5 Canucks Storylines From The First 20 Games Of The 2024-25 Season

There have been plenty of storylines over the Vancouver Canucks first 20 games of the 2024-25 season. Despite batting adversity both on and off the ice, the Canucks have had a strong start to the season, posting a record of 11-6-3 through 20 games. With this in mind, here is a look at five of the many storylines that have followed Vancouver so far this season.

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Nashville's Loss Is Vancouver's Gain

During the offseason, the Canucks brought in two former Nashville Predators in, Kevin Lankinen and Kiefer Sherwood. Lankinen was signed on the final day of Training Camp, while Sherwood joined the organization on July 1. Fast forward to today, and these two moves may be the best signings by any team from the 2024 offseason.

Starting with Lankinen, he has come in and provided Vancouver with solid goaltending while Thatcher Demko remains out of the lineup. He is 10-2-3 on the season and a perfect 8-0 on the road. Lankinen also has two shutouts and has worked his way into the conversation for Team Finland at the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off.

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As for Sherwood, what hasn't he done for this team? He is tied for the team lead in goals with six, is playing beside Elias Pettersson and Jake DeBrusk and, with 133 hits, is on pace to become the first player in NHL history to record over 500 hits in a season. Signed for this year and next, Sherwood could go down as one of the best free-agent signings in franchise history.

Injuries Haven't Derailed The Team

Player's missing time with injury or leaves of absence has been a major storyline so far this season. After staying relatively healthy in 2023-24, 27 players have already suited up for the Canucks this season. Players who have already missed time this season are Demko, J.T. Miller, Brock Boeser, Dakota Joshua, Vincent Desharnais and Derek Forbort.

Despite missing some key players from the lineup, Vancouver has been able to grind out wins through their first 20 games. As mentioned, they have a record of 11-6-3 and, as of writing, sit second in the Pacific Division with a .625 points percentage. While there have been some challenges this year, the team is proving that when they play a Rick Tocchet style of hockey, they can pick up points even without some of their stars in the lineup.

Quinn Hughes Takes Another Step Forward

After a historic campaign that saw him capture the Norris Trophy, it looks as though Quinn Hughes has once again taken his game to the next level. Vancouver's captain leads the team in points with 20, while his 68 shots on goal have him ranked fifth among NHL defensemen. While there is still plenty of time left in the season, Hughes looks well on his way to at least being nominated for the Norris Trophy for the second straight season.

Hughes' impact on the team is massive. Vancouver has outscored their opponents 20-13 and has a 226-158 shot advantage when he is on the ice at five-on-five. Slowly closing in on Alex Edler's franchise records for most assists and points by a defenceman, it is safe to say that Hughes has cemented himself as the best defenceman the Canucks have ever had.

Road Warriors But Problems At Home

One of the more bizarre trends this season is Vancouver's road vs. home record. They are almost unbeatable on the road, with a record of 8-1-0, but have struggled at Rogers Arena, posting a record of 3-3-3. Things have even gotten so bad at home that Tocchet had to apologize to the fans after the team fell 5-2 to the Islanders earlier this month.

The splits between home and away games are pretty remarkable when looked at in detail. At home, the Canucks have a 4.00 goals against per game compared to a 1.89 on the road. The power play and penalty kill are also more successful away from Rogers Arena, while both of Lankinen's shutouts have come on the road. While winning on the road is a skill every team needs to have, Vancouver does need to start finding ways to reward fans and win games at Rogers Arena.

Prospects Continue To Step Up

Prospects have played a massive role for the Canucks this season. Aatu Räty and Arshdeep Bains have already played more than ten games this year, while Jonathan Lekkerimäki and Max Sasson made their NHL debuts this season. All four of these prospects have also recorded points this year while creating trust with Vancouver's coaching staff.

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With a stacked Abbotsford Canucks lineup, there may be more opportunities for players later on this season. Danila Klimovich, Kirill Kudryavtsev, and defenceman Elias Pettersson have all been impressive while goaltending prospect Nikita Tolopilo has been almost unbeatable in his last three starts. Internal competition is always good, especially when it is the prospects and younger players who are demonstrating that they deserve looks at the NHL level.