Canucks: 3 players that exceeded 2019-20 expectations

A healthy handful of Vancouver Canucks talent managed to put up big numbers this year, but there were three players that blew expectations out of the water. 

The Vancouver Canucks are well aware that with each passing season, the battle for the Stanley Cup gets a little more intense. With ownership and management gearing their fanbase up for a solid season of post-season promises, this season was going to be no different.

Like all seasons before this one, they knew very well that not only would the team’s star players need to be great, but the teamwork would need to be at an all-time high and a few skaters would be pressured to exceed their expectations. Would Elias Pettersson suffer a sophomore slump? Was Quinn Hughes going to be able to play a full season? What about J.T Miller? Is he going to be good enough for the team considering that his services cost a first and third-round pick?

A lot was riding on the Canucks’ 50th season in the National Hockey League and in order for the Canucks to consider it a successful year, almost everything needed to go perfectly. And now looking back, a lot of things did go right for the Canucks, and a lot of players stepped up to deliver quite the entertaining year of hockey.  Let’s break down three players that completely demolished the expectations set out before them this season.

Quinn Hughes

Not enough good things can be said about the 20-year-old defenceman. Hughes came into the 2019-20 campaign with five NHL games under his belt and a lot of expectations from the Canucks fanbase. He was never supposed to be available when the Canucks walked up to the podium at the 2018 NHL Draft, but he fell to seventh overall and Vancouver snagged arguably the biggest steal of the year.

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Expectations for the rookie defender were higher than any other defenceman who had ever been drafted to the Pacific west coast. A lot of professionals had him pegged to be a 35-40 point guy who would slow down after the halfway point of the season. Who could complain about that? Not any Canucks fan, that’s for sure. It had been seasons since the Canucks had a 40 point defender. So just how right were they?

Hughes was an absolute freak of nature. He believed in himself all season, but what they got out of him was much more than anyone could have possibly predicted and it’s a shame he likely won’t get the proper opportunity to complete the 82-game grind. He was hands down the best blueliner this franchise has ever possessed.

The Orlando, Florida native put up 53 points (eight goals, 45 assists) in 68 games, he was tied for the team lead in power play points (25), he was voted into the 2020 All-Star Weekend as well as leading all NHL rookies in scoring. The kid was absolutely incredible this season. His future is very, very bright for him in Vancouver.

J.T. Miller

Do you remember when everyone was completely losing their marbles over the fact that the Canucks’ GM Jim Benning traded away a first-round pick to the Tampa Bay Lightning in a package deal for a 47-point winger named J.T. Miller? The situation seems completely nuts now doesn’t it?

Miller came to Vancouver and totally changed everything. Playing third-line minutes, he was expected to be a solid option in the top-six and a permanent fixture next to Bo Horvat. Miller seemed like a nice fit who could hopefully find his way to back 50 points playing with the right guys. How did that work out for him?

Miller was a shadow of his former self but in a good way. He finally turned the page and became the 200-foot player Benning envisioned him to be. He was an instant top-six impact, made his way to the top line and eventually went on to lead the team in points with 72 (27 goals, 45 assists) through 69 games played.

His leadership skills were on another level and I would be shocked if he’s not wearing a letter on his sweater next season. He could very well be the captain of this team. I’m not sure what exactly management was expecting to get from him after that trade, but the Canucks nailed it and are getting far more than they ever thought possible. What an absolute steal of a trade. Miller is exceeding all expectations in Vancouver.