THN.com's series featuring top questions for each NHL team moves to the Vancouver Canucks. Team consistency, netminding and Elias Pettersson are in the spotlight.

You’re reading the newest file in The Hockey News’ ongoing series examining key issues facing every NHL team. In this edition, we’re breaking down three issues facing the Vancouver Canucks.

1. Can the Canucks build on last season's massive jump forward and avoid a setback like the New Jersey Devils had in 2023-24?

The Canucks improved by 12 wins and 26 points as they won the Pacific Division last year for the first time since 2012-13. At 109 points last year, they would tie the Bruins' points record from 2022-23 if they replicated that pace and had 135 points this season.

That said, Vancouver GM Patrik Allvin kept his team’s core together while adding new pieces. He brought in forwards Jake DeBrusk, Daniel Sprong and Kiefer Sherwood, as well as defensemen Vincent Desharnais and Derek Forbort. That should keep the Canucks from taking a large backward step and once again contending to be the Pacific’s top team.

It’s not out of the question that things go sideways – certainly, the Devils didn’t foresee the terrible 2023-24 season they would have with injuries and subpar goaltending – but Vancouver’s core of talent remains in its prime. 

So long as they avoid a massive bite from the injury bug, the Canucks have more than enough skill and balance to be a legitimate front-runner to win a Stanley Cup.

Speaking of injuries...

2. How crucial is having goaltender Thatcher Demko healthy?

The Canucks were in a nightmare scenario last spring when superstar netminder Demko and backup Casey DeSmith were both injured in the post-season, forcing Vancouver to turn to rookie goalie Silovs to handle a full playoff workload. 

The 23-year-old Silovs had a decent post-season with a 2.91 goals-against average and .898 save percentage, but the reality is Demko must be healthy and thriving for the Canucks to be a powerhouse.

Silovs has only nine games of regular-season NHL experience, but he may be called into action more often than Canucks brass would prefer if Demko isn’t able to perform at the start of the year.

That is, if Silovs is even ready to go. A knee injury left him off Latvia's Olympics qualification roster, which puts his beginning of training camp in doubt. That would leave the Canucks with 25-year-old Jiri Patera and 24-year-old Nikita Tolopilo.

Ideally, the 28-year-old Demko will be leading the way for Vancouver as one of the best goaltenders in the NHL. A team like this shouldn’t look to a 23-year-old goaltender to handle most, or even half, of the regular-season workload. Having the third- and fourth-string goalies in net is also risky.

No opponent will happily provide the Canucks with a veteran goalie who can step in and help right away. In that sense, it’s Demko-or-bust for Vancouver.

A Sportsnet report suggests Demko’s injury can’t be fixed with surgery, and he must learn to play through his current health woes. That’s both good news and worrisome news for Canucks fans – good news that he’s not likely to be on the shelf for any notable period but worrisome because it may affect Demko’s elite talents. 

Silovs shouldn’t be counted on to step in and provide Grade-A goaltending in hockey’s best league every night, but if Demko can fight through his injury, Vancouver should be in a good competitive spot.

3. Can star forward Elias Pettersson return to the 100-point mark?

With Vancouver’s highest cap hit at $11.6 million per season, Pettersson will be a prominent player in the spotlight again. 

The 25-year-old Swede’s numbers on offense were still strong, but they took a tumble last season to 34 goals and 89 points from 39 goals and 102 points in 2022-23. Canucks fans will expect Pettersson to rebound this year on what could be a better Vancouver squad.

This will be Pettersson’s seventh NHL season, so there’s no excuse for him not to get back to where he once was. As per The Hockey News' Lineups site projection, Pettersson could start the 2024-25 season on Vancouver’s second line with either DeBrusk, Sprong, Pius Suter or Nils Hoglander. But regardless of who plays on Pettersson’s line, he’ll be expected to drive play.

Fans have come to expect all-star numbers from Pettersson. While reaching the point-per-game plateau shouldn’t be all that difficult for him, he’s got to be at his best and have the right linemates to get back to the 100-point plateau. 

We’re not disbelievers in his skill set, but Pettersson must demonstrate he can consistently be a 100-point player before we can raise that bar to that level year in and year out. He hasn’t done that yet, but that goal is well within his grasp.

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