Vancouver Canucks 2023-24 NHL Season Preview
This team always seems like they are a mess. Maybe it’s media driven? The on-ice performance doesn’t exactly help matters when it comes to that. With Rick Tocchet now in charge, can he right the ship and get this team back in the playoffs? Let’s preview the team heading into the 2023-24 NHL Season.
Line Combination (Combinations Obtained via DailyFaceoff.com)
Not pictured are the two goalies Thatcher Demko and Casey DeSmith. The team was shaken up but having Elias Pettersson makes you feel optimistic about their chances. Vancouver was the 32nd ranked penalty kill team a season ago. The team needs to improve defensively to have a chance. That includes needing Thatcher Demko to stand on his head.
New Faces
There are a bunch of new faces to talk about. Let’s run through them as fast as we can. Carson Soucy and Ian Cole should help matters on the blue line. They can’t be worse than Oliver Ekman-Larsson, right?
The bottom six also got a shakeup. Sam Lafferty, Teddy Blueger, and Pius Suter were all brought in to fix that PK unit and provide better D. They have the make up to do it. It’s a matter of if they get the job done.
Three Players To Watch
- Elias Pettersson
Maybe the most underrated player in the league. Pettersson is in a contact year and he’s so damn good. Coming off a 102 point season, will we get an even better version of Petey this year? He’s not the best forechecking and playing along the wall but the dude is so skilled and has a wicked shot. A great player that makes this team worth watching.
- JT Miller
Outside of spending his free time at the pumpkin patch, Miller needs to be more poised this year. Miller didn’t give a ton of effort defensively last year but I think Tocchet may have gotten through to him. Miller has always been skilled offensively but isn’t exactly a two-way monster. Miller had 21 points in 15 games during the month of March when Tocchet put his stamp on the team. If the Canucks want to win and make the playoffs, they need the best version of Miller to do it.
- Quinn Hughes
Yes, I just did a post recently on how Hughes is the best puck moving defenseman in the league. I didn’t say best defenseman, but he’s a wizard passing the puck. Hughes basically plays half the game and never looks tired. He is the offense on the blue line. The rest of the guys are basically asked to defend while Hughes playmakes. He’s a fun player to watch. You can tell he’s related to Jack Hughes.
Biggest Riser
I’m not sure if this one counts but my answer here is Andrei Kuzmenko. The former KHL forward really popped in his first NHL season posting 39 goals a season ago. He’s tough to project heading into this year but if we get more of the same that’s a good thing for the Canucks. A new diet could maybe help matters.
Biggest Faller
Tyler Myers stinks. I don’t know how he got a $6 million AAV but he’s not worth that. He’s tough to watch and was a possible buyout candidate this Summer. Myers is in the final year of his contract so maybe there is some motivation to show up.
The Biggest Question Is…
Can Thatcher Demko stand on his head? He has to for this team to stay in it. Demko wasn’t healthy last year but also didn’t perform well when he was. He was awful in the first half of the year. On the season, Demko posted a .901 SV%. That’s his worst mark since his rookie year. I expect a serious bounceback year and if that happens, Vancouver can make the playoffs.
Verdict
I actually have the Canucks getting a wildcard spot this year. I like the additions they made to clean up the defense. If they accomplished that, the offense should be good enough to squeeze in.
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