We might make the playoffs if....

[HairyKneel]

Sorry.

Cant resist. Its like cat nip.

It’s all good. One day your comebacks may even approach being witty or amusing.

 

[PavelBure10]

We will make playoffs if...

1. The big guns, Pettersson, Hughes and Demko are standing on their heads and produce the entire year.

2. The defense surprises, and Hronek, Cole and Soucey pan out.

3. The Penalty kill improves drastically.

4. One of Podkolzin, Hoglander or Rathbone breaks out.

5. The Canucks get lucky.

6. Boeser finds his shot.

 

[Shareefruck]

I don't think Boeser's lack of a shot is his problem.

 

[Pastor Of Muppetz]

Can make the playoffs if...

- Core players can be relatively healthy...Demko specifically.

- PK improves...Players have been brought in to accomplish this.

- Goaltending improves...What was a strength on the Canucks, turned into a massive liability last season..Fortunately, Demko regained form.

- They must get off to a decent start..The Canucks have torpedoed their playoff chances for three consecutive seasons, due to horrific starts...Not saying they have to kill it in the first month (especially on the eastern road swing), but they have to be able to keep their heads above the water.

There will be a battle in the Pacific division between EDM,LVGK,SEA and VAN....CAL could surprise..Also, almost all of the teams in the Central have question marks, all of them are beatable (DAL and COL being the best two)..If there was a prime opportunity for the Canucks to bag points in the Western Conference, its next season.

 

[VanJack]

Re-checking the 2022-23 final NHL standings, the Canucks finished 12 points back of the Jets, who claimed the final wildcard spot with 95 points. The Canucks closed with 83 points--so the gap represents only six more wins in regulation or OT.

To me, that doesn't seem like an insurmountable mountain to climb. Surely a healthy Demko could be worth at least 5-6 more wins--particularly when you consider that the Canucks played most of the year with AHL goaltending.

And if their PK could even finish in the middle of pack instead of 'dead last' , surely that would translate into a few more wins as well..

I realize a lot has to go right for the Canucks to finish in the top-eight in the conference, but they might be closer than the 'experts' think.