Vancouver Canucks: 5 bold predictions for 2019-20

The Vancouver Canucks are about to kick off their 50th season. Here are five bold predictions for how 2019-20 will play out.

Vancouver Canucks general manager Jim Benning has the west coast buzzing after an adventurous offseason that saw him go all-in — both in the trade and free agent markets.

The Canucks were doing a mix of retooling/rebuilding (or whatever you really want to call it), over Benning’s first four seasons. But the team put up 81 points last season, and it was enough for him to decide that it was time to try and build a playoff club for 2019-20.

Vancouver has made little bits of progress over the last two seasons, but realistically, this team isn’t ready to compete for a Stanley Cup yet. That said, the playoffs certainly aren’t out of the question — especially with the Pacific Division weaker than ever before since 2013-14 realignment. In short, the Canucks stand their best chance in five years to lock down a top-three spot in the division.

As we prepare for the start of what should be an exciting 2019-20 season, it’s a good time to make some predictions on how the Canucks’ 50th year will play out.

Let me be the first to say that I tend to be way off when it comes to making “bold predictions.” I’ll be happy if I get two of these right. But nobody wants to hear “obvious” predictions, right? It’s more enticing when you try to think big and bold.

And so, I present to you five (and somewhat to-be-taken-seriously) bold predictions for the upcoming 2019-20 season. Enjoy, and please remind me in six months if I did either really we or really bad. I’ll settle for somewhere in the middle, too.

Let’s get to it!