Vancouver Canucks - Improve or Regress?

[CanadasTeam99]

Team was very good last year. Have great pieces everywhere. I think they regressed on D. Forwards seem more balanced for sure.

After the 11 game mark and hot streak, they scored about 3 more goals than CGY the rest of the year.

Automatic playoff team IMO.

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[Spawn]

As much as I hate to say it, still a solid playoff team even if they do have a bit of regression. I think somewhere just over a hundred points or so.

 

[Love]

Forwards are better IMO.

D is worse right now on paper but they have cap space. I think managements strategy is they’d rather trade a pick for a rental D instead of signing a similar calibre D to a 6x5 contract in free agency.

Goalies the same.

Probably a similar type of team as last season.

 

[TMLegend]

Fringe playoff team. They're gonna regress, hard.

 

[Pip]

I’d say they’re probably a better team which will balance out some of the expected regression. I Imagine they’ll end up in a similar-ish position in the regular season. Depends on the bounce back for Vegas but they are easily top 3 for the Pacific and definitely a strong playoff team.

 

[PavelBure10]

They will leave right off where they were last year. If healthy a very good team that could do some damage in the playoffs.

 

[Hoglander]

Probably about the same as last year, unless ravaged by injuries. The forwards are undoubtedly better/deeper. There are questions about the depth on defense, but they had a clear plan through free agency of having big bodied PK specialists as the 3rd pairing, which might work out pretty well. Might not move the puck particularly well, but will be able to lock things down and count on the forwards for the bulk of the offense.

 

[nerevarine]

I see them as the biggest regressor this year. Shocked if they make the playoffs.

 

[Regal]

On paper they’re better up front in the regular season and the back end only really lost regular season Zadorov who wasn’t as good as he was in the playoffs. While much was made of their PDO last year, their underlying numbers ended up putting them on the lower end of a top 10 team 5v5 and the PP has historically been strong despite a poor end to the year. The big question mark is health where they were pretty strong at last year outside of Demko. A major injury to Hughes could have a huge impact. Still, the division has gotten weaker, especially with Calgary’s moves, and I think they're clearly top 4 in the division with Edmonton, Vegas and LA. I’d be surprised if any of the other teams crack the top 3. They should have a good shot make the playoffs again.

 

[Xirik]

If Boeser's injury prone days are behind him then they should be fine.

 

[The Nuge]

The lineup is slightly worse, and they were really lucky last year. It’s hard to imagine they don’t regress, but they’ll still be a solid team

 

[centipede2233]

Canucks didn’t have demko, no boeser for game 7 and an injury that was easily plaguing EP and they got within a goal to force overtime to go to the conf final. They will be in the mix again if they can be healthy

 

[cc]

Deeper forwards and balanced lines. EP will need a bounce back

Great goaltending with injury concerns with an unproven backup

Questionable defensive depth but that applies to a number of teams.

Maybe a step back from their gaudy PDO start so unlikely to lead the division but should make the playoffs. Potentially a very dangerous playoff opponent

 

[thrillhous]

Other than Demko the Nucks suffered zero significant injuries, and even that injury didn’t happen until near the end of the season. Unlikely to be repeated obviously, but if Demko stays healthy and the other injuries aren’t too bad then they probably won’t regress much if at all.

 

[HockeyWooot]

Safe chance to be a Top 12 team with decent potential to be higher. Demko health and performance of Pettersson will dictate how high or low on this range they sit.

Trust Tocchet and the coaching staff, Hughes and the leadership group are not satisfied with how the season ended hungry to take another step and make the necessary adjustments to get there.

 

[LemonSauceD]

Much more balanced forward group, defense is alright to start the season but will surely be improved during the season.

If healthy (especially Demko), should be more or less the same. Pettersson also having better linemates and not being stuck with Mikheyev and his 1 goal in 60 games, Lafferty, Suter or whatever offensive blackhole beside him should be a vast improvement to the top 6 with Debrusk and any of Sprong/Heinen there to play with him.

 

[Grifter3511]

I see them as the biggest regressor this year. Shocked if they make the playoffs.

The Pacific stinks. You actually think there are 3 teams better than them?

 

[Killer Orcas]

Fringe playoff team. They're gonna regress, hard.

They are talking about Canucks here not Toronto .

I think they will regress early but get stronger as season goes on and end up with another 100 point season.

 

[x Tame Impala]

They better hope EP40 and Hronek turn into playoff players otherwise that’s almost $19m in underperforming cap space.

 

[Iwishihadaspacebar]

Slight regression in the regular season from 109 to about 100 points and still a good playoff team. The west still isn't that competitive for a playoff spot as the bad teams are not getting close to the playoffs.

 

[nergish]

Hronek and Hughes combine for 150ish points on the top pairing next season.

If that ain't a playoff team...

 

[Bounces R Way]

Depends a lot on Pettersson. Hard to say what you're going to get with him.

They probably finish with fewer points but I'd still say they should have a divisional spot locked up. Not sure that a 6-8pt difference really counts as actual meaningful regression in this loserpoint league. Can't count on another Norris season for Hughes, he'll be up there but those seasons are hard to repeat even for the best players.

 

[John Mandalorian]

They are talking about Canucks here not Toronto .

I think they will regress early but get stronger as season goes on and end up with another 100 point season.

You’ve just described the second fight between Rocky Balboa and Apollo Creed. It will be interesting to see when Vancouver switches back to southpaw.

 

[Canucks LB]

Forwards are better
D is worse
Goaltending the same

They will be in the playoffs

 

[thecupismine]

Expecting some regression. The shooting percentage bender got them started on the right foot, but that wasn’t sustainable. The forward group is much deeper and stronger at ES, and they’ve established some chemistry & understand how to play at their best within Tocchet’s system, which will make up for some of it (as it did in the second half last year when the shooting % regressed). Division outside of Edmonton looks a lot weaker too which could further help.

Some question marks on the back end remain, particularly with the puck moving outside of Hronek and Hughes.

Also highly unlikely the core players stay as injury free as last year. Expecting 100+ points with them poised to do damage in the playoffs, but beating out Edmonton again for tops in the division will be tough if they don’t start like hot garbage again.