The Vancouver Canucks fell short of their preseason target to return to the Stanley Cup playoffs but a strong second half under new coach Bruce Boudreau has helped trigger a culture change that does offer promise for the club.
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 a really good group of guys,B次元官网网址� defenceman Tyler Myers said Sunday as Canucks players gathered at Rogers Arena for their season-ending exit interviews. B次元官网网址淲e started to play the way we knew we could in the second half of the year and you can tell it brought us together.B次元官网网址�
After an 8-15-2 start cost coach Travis Green and GM Jim Benning their jobs in early December, the Canucks went 32-15-10 through their final 57 games under Boudreau. They managed to keep their playoff hopes alive until late in the season, ultimately finishing five points out of a Western Conference wild-card spot with 92 points.
"With Bruce, ever since he came in, he's been a positive influence. He's taken his time with me. He definitely helped me turn around my season."
B次元官网网址� Vancouver #Canucks (@Canucks)
馃棧锔� Elias Pettersson
B次元官网网址淚 think the better part of my game came towards the end when we were obviously playing better and winning games and it seemed like we were coming together as a team,B次元官网网址� said captain Bo Horvat, who had a personal-best 31 goals despite missing the final seven games after breaking his tibia blocking a shot. B次元官网网址淎t the end of the day, it wasnB次元官网网址檛 good enough to make the playoffs.
B次元官网网址淚 think thatB次元官网网址檚 disappointing.B次元官网网址�
This marked the sixth time in seven seasons the Canucks failed to reach the playoffs. It came after an off-season of significant roster changes, including a trade that brought defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson and forward Conor Garland.
Goaltender Thatcher Demko was named the CanucksB次元官网网址檚 most valuable player after posting a 33-22-7 record, 2.72 goal-against average and .915 save percentage with one shutout. But he missed the teamB次元官网网址檚 final three regular-season games and said Sunday he suffered an unspecified injury about a month ago.
B次元官网网址淚 knew something was up right away, but we were kind of in the (playoff) mix there,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚t was something I was trying to play through for the last little bit here.B次元官网网址�
Demko said it occurred on a B次元官网网址渨eird little play, a weird position.B次元官网网址� HeB次元官网网址檚 currently working with the teamB次元官网网址檚 medical staff to determine the best course of off-season treatment.
The season was one of growth for two of the CanucksB次元官网网址� most promising young stars. Both Quinn Hughes and Elias Pettersson missed the start of training camp as their contracts were being negotiated and Pettersson admitted those distractions were a factor in his slow start to the year.
B次元官网网址淓xpectations were raised,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 wasnB次元官网网址檛 as confident.B次元官网网址�
But by seasonB次元官网网址檚 end, both players had accumulated 68 points _ a career-high for Pettersson, who also had a personal-best 32 goals. Hughes set a club record for most points in a season by a defenceman.
The pair also took pride in their new responsibilities on the CanucksB次元官网网址� penalty kill, which had been among the leagueB次元官网网址檚 worst units before Boudreau took over. TheyB次元官网网址檙e also starting to take on more ownership as team leaders.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 still 22, (Pettersson) is 23,B次元官网网址� Hughes said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e still trying to learn and get better.
B次元官网网址淚 want to win and I want our culture to keep improving and growing and our accountability to be high.B次元官网网址�
New general manager Patrik Allvin and president Jim Rutherford have plenty of work to do this summer. At the top of the list is determining BoudreauB次元官网网址檚 future and addressing the contract status of restricted free-agent Brock Boeser as well as Horvat and J.T. Miller, who each have one year remaining on their current deals.
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Miller, 29, finished ninth in NHL scoring with a career-high 99 points.
Boeser capped a challenging campaign with 23 goals and 46 points. He missed the first three games of the season due to injury, was added to the NHLB次元官网网址檚 COVID-19 protocol list late in 2021 before being sidelined for five games in April with an arm injury.
B次元官网网址淥nce Bruce took over, I think I started playing my game and scoring goals and was confident again,B次元官网网址� said Boeser, who also had to deal with his fatherB次元官网网址檚 declining health.
Boudreau finished the season with 599 career NHL wins and hopes he can register No. 600with the Canucks next season.
B次元官网网址淭his is a great place,B次元官网网址� Boudreau said after FridayB次元官网网址檚 3-2 shootout loss to the Edmonton Oilers. B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 a team thatB次元官网网址檚 on the rise.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of exciting things to come.B次元官网网址�
Boudreau and Canucks management are expected to meet with media early next week. The organizationB次元官网网址檚 first-year AHL farm team, the Abbotsford Canucks, begins its best-of-three playoff series against the Bakersfield Condors on Tuesday.
Carol Schram, The Canadian Press
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