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Canucks: Playoff success and the benefits of playing in the bubble

By Rick Warman

EDMONTON, ALBERTA - AUGUST 14: The Vancouver Canucks celebrate their overtime victory over the St. Louis Blues in Game Two of the Western Conference First Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on August 14, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The Canucks defeated the Blues 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images)
EDMONTON, ALBERTA - AUGUST 14: The Vancouver Canucks celebrate their overtime victory over the St. Louis Blues in Game Two of the Western Conference First Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on August 14, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The Canucks defeated the Blues 4-3 in overtime. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images) /
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The continued success of the Vancouver Canucks in this year’s playoffs will have many future benefits.

Many fans of the Vancouver Canucks, and media members alike, have often criticized the moves of general manager Jim Benning regarding the rebuild. The signing of veterans to hefty long-term contracts and the ongoing salary cap concerns have drawn the ire of most fans.

However, this year’s early Canucks playoff success may become the model for other franchises that continue to struggle despite numerous high draft picks. A mix of highly skilled core players and savvy veterans with playoff experience that the young inexperienced players can lean on for advice. Although much of the team’s success comes from the play of the younger players, the work ethic and efforts of the veterans haven’t gone unnoticed.

It’s no secret that the Canucks desperately need to shed salary in the off-season, and a long playoff run could make some of those veteran contracts more desirable than they previously appeared.

Bubble benefits

Many Canucks players faced a tremendous amount of grief this past season. Jacob Markstrom, Troy Stecher, and Zack MacEwen all lost their fathers, and always being surrounded by teammates is helpful. This team appears to be very close, and being isolated away from other distractions seems to have them extremely focused on the task. A team like the Canucks may also benefit from empty stands, without the crowd noise that could unnerve a young player.

Prospects, even those that are unlikely to see game action, such as Kole Lind, Brogan Rafferty, and Jalen Chatfield, should benefit from the experience of an up-close view of the proceedings. Such exposure may increase their desire to be a part of the team as soon as possible, and their off-season training regiment may intensify as a result.

Core players gaining experience

Finding out what it takes to have playoff success is key to players such as Bo Horvat, Elias Pettersson, Quinn Hughes, and Brock Boeser. This season is the first taste of the NHL playoffs for all but Horvat, and the experience they gain will prove valuable in the coming years.

Next. The Canuck Way Mailbag: Horvat, Hughes, Pearson, more. dark

Regardless of the outcome of the series versus the St. Louis Blues, the confidence of the young core players should be extremely high.

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