Canucks: 10 things to be proud of and grateful for this year
The Vancouver Canucks’ 50th season was exciting, gut-wrenching and above all else, it was entertaining. Here are 10 things to be proud of this season.
COVID-19 is soon to be the proverbial “knife to the heart” of what was turning out to be a very moving and meaningful season for the Vancouver Canucks. NHL pause or not, the dazzling young core met with a new supporting cast this season and together they managed to overcome unprecedented obstacles and ultimately reignite the fanbase with hope for a better future.
The team that Jim Benning constructed for the 2019-20 season was by far his best and most complete work he’s done for the organization over the course of his six-year tenure as Canucks’ GM. In this past offseason, Benning highlighted several weak spots in the lineup from 2018-19, vowed to make drastic changes and with a very busy “to-do” list he managed to follow through with said changes.
Benning made several offseason moves that included trades involving some risk, as well as signing a big fish or two in free agency. Surprisingly, Benning’s offseason moves worked out favourably well, and although the team’s promise of playoff hockey is still yet to be determined, the Canucks’ management got something right and delivered a very exciting team that overcame a lot of challenges, proved the doubters wrong and officially put Vancouver back on the map. The new-look Canucks are a serious threat moving forward and the team deserves credit for what they were able to achieve this season. Here are 10 things to be proud of and/or grateful for.
1. Vancouver had a top-five power play
It truly is crazy what a couple of new faces on the power play can do. Defenceman Quinn Hughes and forward, J.T. Miller joined the Canucks’ PP1 this season and together they turned a mediocre special teams unit from a year ago, into a legitimate top-five threat in the NHL.
It’s tough to say who was the biggest contributor while the team found themselves up a man. Both new additions to the power play finished tied at 25 for the team lead in man-advantage points, but the Canucks have never before possessed a power play quarterback as special and powerful as the 20-year-old Hughes.
2. The Canucks held the best home record in the Pacific Division
The big, bad Pacific Division was a lion’s den this season. Easily the toughest, most equal division of the four this year and the Canucks needed to be a strong team at home in order to maintain pace with the rest of the division.
Through 69 games this season, Vancouver collected a mouth-watering 22-9-4 record at Rogers Arena, which was enough for the fifth-best home record across the league, nipping at the heels of powerhouse juggernaut’s like the Pittsburgh Penguins, St. Louis Blues and Boston Bruins.
Not only were the Canucks able to beat some of the league’s best at home, but they played their best hockey in front of their fans this season and delivered a very exciting and entertaining 50th year.
3. Canucks faceoff win percentage was 2nd in the league
Bo Horvat, Jay Beagle and Miller combined for the league’s deadliest trio of faceoff warriors. All three players sat inside the league’s top-10, meaning no matter how bad the rest of their team was at winning draws, it still wasn’t going to stop the Canucks from dominating the faceoff circle and claiming the league’s second-best faceoff numbers.
In a league where possession is everything (especially during 3-on-3 OT), with a little thanks to face-off legend and team staff member Manny Malhotra, the Canucks battled hard every time the puck was dropped and managed to build a strong 54% win rate over the course of 69 games.
4. Three Canucks made the 2020 All-Star Game
For the first time since the NHL went to a 3-on-3 ASG format, the Canucks sent three participants. Not only that but by sending a center, defenceman and goalie, Vancouver was the only team to feature a major All-Star at each position.
Another milestone for the Canucks was the fact that Hughes’ appearance made it three straight years that the Canucks were represented by a team rookie. Elias Pettersson was last year’s rookie making back-to-back appearances and Brock Boeser was the rookie of 2018.
Pettersson, Hughes and Jacob Markstrom were well-deserved of the special honour and it was definitely something for them to be proud of, but for the fans of the Canucks to be proud of as well. The future is bright at each position for the Canucks.
5. 12 Canucks were having career seasons
The 2019-20 Canucks were an offensive threat who often managed to find the back of the net at will. With a young core on the rise and an all-new supporting cast filled with experience, coach Travis Green got the best of his players and everyone knew their role on the team.
More from Editorials
- Which team won the Bo Horvat trade?
