So the Canucks were a product of PDO all this time? Or are they still a legitimate contender?

[PuckG]

Only an Oilers fan would argue that a goalie that put up an .898 in the playoffs was the reason for a team's success, most other franchises have higher standards than that.

He had his soft moments and kept them in it at times, but he doesn't bring anything near what Demko does.

"Blah Blah Oilers fans..."

He kept them in a number of games, regardless of which fan is saying it.

Demko wasn't there. He's still not here.

 

[Szechwan]

I think I did.lol I like him.. everyone likes him but he's not it.

Yeah fair enough. I actually remember watching the series last playoffs and thinking "alright, their 3rd pair is caught out, time to do some damage" and it never really happened. The guy knew his role in Edmonton really well and was pretty reliable defensively for much of the playoffs.

I think Allvin was hoping for that guy - a medium floor, low ceiling systems Dman that can PK. He had a rough first month, but seems to be settling in a bit lately.

Was be typically with Ceci?

 

[Czechboy]

Yeah fair enough. I actually remember watching the series last playoffs and thinking "alright, their 3rd pair is caught out, time to do some damage" and it never really happened. The guy knew his role in Edmonton really well and was pretty reliable defensively for much of the playoffs.

I think Allvin was hoping for that guy - a medium floor, low ceiling systems Dman that can PK. He had a rough first month, but seems to be settling in a bit lately.

Was be typically with Ceci?

No.. Ceci was with Nurse on 2nd pair.

He was with, I'm guessing here, Kulak the most. He was fine. And I really did like him as he seems cool. But no way I'd want him for more than 900K. And that doesn't mean I think he sucks. I just think 5/6 is his ceiling.

 

[Sergei Shirokov]

By points % the Canucks are currently 9th in the league, 5th in the conference, 2nd in the division. They've been doing this with key players MIA all year.

Quickly;
- Started without Joshua & Demko + a badly slumping Pettersson & DeBrusk
- Pettersson finds his game but then Boeser goes out, & then shortly after Miller
- Now DeBrusk finds his game & Boeser returns, but Hronek goes out along with Miller (and Demko)

They started kinda slow but despite the absences have put up a pretty good record at 13-7-4.

I think this team has more upside than last years team & can definitely contend, reason's being:

1) The forward group is much better this season, better depth & DeBrusk is another legit top 6 scorer they didn't have before

2) Lankinen is a much better goalie than what they had behind Demko last year, so they wont have to overplay Thatcher.

They'll need to make a big trade for a top 4 Dman, but they are starting to find their game even in this state.

I'm excited to see what they can do when healthy. I think they can play at just as high a level as they did last season, if not better with another good trade or 2.

 

[SeanMoneyHands]

They're badly missing Demko. But we are all surprised how well Silov and Lankenen have been holding the fort.

 

[notsocommonsense]

They're badly missing Demko. But we are all surprised how well Silov and Lankenen have been holding the fort.

Lankinen, not silovs. Silovs has been terrible

 

[AwesomeInTheory]

16 wins are foreign concepts to Canuck fans.

As is archaeology. I'm sure the cave paintings are fascinating.

Last year even the most optimistic Canucks fan wouldn't have called a division title. Nobody was predicting that huge of a step forward. Like most teams their true worth will be revealed in the spring.

You're right, it was a surprise last season. But that doesn't change the fact that certain Oilers fans who spent all last season malding over the Canucks can't accept that Vancouver has a good team, considering they've continued their solid play.

Not expecting a huge leap forward is immaterial to evaluating the team 1.25 lengths of a season later.

Surprisingly, the loss of Sam Lafferty hasn't turned the Canucks into a pumpkin. I'm as shocked as you are, I know.

Since you were the one who made a big deal about injuries taking their toll on the Canucks this season it would stand to reason that it would apply to last year's playoffs, too, yeah? Or are we going to handwave that away, too?

 

[AwesomeInTheory]

Damn y'all defensive as hell.

If only their players put forth 10% of what we're seeing here, they'd be unstoppable.

 

[Hoglander]

Only an Oilers fan would argue that a goalie that put up an .898 in the playoffs was the reason for a team's success, most other franchises have higher standards than that.

He had his soft moments and kept them in it at times, but he doesn't bring anything near what Demko does.

The guy is delusional. Apparently an allstar goalie isn't a massive upgrade on a 3rd string inexperienced goalie with an .898

Laughable

 

[Shareefruck]

Hughes puts Hronek in his backpack every night. He's elite and can carry somebody you put out with him, the rest of their D is awful imo.

Err.. Hronek has been consistently better defensively than Quinn Hughes this season (and he hasn't looked worse when away from that pairing). +/- can sometimes be misleading, but him being over double every other player on the team so far has been representative of his superior play (him being +14 with everyone else being under +6).

 

[PuckG]

The guy is delusional. Apparently an allstar goalie isn't a massive upgrade on a 3rd string inexperienced goalie with an .898

Laughable

It is a clear upgrade - assuming he returns completely healthy and in form - but you’re deluded to think he comes back in that fashion given how many long term injuries Demko has dealt with. He is still not back. Is your expectation that he comes in and posts 0.910 immediately in the post season to give you your hypothetical Cup win last season?

It’s an upgrade the same way a healthy McDavid, Draisaitl and Kane are a massive upgrade compared to them with hernias, broken ribs etc.

The only thing laughable is your inability to apply your logic both ways. Talk about delusional…

 

[Hoglander]

It is a clear upgrade - assuming he returns completely healthy and in form - but you’re deluded to think he comes back in that fashion given how many long term injuries Demko has dealt with. He is still not back. Is your expectation that he comes in and posts 0.910 immediately in the post season to give you your hypothetical Cup win last season?

It’s an upgrade the same way a healthy McDavid, Draisaitl and Kane are a massive upgrade compared to them with hernias, broken ribs etc.

The only thing laughable is your inability to apply your logic both ways. Talk about delusional…

Lol, Canucks had top players playing hurt too.

The goalie situation is different. Clearly you can't comprehend that, and you just keep demonstrating it.

Embarrassing dude...

 

[Coffey]

Lol, Canucks had top players playing hurt too.

Did Hughes have a broken spine or broken spirit in those playoffs?

 

[Grifter3511]

Canucks

2024 Forwards > 2023 Forwards
2024 Defensemen < 2023 Defensemen
Goaltending remains to be seen based on if/when Demko returns and if he can return to Vezina contender level but currently, while suprisingly solid when Lankinen is in net 2024 Goaltending < 2023 Goaltending

 

[PuckG]

Lol, Canucks had top players playing hurt too.

The goalie situation is different. Clearly you can't comprehend that, and you just keep demonstrating it.

Embarrassing dude...

Different because it’s the only thing that justifies you’re ridiculous “Canucks win the cup with Demko” rhetoric…

Give it a break or at least be consistent with your arguments. That’s what’s embarrassing. Once again, back to reality…