Photo by Markus Spiske
The Vancouver Canucks are currently top of the Pacific division and are in contention to win the Stanley Cup. After only reaching the final three times, the Canucks have another chance to get their hands on the trophy. They currently stand first in the Pacific division and are most likely to make it to the playoffs. Will they make it count, or will another season go begging?
Canucks Performance in Recent Years
While they are yet to win the Stanley Cup, the Canucks have made three cup final appearances. The first was in 1982, losing 4-0 to the New York Islanders. They also reached the final in 1994, losing 3-4 to the New York Rangers. The last time they made it to the final was in 2011, losing 3-4 to the Boston Bruins after finishing top of the Northwest division.
Since 2011, the Canucks have only made it to the playoffs four times. That’s four playoff appearances in 12 years, highlighting their struggles. They last got into the playoffs in 2020, losing to the Vegas Golden Knights 3-4 in the second round.
With only a few games to the end of the 2023/24 season, the Canucks are in pole position to get into another playoff. Their performances throughout the season have been superb, giving their fans hope ahead of a deciding couple of months. While they will likely face a tough test in the playoffs, Fanatics Sportsbook has placed them among the favorites to win the Stanley Cup. The Boston Bruins, New York Rangers, and Dallas Stars are the other teams backed to be in contention to win the big prize.
Who Can Make the Difference for Canucks?
To finally achieve this long-standing dream, the Canucks need capable hands. They boast of some of the best players in the NHL. Notable players include J.T. Miller, Brock Boeser, and Nikita Zadorov. Miller, who is on a seven-year deal with the team, currently leads the team in points. The forward was named in the 2024 NHL All-Star game, his first ever since he became professional in 2012. He joined the franchise in 2019, helping them to the 2019/20 season playoffs. He’s on course to lead them to another playoff appearance. Perhaps, this time around, he will take them to Stanley Cup glory.
The Canucks’ current captain also made it to the 2024 All-Star game. The defenseman has been a revelation since he was drafted by the Canucks as the 7th overall pick in 2018. He also featured in the 2020 All-Star game within a year after he debuted for the Canucks in 2019.
He currently leads the Canucks in assists and is one of the team’s leaders in points. He’s the 15th captain in the franchise’s history following being appointed in September 2023 and is now on course to help the team into the playoffs. Boeser is another top mention that can help the Canucks. He has been with the franchise since 2015, appearing in the All-Star game in 2018 and 2024. We wait to see how far the Canucks can go for this one.