- What to expect from newcomers Anthony Beauvillier, Aatu Räty
- Back to the future: How the skate uniforms became a regular Canucks’ feature night
- Canucks kick off 2023 with disappointing 6-2 loss to Islanders
- 2nd period penalty trouble sinks Canucks in 4-2 loss against Winnipeg
Miller exploded offensively leading the team with 72 points through 69 contests. Pettersson was not too far behind him, tying his previous best of 66 but doing it in three fewer games. Their P/GP totals were respectively a (1.07) and (0.97). That’s career numbers for both of the team’s two best forwards.
Tyler Toffoli (1.00), Boeser (0.79), Hughes (0.78), Horvat (0.77), Tanner Pearson (0.65), Adam Gaudette (0.56), Josh Leivo (0.53), Jake Virtanen (0.52), Zack MacEwen (0.35) and Chris Tanev (0.29) also all had career digits in points per games played. That’s 12 Canucks with career-high numbers, what an achievement!
6. Canucks had a reliable goaltending duo
Markstrom was arguably the team MVP. His NHL best, eight stolen wins launched him head and shoulders above all starters and proved to be a mindblowing stat that carried the Canucks deep into their playoff quest. Markstrom earned a well-deserved ASG appearance labelling himself a true goalie and polished it off posting a career-best, (0.918%) save percentage.
Thatcher Demko was everything you needed in a rookie backup. He further improved his game, gained valuable NHL experience and proved he had the jam to hold down the fort in Markstrom’s absence. This duo was a reliable combination from October to season’s end no matter who was starting in goal.
7. Hughes’ rookie season was out of this world
As a Vancouver Canucks fan, I can truly say that up until the arrival of Hughes, I had no idea what a real defender can bring to a team. Hughes’ rookie season was fascinating, mesmerizing, magical and exciting all at the same time. The kid was a power play specialist, a puck possession magician and a true franchise difference-maker.
Hughes didn’t let anything get in his way. It didn’t matter the goal, or what the assignment was, Huggy-Bear passed with flying colours showing heaps of experience well beyond his years all along the way. His 53 points were third-best on the team, first overall amongst his defensive teammates and tied for fourth across the league when it comes to the blueline. If not a Norris finalist, he’s most definitely a Calder Trophy favourite.
8. Captain Horvat was successful
It was a long time coming for Horvat to finally be named captain of the Vancouver Canucks. The 14th player to receive the honour was just 24-years-old at the time but did a fine job in his first season with the captaincy.
It was a year filled with challenges, but Horvat managed to carry his fair share of the problems. One of those issues was carrying around the old and worn Loui Eriksson. Stapled to Bo’s wing for the majority of the year, Horvat never complained or pouted. He pushed Eriksson towards his defensive game and managed to create a little bit of life from a once unmotived player.
Horvat was a faceoff beast, matched up night after night against the league’s stiffest competition, scored the most power play goals on the team and managed to put up big numbers with Eriksson anchored to the second line. What more can you ask for from the captain?
9. Canucks scored most goals in their division
With the roster stacked and the depth chart loaded, Travis Green shed the defensive mindset and attacked this season with the plan of rolling out three offensive lines that can hit you with the right mix of speed, physicality and scoring ability. Gone was the top-six/bottom-six regime, and in was a deadly top-nine who knew how to play together and put the puck in the net.
The Lotto-line was one of this season’s most dominant trios across the league and with the team’s middle-six all pacing above half a point per game, the Canucks scored a division-best 224 goals. Not only did they pot more goals than any other team in their division, but they were also good enough for 9th best out of 31. That’s a big jump in goals from last season. The 2019-20 Canucks could score.
10. Canucks proved the future is here.
Most importantly, Jim Benning constructed a winning team that proved to be very capable of achieving the goals they set out for themselves. It was never going to be a year of Stanley Cup celebration for the Canucks (at least not realistically), but they did, in fact, win this season.
A lot of things went very well for Vancouver this year and they made huge leaps forwards in a lot of different aspects of the game. The Canucks’ core expanded past five players and proved to have a game-changing player at each major position.
Next. Canucks: Top candidate for a compliance buyout. dark
The core grew together, but the supporting cast grew with them too. This year was a successful one with many memories, accomplishments and things to be proud of. Vancouver came a very long way this season and the team’s chemistry, love for the game and for each other took massive strides in the right direction.