By: Brayden Fengler / November 27, 2024 The Canucks have played 21 games so far this year, which puts them over the 25% completion threshold for the 20242-25 NHL season. The Canucks have a 11-7-3 record placing them at 3rd in the Pacific, 6th in their conference and 11th across the league, at the time of this article going out of Wednesday evening.
The big picture is that the Canucks have done well considering the significant personnel hurdles they have had in front of them to start this year. But is “well” going to be good enough? Or do the Canucks need to seriously dig for something more this season before it’s too late.
This Time Last Year
The Canucks of November 2024 are unfortunately not quite as productive or well off as the Canucks of November 2023 were. This time last year, after 21 games played on the season the Canucks were more than double their current position up the league-wide standings.
Vancouver sat 4th across the whole NHL. They were also second in their division and conference, bested only by the Vegas Golden Knights in both categories. Plain and simple, this Canucks team is not quite getting off to as hot of a start.
The good news for the Canucks is that there are a million and one reasons why the team isn’t performing up to the quality of their 2023 selves. As mentioned, there have been serious personnel challenges this year.
Thatcher Demko, the team’s saviour descended from goalie heaven, has not yet stood between the pipes this season due to a lingering injury. Dakota Joshua was absent to start the year due to a wholly unpredictable cancer diagnosis.
Boeser has been out for weeks after an ugly hit to the head against the L.A. Kings, and J.T. Miller has taken a step away from the team indefinitely for personal reasons. Unfortunately for the Canucks the list does just keep going on and on as well.
All teams deal with loss, even loss of high-profile players, take Austin Matthews with Toronto, who has had to take an in-season trip to Germany to seek expert medical help. However, the level to which Vancouver has already seen injuries this season, and with almost exclusively just top-six players is staggering. However, these facts help provide context to their numbers when comparing them to last year.
The Canucks have 16 games left before the calendar flips to 2025, but right now they are in a respectable position for a team with playoff hopes.
Divisional Canucks Games So Far
The Canucks have faced off against divisional rivals six times this season. These games matter the most for playoff odds, and thankfully for Vancouver, they have fared well.
The Canucks lost to the Calgary Flames in overtime in their first game of the year, and significantly to the Oilers in a 3-7 contest more recently. However, they have come out on top against the San Jose Sharks, Anaheim Ducks, L.A. Kings and got revenge in their second game against the Calgary Flames, winning that contest..
Western Match-ups Before the Halfway Mark
The Canucks won’t play another Western Conference team until December 16th when they will host the Colorado Avalanche. They also won’t get a chance to reunite with the Edmonton Oilers before the halfway mark of the season or face off against the Kings or Flames again before that marker. But they will get their first crack at the divisional leaders in the Vegas Golden Knights before the 50% point of the season.
While Edmonton is the only Pacific Division team that the Canucks have played and have not yet beaten, the Oilers at this point sit below the Canucks in the standings. Whereas Vegas represents an important mountain for the Canucks to climb. Vegas is currently on a 3-game winning streak, with a 8-2-0 record at home, where the Canucks will be facing them.
The Golden Knights are a team without many struggles this year and winning against them will be tough. But, a win would make for a great early Christmas present for the Canucks when they face off on December 19th.
Beyond Vegas, before the 41-game mark, the Canucks will have two opportunities to grab wins from Seattle, and will also have the chance to take down San Jose and Calgary once more before that point in the season.
What To Do, What to Change
Over the first 20 games, the Canucks have a lot they should be proud of given the hurdles they have had to overcome. However, there is certainly still work to do to optimize this team for the dog days of the season that lay ahead. While playoff chances can’t be completely lost from November to January, trying to catch teams ahead in the standings becomes more difficult further into the season.
Of all the forwards who have played in each contest so far this season, Nils Hoglander has the worst record. Perhaps it’s time the Canucks look to find Hoglander a new home where he can thrive while giving the Canucks other pieces that could help their game now. Hoglander has just 2 goals and 5 points across 21 games, sitting with a .25 points per game percentage. A drop from his .53 points per game production he saw after 21 games last year.
The Canucks need help on defence and were reportedly eyeing 20-year-old Columbus Blue Jacket David Jiricek. Jiricek, or a player like him, would be a great piece for the Canucks to add now. Their production is likely to improve as Pettersson continues to ramp up and Boeser and eventually Miller are fully reintegrated into the roster.
But what needs addressing from the outside is more help on the blue line. David Jiricek specifically may not be the answer, but the Canucks are hunting for the right piece at the moment.
If the Canucks can maintain their offence, split time wisely between a returning Demko and a strong Kevin Lankinen, they should be positioned for a much stronger next quarter of the year. If they can do this in addition to adding personnel to their blueline, all the better.
A check-in, 25% through the season