5 Reasons Why The Vancouver Canucks Are Not As Bad As You Think

The Vancouver Canucks have been going through a tough time recently, but there is hope. I am confident that this team has a bright future, and they will not be as bad as many people think.

The Vancouver Canucks suck...and this isn't anything new. In a 30 team league, the Canucks have finished as a bottom-5 team in 3 of the past 4 years, and are currently 4th worst this season. On the surface, things do not appear to be getting better. However, the 2017/2018 Canucks have something that their predecessors did not: hope. Here's why you should be excited to be a fan of the Vancouver Canucks, despite their current on-ice struggles.

1.) The Kids Are Alright

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The team may suck, but their young players sure don’t. Super rookie Brock Boeser is leading the team in scoring by a longshot, and is a legitimate threat to score 40 goals this season. He already has one of the best shots in the league, and has no issue finding the space to use it. He is complimented perfectly by Bo Horvat, who has the power and drive to put the team on his back at times, and he has continued his trend of improving every year he has been in the league in his young career.

2.) Swedish Stars

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No, I’m not talking about the Sedins. While the two former scoring champs have had good years, their best in Vancouver is behind them. Their final gift to the city however, could be mentoring the next wave of young Swedish scorers: recent 5th overall pick Elias Pettersson and Allsvenskan sniper Jonathan Dahlén. Both youngsters are dynamic offensive weapons, and they should be a staple on the Canucks powerplay for the next decade. Look for them to come to North America shortly, and start with the Canucks as early as next season.

3.) The Chosen One

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The Canucks struggles should not be oversimplified, but if they were it’s easy to point at the goaltending as a major cause of concern. Both Markstrom (.908 SV%) and Nilsson (.906 SV%) have struggled hard, and their inconsistency has cost the club. Luckily, there is light at the end of the tunnel, and it’s not a train. The Canucks have 22 year old Thatcher Demko marinating in the minors, sporting an impressive .929 SV%, leading the Utica Comets towards the playoffs. He’s definitely been Utica’s MVP this season, and the Canucks are hoping that he can put in some MVP performances for the big club soon as well.

4.) Trade Bait

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When someone tells me how great Thomas Vanek is for putting up 35 points in 49 games on a $2 million contract, all I think about is the return the Canucks could get for him at the trade deadline. The team has a number of decent veterans on expiring contracts, namely Vanek, Gudbranson, and Biega, and a number of other potential trade targets in Tanev and Del Zotto. The assets are there, now it’s up to GM Jim Benning to move some of them for draft picks and younger players. The Canucks will not get better playing the same old players over and over as they continue to age and regress. On the other hand, young players tend to improve over time, and if enough of them are acquired, they could improve the team, and turn them into contenders in 3-5 years. Boys, it’s time to cash in your chips.

5.) The Draft

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Speaking of young players, the draft is the fastest way to acquire young talent in the NHL. The Canucks may be a bad team, but good news, it means they get higher odds of getting a potential franchise-changing young player! In the 2018 draft, that player is defenceman Rasmus Dahlin, and could the Canucks ever use some help on defence. Only former 5th overall pick Olli Juolevi projects to be any sort of impact player in their system, and even his ceiling is a bit murky. Adding Dahlin would set them up for years, and would instantly solidify their young group as one of the best in the league. Of course, if gambling isn’t your thing, fear not! If the Canucks don’t get lucky and draft 1st, there are still a number of superb young defencemen projected to be drafted in the top-10, including offensive dynamo’s Adam Boqvist and Quiton Hughes, steady Evan Bouchard and Noah Dobson, and slick skating Ty Smith. This is a great year to draft a d-man, and the Canucks could really round out their future blueline with a homerun pick.

Hope

The Canucks may be bad, but they aren’t as bad as you think. They have a substantial amount of potential high-impact prospects ready to make a difference, and ready to take this team to the next level – just ask Brock Boeser. Once they get the chance, look out.