By Andrew Phillip Chernoff | CanucksBanter

September 16, 2024

The Vancouver Canucks started the 2023.24 season dialed in and were a juggernaut with their dominance through to the 2024 NHL All-Star break, culminating in making the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and advancing to the second round before being eliminated by the Edmonton Oilers in an exciting 7- game series.

The Vancouver Canucks are gearing up for the 2024-25 NHL season with a mix of returning talent, strategic free agent signings, and high expectations following their successful previous season where they won the Pacific Division.

New Additions and Depth:

• The Canucks made several key signings in the summer to strengthen their depth and versatility:
  • Jake DeBrusk, Danton Heinen, Kiefer Sherwood, Vincent Desharnais, and Derek Forbort were among the notable free agent acquisitions.
  • The players bring a mix of scoring touch, defensive reliability, and physicality, aiming to make Vancouver tougher to play against, especially in the playoffs.
  • The Vancouver Canucks went to work during free agency within their cap limit, signing Jake DeBrusk (7 x $5.5M), Danton Heinen (2 x $2.25M), Kiefer Sherwood (2 x $1.5M), Vincent Desharnais (2 x $2.0M) and Derek Forbort (1 x $1.5M).
• Line Combinations: While exact lines might vary, there’s speculation by fans and media alike around combinations such as:
  • DeBrusk-Pettersson-Sprong
  • Heinen-Miller-Boeser
  • Joshua-Blueger-Garland
    
  • Hoglander-Suter-Sherwood
    
  • Hughes-Hronek
    Soucy-Desharnais
    Forbort-Myers
  • With players like Nils Hoglander, Dakota Joshua, Teddy Blueger, and Conor Garland the Canucks fill out their depth, providing flexibility in line combinations.

Key Players and Milestones:

• Quinn Hughes: The Norris Trophy winner is set to potentially break franchise records for defensemen.
  • He’s on track to become the all-time points leader among Canucks defensemen, surpassing Alex Edler’s record.
  • Hughes is also close to hitting 300 career assists and 150 power-play assists, showcasing his offensive prowess from the blue line.
• Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller: Both are expected to lead the team in scoring again.
  • Pettersson, despite a dip in performance towards the end of last season, is anticipated to bounce back strongly.
  • Miller, coming off a 103-point season, remains a pivotal figure in the team’s offensive strategy.
• Brock Boeser: Is known for his goal-scoring ability, especially in high-danger areas.
  • Boeser is poised to continue his scoring streak, potentially leading the team in goals if he maintains his form from the previous season.
• Thatcher Demko: An NHL All-Star goaltender, who has been pivotal in the Canucks’ recent successes, is nearing significant milestones in games played and wins, which could see him solidify his status as one of the league’s top goalies.
  • The status of his health has been a question since an injury suffered during the 2024 NHL Playoffs, but Rick Tocchet is confident that he will return to his top form during the upcoming season.

Team Overview:

• Coaching and Management: Under head coach Rick Tocchet, who led the team to significant success last season, and was the NHL Coach of the Year in 2023.24, will have the Canucks aim to build on that momentum.
• The management, led by GM Patrik Allvin, has been active in free agency, aiming to bolster the roster for a deep playoff run, including acquiring a veteran backup goalie to support Thatcher Demko.
• The Canucks parted ways with Jeremy Colliton and hired Manny Maholtra as the new head coach of the AHL Abbotsford Canucks for the 2024-25 season.
• Other changes included: Chris Trivieri being promoted to Assistant Athletic Therapist; Curtis Bell named an Athletic Therapist, and Gerry Ramogida named Performance Therapist.
  • The team has also hired Patrick Leblond and Luca Caputi as full-time Amateur Scouts.

Expectations for the Season:

• Performance: The Canucks are expected to be strong contenders, performing at a high level in the Pacific Division again, with their core of Pettersson, Miller, Hughes, and Demko providing a solid foundation.
• The addition of new players aims to address previous shortcomings, particularly in-depth scoring and physical play.
• Milestones and Records: Fans can look forward to Hughes potentially setting new franchise records, while players like Miller and Boeser might chase personal bests or significant career milestones.
• Playoff Aspirations: Given their previous season’s success, and new additions, the expectation is not just to make the playoffs but to aim for a deeper run, potentially challenging for the Stanley Cup with the roster’s current composition.

Team Scouting

• Goaltending Depth: The signing of Dylan Ferguson on a PTO and the mention of other goaltenders like Jiří Patera indicate a strategy to bolster goaltending depth through scouting and development, especially with concerns around Thatcher Demko, and Arturs Silovs health issues.
  • This move reflects proactive scouting for goaltending talent that might not have been on the radar during the draft.
  • The change in Ian Clark’s role aims to leverage Clark’s expertise in finding and developing goaltending talent, which hope’s to influence future scouting for goaltenders.

• Prospect Performance and Development: Continues to be a high priority for the Canucks as can be seen with the development of players like Jonathan Lekkerimaki, among others.

In conclusion, the Vancouver Canucks’ approach to the 2024-25 season hopes to provide a blending of returning star power with strategic reinforcements, aiming for not just divisional success but a significant playoff impact.

Source: nhl.com