VANCOUVER B次元官网网址� ItB次元官网网址檚 been a season of growth for the Vancouver Canucks, but after finishing outside of the playoffs for the fourth year in a row, players and coaches feel thereB次元官网网址檚 still work to be done.
Standout performances from young players like Elias Pettersson, Brock Boeser and Bo Horvat highlighted a season that saw the Canucks (35-36-11) finish fifth in the Pacific Division B次元官网网址� up eight points from the end of last year, but still nine points out of a wild-card spot.
Despite a rash of injuries to the blue line, the team felt the playoffs were in reach for most of the season, coach Travis Green said at an end-of-season press conference on Monday.
But thereB次元官网网址檚 no B次元官网网址渕agic formulaB次元官网网址� for closing the points gap and making the post-season.
B次元官网网址淲hen you look at it, the simplest version is score more, allow less,B次元官网网址� Green said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e going to be better next year. I have no doubt about it. I thought we took a good step this year and weB次元官网网址檒l take another one next year.B次元官网网址�
Coach Green did not mince words.
B次元官网网址� Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks)
The best is yet to come.
A number of young players stepped up this season, posting career highs and taking on new roles. Those players are key to the teamB次元官网网址檚 future, Green said.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e got young players that I believe you can win with,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e need to make sure that our young guys continue to become those guys that you win with. And I believe that they can.B次元官网网址�
In his second full-year in the NHL, Boeser tallied 56 points (26 goals and 30 assists) over 69 games. Still, the 22-year-old winger feels like heB次元官网网址檒l have more to give next season.
B次元官网网址淚 feel IB次元官网网址檝e learned a lot throughout this whole year,B次元官网网址� Boeser said. B次元官网网址滻B次元官网网址檝e taken steps as a player. And I still personally think that I can take a huge step (next year).B次元官网网址�
Pettersson dazzled from the very beginning, scoring on his first shot in his first NHL game.
His production slowed as the season continued, but the 20-year-old Swede still led the Canucks in scoring with 66 points (28 goals and 38 assists) in 71 games, breaking the franchiseB次元官网网址檚 record for points by a rookie. HeB次元官网网址檒l be a top contender for the Calder Trophy as the NHLB次元官网网址檚 top rookie when the awards are handed out in March.
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Pettersson said he didnB次元官网网址檛 know exactly what to expect coming into the NHL. He knew the play would be tougher, the schedule more gruelling, and grew to learn the importance of taking care of his body between games.
B次元官网网址淚 started really good,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 really happy with my (entire) season, but I started really good. I think as the season went on, teams started scouting me more and tried to put more focus on me. So I kind of had both the up of the season and the down of the season.B次元官网网址�
Following the retirement of veterans Daniel and Henrik Sedin, Horvat grew into a pivotal leadership role with the Canucks. He was the only player to suit up for all 82 games and notched new career highs in goals (27), assists (34) and points (61).
While the 24-year-old centre sees a bright future for the team, he said the players also know what they need to work on come next fall.
Horvat is not going to World Championships - "He's getting marrrrrried!" said Boeser, who also is not going to Worlds.
B次元官网网址� Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks)
Stecher: "I haven't heard a word, soooo..."
Petey: "I want to talk to my family and my agent before making a decision."
B次元官网网址淲e want to find consistency in our game and not have those lulls,B次元官网网址� Horvat said. B次元官网网址滾etB次元官网网址檚 go on a 10-game winning streak instead of 1-13. So I think to change that for next season, we canB次元官网网址檛 accept losing, canB次元官网网址檛 accept win some, lose some. Having consistency in our game is going to be huge.B次元官网网址�
Vancouver remained within the playoff race until after the all-star break, but struggled to string together wins down the stretch and went 5-4-1 over its final 10 games.
The last 20 or so games of the season showed where the group needs to develop, said Jay Beagle.
B次元官网网址淲hen it started to get to that playoff feel, when teams started to step it up, we didnB次元官网网址檛. And you could see that. We kind of just flat lined. And that comes with maturity, that comes with playing in the league longer,B次元官网网址� said Beagle, a veteran centre who signed with the Canucks as a free agent in July after spending his entire career with the Washington Capitals.
B次元官网网址淏ut weB次元官网网址檙e not too far and thatB次元官网网址檚 the encouraging thing, thatB次元官网网址檚 the exciting thing.B次元官网网址�
ThereB次元官网网址檚 a lot more optimism in the Canucks locker room as this season comes to a close than thereB次元官网网址檚 been in previous years, said Brandon Sutter.
B次元官网网址淚 think thereB次元官网网址檚 just a bit of a different energy with the youth on our team and the young players that have come in and kind of given us a bit of a new life,B次元官网网址� said the veteran centre, who missed 56 games with injuries this season. B次元官网网址淚 think guys are just looking forward to whatB次元官网网址檚 ahead.B次元官网网址�
My thoughts about the Canucks season. This letter went out earlier today to our Season Ticket Members.
B次元官网网址� Francesco Aquilini (@fr_aquilini)
Fans, too, seem excited, especially after getting a glimpse in recent weeks of defensive prospect Quinn Hughes.
Drafted seventh overall by the Canucks last summer, the 19-year-old joined the club for the final five games of the year. His skill and speed were instantly apparent, and the teen said his teammates made him feel confident right away.
B次元官网网址淚 really enjoyed my time. I wish I had 30 more games to go but thatB次元官网网址檚 just not the case. IB次元官网网址檓 just looking forward to next year,B次元官网网址� Hughes said.
This summer, the young defenceman plans to spend a lot of time getting stronger in the weight room and faster on the ice. HeB次元官网网址檒l also suit up for Team USA at the world championship in Slovakia next month.
But first Hughes will head back to the University of Michigan to finish up his classes. He admits the change of pace will be odd after spending a month in the NHL.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 sure itB次元官网网址檒l be weird going back, walking around on campus,B次元官网网址� he said with a grin.
Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press
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