Canucks: Possible nominations at the 2020 NHL Awards

Elias Pettersson was the lone Vancouver Canucks’ award winner last year, but the team could feature plenty of nominees at the 2020 ceremony.

The Vancouver Canucks have exceeded expectations through the first 43 games of the 2019-20 season, with a 23-16-4 record that has them in the running for the Pacific Division.

Though the season isn’t over yet, it’s safe to say that this is easily the most exciting and dynamic team that general manager Jim Benning has put together thus far. And if Vancouver can sustain this play over its final 39 games, they should lock down a playoff spot for the first time since 2015.

In taking a closer look at the Canucks this season, I came to realize that the team could have a strong number of representatives at the 2020 NHL Awards ceremony.

Last year, Elias Pettersson was the lone Canuck nominated for an award. He took home the Calder Trophy — handed to the league’s best rookie — after tallying 28 goals and 66 points. This took place a year after Brock Boeser was nominated for the award, losing it to New York Islanders star Mathew Barzal.

But this season, the Canucks could have up to four nominees at the 2020 NHL Awards.

For starters, Quinn Hughes (30 points) is practically a lock to be nominated for the Calder Trophy. Right now, I’d give the edge to Colorado Avalanche blueliner Cale Makar. But it’s a neck-and-neck race between the duo, and it’s hard to envision three rookies being nominated over Hughes.

The Jack Adams Award ofen goes to the head coach whose team surprised pundits the most. Well, head coach Travis Green should get a strong look if he guides Vancouver to the postseason. Just look around the league, how many teams have truly defied expectations more than the Canucks? Maybe the Arizona Coyotes, but that’s it.

And even the many critics of Benning can’t deny his impressive offseason work, which has Vancouver in the playoff race. Should the Canucks get in, Benning most certainly deserves some votes for the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award. I mean, the J.T. Miller trade has been a massive coup, and the Tyler Myers signing has been more impactful than most expected.

I recently argued that Jacob Markstrom deserves consideration for the Vezina Trophy. If he backstops the Canucks to a playoff spot, Markstrom might actually get nominated. You never know, although i’d argue that it’s still unlikely to happen.

Of course, nobody in the organization cares about winning individual awards. The Canucks are completely focused on trying to make the postseason for the first time in five years. But nobody will complain if the team garners a large number of representatives at the NHL Awards ceremony, either.