The Vancouver Canucks have started the season strong with a record of 13-6-1 through their first 20 games.
The Vancouver Canucks have hit the 20-game mark of their season, and boy has it been fun. They have almost doubled their win total compared to the 20-game mark of last season and have multiple players and staff members who are in contention for year-end awards. Here is a look back at the season so far.
When telling the story of the first 20 games, one must start with the play of captain Quinn Hughes. Not only does he lead the league in points with 31 as of U.S. Thanksgiving, but he is also the favourite to take home his first Norris Trophy. It is safe to say he has embraced the captaincy as he takes another step to becoming the greatest defenceman in Canucks history.
One of the reasons Hughes leads the NHL in points is that he is using his shot more. In just 20 games, he has already tied his career high in goals with eight and has recorded 22 more shots compared to this time last year. Add in the fact that his defensive game has taken another step forward, and it is clear why Vancouver has been one of the best teams so far this season.
A big talking point heading into the season was in order for the Canucks to have a good start, they would need to play with some structure to their game. While they still have room for improvement, they have taken a big leap forward compared to last season. Here are some comparables via Natural Stat Trick of five-on-five play per 60 from the first 20 games this year to the first 20 games of the 2022-23 season.
While some improvements are marginal, the Canucks have been better structurally this season. Their goaltenders aren't being forced to face over 35 shots a game, and have shown an ability to possess the puck for long periods of time in the offensive zone. It is clear that head coach Rick Tochett's style is working and that he is getting full buy-in from the players on a game-by-game basis.
While the Canucks are playing better defensively, they still have to improve if they want to become a contender. A good indicator of that is Thatcher Demko's analytics. According to MoneyPuck, the Canucks goaltender sits first in goals saved above expected at five-on-five with 6.8 and in all situations with 10.4. While it is great to see that Demko has taken his game to the next level, Vancouver needs to find a way to limit the number of high-danger chances coming their way. While he is one of the best goaltenders currently in the NHL, having to make these highlight-reel saves over and over can be taxing and could lead to injury later on in the season.
Lastly, one player that deserves a ton of credit for their play is J.T. Miller. Under Tochett, the Canucks center looks like a completely different player. Not only has his two-way game improved, but his overall attitude on the ice has become more positive. If Vancouver wants to take that next step, he will need to keep this level of play up for the remainder of the season.
While the Canucks have started the season strong, they can't afford to sit back. With five straight against Pacific Division opponents and visits from New Jersey, Carolina, Tampa Bay and Florida, these next ten games will be a good test to see what type of team they actually are. Make sure to check back after the ten games to see if Vancouver can keep their early season success going or if they will start regressing to the middle of the pack.