Last year, the Vancouver Canucks‘ season ended the same way it had for the previous two years and the past seven of eight: At Game 82.
It was a disappointing season, to say the absolute least, for a team that stated in October 2022 that the playoffs were all but the expectation and then subsequently went 0-7 to start the year. Given that, it was more than fair to be skeptical throughout the off-season that this year would be a radical change for the Canucks. Perhaps, come early April, the team would be fighting for a wild-card spot.
During their end-of-season press conference last April, Canucks centre J.T. Miller told the media that if the team wanted to see any success in 2023-24, their leaders would have to step up and lead by example.
With defenceman Quinn Hughes getting the fresh “C” on his jersey, Vancouver’s star players did just that.
Beginning with an 8-1 thumping of the Edmonton Oilers, Vancouver has looked like a completely different team than in years past. The team led the league in points and points percentage for a considerable amount of time at the mid-season mark but with squads in the East surging, that didn’t last. Still, this team played their way to a Pacific Division title and one of the most successful years in franchise history.
Seeing as the Canucks are headed into their first post-season since the 2020 bubble with the division under their belts, let’s break down some of the numbers that got them there.
4. The number of point-per-game seasons as a Canuck for Miller.
When the Canucks chose to sign the 31-year-old Miller to a seven-year, $56-million contract ahead of the 2022-23 season — effectively signalling their intention to trade former captain Bo Horvat at some point — they raised some eyebrows. But since he arrived in Vancouver by way of trade in 2019, Miller has been one of the Canucks’ most valuable players.
Across five seasons in Vancouver, the East Palestine, Ohio native has 143 goals and 403 points. In fact, since 2020 he’s been 11th in scoring across the entire league. This season, Miller has taken his value to the next level, leading the team with 103 points (37G, 66A) — the first time in his career he’s reached the century mark.
9.95. The combined cap hit, in millions, of general manager Patrik Allvin’s off-season acquisitions.
President of hockey operations Jim Rutherford and Allvin were busy between May and September, making tidy work of a Canucks’ roster that, at the time, was just not good enough. Starting off with the Oliver Ekman-Larsson buyout, the Canucks freed up valuable cap space to spend.
They signed Carson Soucy, Ian Cole and Teddy Blueger during free agency and, right ahead of training camp, traded for backup goaltender Casey DeSmith — each of whom has been a valuable addition and part of the success of this team.
Soucy and Cole have helped to stabilize a blue line en route to a huge defensive improvement this year. DeSmith, though with a save percentage of .896, stepped up while starter Thatcher Demko was injured and allowed the Canucks to stay just steady enough to retain their division lead over the Oilers. Blueger, for much of the season, centred a third line that became the Canucks’ driving offensive force for a stretch.
With each of their cap hits under $4 million, their impact comes at a reasonable price.
12.0. The Canucks’ shooting percentage.
Vancouver’s shooting percentage ranks top in the NHL — tied with the Tampa Bay Lighting — at 12 per cent, considerably higher than in years past for the team. Their shooting percentage ranks in the 99th percentile, according to NHL EDGE, and is well above the league average of 10.2 per cent.
In fact, this is one of the highest shooting percentages across a season in franchise history. Even the 2010-11 squad that dominated the league and appeared in the Stanley Cup Final saw their shooting percentage rest at 9.8 in the regular season.
Ahead of the All-Star break, that number was even more absurd at over 13 per cent and, like most predicted, it regressed down the stretch. Even with that regression, the Canucks are still tied for the top with this statistic.
40. Number of goals Brock Boeser has scored.
Just one season removed from Boeser asking for a trade after he was nearly a healthy scratch on Hockey Fights Cancer night, he became the player both he and his teammates knew he could be.
Starting with a four-goal performance against the Oilers in the first game, the 27-year-old just kept scoring and hit the 30 and 40-goal mark for the first time in his career. He potted three hat tricks this season, in addition to registering a career-high 73 points.
He leads the team in goals and with Miller not too far behind, they have been one of the most productive duos on the team this year.
With one game remaining in the regular-season schedule and held goalless in the past three games, Boeser has the chance to keep adding to his career-best totals against the Jets.
27. Number of games the Canucks have won at Rogers Arena.
Though, save for a few teams, playing in your home barn is an obvious advantage, the Canucks absolutely exemplified that this season. In Rogers Arena, Vancouver has emerged victorious 27 times and subjected fans to just nine regulation losses and will prove even more difficult for opponents during the post-season.
Compare that to the home record the Canucks had last year (19-20-2) and it’s no wonder why Rogers Arena had a buzz to it this year.
77. Dakota Joshua and Conor Garland‘s combined goal total.
Speaking of dynamic duos, these two have been the heart of the Canucks’ secondary scoring. The third line for a considerable amount of time (dubbed by Sportsnet’s Iain MacIntyre as “The Life Line”) of Blueger, Garland and Joshua was one of the best third lines in hockey when intact and powered the Canucks to more than a couple wins.
Garland and Joshua in particular developed chemistry as the season progressed, making their fair share of pretty plays. A quick turnaround by the two who scrapped at Canucks training camp in September.
91. Points from Hughes
Hughes just continues to prove he is the greatest defenceman this franchise has ever seen. Somehow, since being named captain, he’s elevated his game even more.
Setting career highs in both goals (17), assists (74) and points (91), he became a point-per-game player for the first time in his career and has all but locked down the Norris Trophy. His 17 goals more than double his previous season-high of eight. As if his offensive stats weren’t enough, Hughes was a plus-39 on the season.
Proving himself to be a leader in his first year as captain, Hughes was perhaps the most impactful player for the Canucks on a nightly basis.
The Canucks finish off their regular season against the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT. Watch it unfold on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+.