Idle Canucks eliminated from playoff contention
A disappointing season for the Vancouver Canucks has come to an end. With a Minnesota Wild overtime victory over the San Jose Sharks the idle Canucks have been mathematically eliminated from post-season contention. For a team that entered the season with Stanley Cup aspirations, it’s not the ending anyone in the organization hoped for, but their 36-29-13 record wasn’t enough to make a repeat appearance in the post-season. The Canucks completed their most successful season in a decade in 2023-24, where they carried a Pacific Division win into a first-round victory and took the future Stanley Cup Finalist Oilers to seven games. The below-par season can’t be entirely attributed to poor play across the board, though there were some regressive seasons from key players. The Canucks dealt with substantial injuries to starting goalie Thatcher Demko, captain and reigning Norris Trophy winner Quinn Hughes, top-line centre Elias Pettersson, Brock Boeser and Dakota Joshua, and spent limited time with a fully healthy roster. Ultimately, it was a combination of injuries, down years from top players and distracting off-ice drama that contributed to the Canucks becoming the first — and perhaps only — Canadian team faced with mathematical elimination. The Calgary Flames now stand as the lone challenger for one of two wild-card spots, held by the Wild (first) and the Blues (second). More from Sportsnet Devils clinch playoff spot after Rangers loss to Flyers, will face Hurricanes Hughes feeling weight of Canucks’ season: ‘This year has been hard’
A disappointing season for the Vancouver Canucks has come to an end.
With a Minnesota Wild overtime victory over the San Jose Sharks the idle Canucks have been mathematically eliminated from post-season contention.
For a team that entered the season with Stanley Cup aspirations, it’s not the ending anyone in the organization hoped for, but their 36-29-13 record wasn’t enough to make a repeat appearance in the post-season.
The Canucks completed their most successful season in a decade in 2023-24, where they carried a Pacific Division win into a first-round victory and took the future Stanley Cup Finalist Oilers to seven games.
The below-par season can’t be entirely attributed to poor play across the board, though there were some regressive seasons from key players. The Canucks dealt with substantial injuries to starting goalie Thatcher Demko, captain and reigning Norris Trophy winner Quinn Hughes, top-line centre Elias Pettersson, Brock Boeser and Dakota Joshua, and spent limited time with a fully healthy roster.
Ultimately, it was a combination of injuries, down years from top players and distracting off-ice drama that contributed to the Canucks becoming the first — and perhaps only — Canadian team faced with mathematical elimination.
The Calgary Flames now stand as the lone challenger for one of two wild-card spots, held by the Wild (first) and the Blues (second).
