sedins became low-life, something I could write all day on. Seriously. Karma was real for Mr. Potvin, who was hit with some frozen beer from one of the Panthers fans.

Lastly, that brawl may have extended Derek Dorsett‘s career as a Canuck. Yes please, he still has a lot left on his contract.

Steve Boddy

My personal highlight would’ve for sure been the explosive chemistry between Sven Baertschi and Bo Horvat after the All Star Break. That made for some entertaining hockey to watch. Especially when the only duo we’ve had to watch for a long time now is the Sedins.

I’m also cautiously optimistic with how Horvat and Emerson Etem finished the year together. Was it five and six-game point streaks? Or six and seven? Either way, it looked like there was something there and the idea of a Baertschi-Horvat-Etem third line, to me, is an exciting idea.

Janik Beichler

Am I allowed to have a highlight that technically wasn’t even part of the season and is a negative highlight but just sums up the Canucks’ season so well? The 2016 Draft Lottery. Vancouver is the only club that dropped two spots compared to the pre-lottery order.

Looking for positives, I will probably have to agree with David and add that streak-breaking game against the Montreal Canadiens. If we can’t have winning streaks, you can’t have them either! Bam! Streaks over.

Next: 2. Good performance, bad performance?

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