2024-25 Vancouver Canucks NHL Preview

Last September, the Vancouver Canucks were seen as a mess despite their talent.

They spent the 2022-23 season embarrassing Bruce Boudreau, trading Bo Horvat, and allowing nearly 300 goals. However, under new coach Rick Tocchet (20-12-4), they showed improvement in the second half of the season.

Tocchet and the Canucks were just heating up. With Quinn Hughes winning the Norris Trophy and Thatcher Demko’s 35 wins, Vancouver dominated the Pacific Division starting January. Even after losing Demko to injury and struggling against Nashville Predators in round one, J.T. Miller helped them lead 3-2 over Edmonton Oilers before falling short in Games 6 and 7. Fans might wonder if they can stay elite without low expectations next season .

Key Additions & Departures:

Additions:

• Derek Forbort (D)
• Danton Heinen (LW)
• Vincent Desharnais (D)
• Jake DeBrusk (LW)
• Kiefer Sherwood (RW)
• Jiri Patera (G)
• Daniel Sprong (RW)
• Kevin Lankinen (G)

Departures:

• Ilya Mikheyev (RW – Chi)
• Sam Lafferty (C – Buf)
• Nikita Zadorov (D – Bos)
• Ian Cole (D – UHC)
• Casey DeSmith (G – Dal)

Offense:

The Canucks finished sixth in scoring last season but were only ranked 13th in expected offense. After adding four wingers during offseason changes, they hope to be less reliant on efficiency for success in 2024–25.

Patrick Allvin and Jim Rutherford brought in new players who are eager to join J.T. Miller’s line on opening night. Miller’s $8-million salary now seems like a good deal; he averaged over 90 points per season with Vancouver. He and Brock Boeser scored 77 goals together last year despite facing tough opponents frequently.

On the second line, Elias Pettersson got reinforcements with newcomer Jake Debrusk joining him after signing a big contract. The team hopes Pettersson and Debrusk will develop chemistry similar to Miller and Boeser’s partnership.

Debrusk has potential but was inconsistent in Boston; his seven-year contract is a bet that Tocchet can help him perform well like Boeser did last year under his guidance. Further down the lineup, Dakota Joshua announced his testicular cancer diagnosis; until he’s back Nils Hoglander or Kiefer Sherwood could replace him temporarily.

Sherwood, Heinen, Sprong add depth at even strength while Tocchet needs more from his team on power plays—they finished twelfth despite having top players combined like Petterson-Miller-Boeser-Hughes unit.

Defense:

Despite perceptions that Demko carried an average defense alone—Vancouver’s GAA without him would have been ninth best NHL-wide—Tocchet’s structure worked well overall thanks partly due Selke-caliber centermen such as Miller & Pettersson alongside blue liners deserving credit too!

Hughes earned recognition individually winning Norris Trophy while Filip Hronek played into an eight-year contract role supporting Hughes development shouldn’t be understated either! Veterans Soucy & Myers complete top four defensive pairs showing composure reliability important factors contributing veteran resurgence (+16 career-high).

Can towering duo thrive main shutdown pair missing viable alternatives? Last year’s third-pairing Zadorov-Cole moved free agency leaving shot-blockers Forbort-Vinny Desharnais rounding out sheltered minutes beefing up middling penalty kill unit instead?

Goaltending:

Thatcher Demko is among world-best goalies when healthy though rare instances frustratingly frequent injuries mar brilliant seasons ending prematurely frustrating fans alike! Currently sidelined unknown injury early gut punch division title defense indications point Artur Silovs stepping cage until fully recovered proving focus matching athleticism ceiling opportunity knocking door wide open meanwhile Kevin Lankinen ready backup insurance policy needed!

Coaching:

Rick Tocchet led Canucks most points since ’11-’12 first series win front fans since ’11 Jack Adams Award reflects dominant outfit return relevance newfound commitment physicality responsibility grinding ugly games past playoff hurdles replicating chemistry achieved across lines figuring where newcomers fit lineup crucial next steps ahead!

Rookies:

At least one rookie Silovs gets minutes day one known postseason effort faults relief Demko Lankinen blows water early-season returning AHL possible Sniper Jonathan Lekerimakki could play role Joshua mends needing superstar preseason performance making team otherwise Phil di Giuseppe-Nils Aman hit waivers top prospect gaining more top-six minutes Abbotsford bit-part role big club same goes defensemen Elias “no not that one” Pettersson Kirill “copy-and-paste” Kudryavtsev looking great camp reluctant waiving extra righty Noah Juulsen strong ’23-’24 kids getting look left-handed shot hurt scenario unfolding differently perhaps?

Fans might think these rookies bring fresh energy to an already dynamic team

Burning Questions:

Should Hughes-Hronek split? Frustrating losing best partner years another way winning minutes captain off ice couldn’t playoffs still had Cole-Zadorov Hronek sidekick forever coupling puck-moving skills Soucy steady defense crafting effective pair featuring best player Hughes Myers dominant rare moments playing together outscoring opposition straight swap cards?

What’s Elias Pettersson ceiling? Spent lugging journeymen traded took long extending contract organization trade table limping final games nightmare year Swede finished goals points down-ballot Selke votes embattled version steady linemates million reasons sleep easy league red alert!

How hurt is Demko? High ankle sprain meniscus timetable seen injuries hundreds times popliteus muscle new vocabulary med school knee bad recovering months worse November better radio silence signing doesn’t scream confidence audition significant letting on?

PREDICTION

Canucks make playoffs easily weak Pacific Division losing key players damaging exodus turned opportunity recruiting talented wingers bulk headliners place dangerous proposition rest West defending title difficult proven doubting peril past months agree disagree thoughts?