The expectation for the Vancouver Canucks was to be a playoff team.
However, the reality was the Canucks are not a playoff team. After an all-in offseason by former General Manager Jim Benning, the Canucks are still a middle of the pack team. No tickets to the sweet 16 for the seventh time in the last decade.
The expectations varied among various NHL fans and pundits. Some saw the Canucks missing the playoffs while some saw them making it as a wild card team or through the Pacific. If you like data, models and analytics, none of them projected the Canucks to make the playoffs and predicted them to be more or less where they are now.
Certain players have exceeded expectations this season. J.T. Miller is the best example as he is in the top 15 in NHL scoring. Thatcher Demko has kept the Canucks in the race for as long as possible with his goaltending. Elias Pettersson looked to be a big disappointment in the first half of the season but has turned it around.
However, like anything in life, hockey is full of disappointments. Let’s go over three players that had a disappointing 2021-22 campaign.
Note: This was written before the Canucks game against the Seattle Kraken on Tuesday evening.