No, this team is still nowhere close to the playoffs. Their analytics last year had them still as a bottom 5 team. The only difference between last season and the one prior was they were more successful in the shootouts. Adding JT Miller will help, but adding Tyler Myers could offset the positives that Miller will bring. Myers struggled mightily despite being heavily sheltered last year, and if he's put in a role where he's expected to be a top pairing defenseman and take on tougher minutes he's going to flounder in that role.
Regardless of all that: those of you who are voting the Canucks will be a playoff team, who do they knock out?
In the Pacific, Calgary, San Jose, and Vegas look like strong bets to continue being playoff teams.
In the Central we have Nashville, St. Louis, and Colorado who I expect will be their top 3 divisional teams. Leaving Dallas, Winnipeg, and now with a new goalie Chicago in the mix for the Wild Card.
Arizona was 5 points ahead of Vancouver last season, despite also dealing with a lot of injuries. They also added Phil Kessel and improved their team this offseason. I would say it's reasonable to expect they will also continue to be better than the Canucks this year, though I'm not sure they are a playoff team either.
So tell me: who do the Canucks get in ahead of? It's easy to say they'll be a playoff team, but when you actually look at the teams they will have to pass I just don't see a route.