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Canucks: The veterans will need to step up in series vs. Wild

By Alex Hoegler

SAINT PAUL, MN - JANUARY 12: Tyler Myers #57 of the Vancouver Canucks defends Mikko Koivu #9 of the Minnesota Wild during the game at the Xcel Energy Center on January 12, 2020 in Saint Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images)
SAINT PAUL, MN - JANUARY 12: Tyler Myers #57 of the Vancouver Canucks defends Mikko Koivu #9 of the Minnesota Wild during the game at the Xcel Energy Center on January 12, 2020 in Saint Paul, Minnesota. (Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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The Vancouver Canucks have plenty of seasoned veterans on the roster, and they’ll need those guys to step up against the Minnesota Wild.

When the 2019-20 NHL season resumes, the Vancouver Canucks will get the opportunity to compete for the Stanley Cup for the first time since the 2014-15 season.

The first order of business will be a best-of-five qualifying round matchup against the Minnesota Wild. The winner will move to the round of 16, where they’ll either face the Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, St. Louis Blues or Vegas Golden Knights.

Key players such as Brock Boeser, Elias Pettersson, Quinn Hughes, Adam Gaudette, Jake Virtanen and Jacob Markstrom have zero playoff experience. Captain Bo Horvat has only suited up for six postseason games, and that was five years ago.

Experience is pivotal for any team going into the postseason. The Chicago Blackhawks were wise to bring in seasoned veterans like Brian Campbell, Brad Richards and Marian Hossa to complement their star-studded young core during the dynastic run.

The Pittsburgh Penguins added the likes of Bill Guerin and Chris Kunitz to help the core led by Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin for their 2008-09 Stanley Cup run.

Canucks general manager Jim Benning has done his part in bringing experienced veterans to help the team. Tyler Toffoli, Tanner Pearson (both in 2014 with the Los Angeles Kings) and Jay Beagle (2018 with the Washington Capitals) have Stanley Cup championship rings.

2019 offseason acquisition J.T. Miller has 61 games of postseason experience on his resume. He was on the 2013-14 New York Rangers team that reached the Stanley Cup Final. Alexander Edler has played 65 playoff games, and of course, he was on the 2010-11 Vancouver team that fell one game short of winning it all.

As you can see, the Canucks are loaded with experienced veterans — with three of them carrying Stanley Cup rings.

Simply put, it’s on the likes of Toffoli, Pearson, Beagle, Miller, Edler, Antoine Roussel and Loui Eriksson to lead the young Canucks through their Stanley Cup quest.

There will naturally be some serves for the younger players who haven’t suited up in a playoff game before. This is where the veterans need to step up and lead the way.

Take a look at any recent Stanley Cup champion. They all brought in a handful of experienced players to help out the young stars. Would they have emerged victorious if their rosters were full of playoff-deprived players? Highly unlikely.

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Head coach Travis Green will continue to rely on his top six as well as the likes of Hughes and Markstrom to take over the games. The more experienced players, meanwhile, will be tasked with calming the nerves, setting the tone in the locker room and leading the way as the Canucks prepare for their first playoff run in five years.

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