The Canucks' Record Might Be Misleading, Or Maybe Not

Every November in Vancouver, the same uneasy question rolls around: are the Canucks actually good, or just getting by? This year’s version sits at 7–8–0 — not terrible, but not convincing either. One night, they look like a team that can beat anyone; the next, they can’t get out of their own end. That’s the problem: you can’t quite tell which Canucks you’re going to get.

So, let’s sort it out — a couple of reasons to believe, and a couple that make you hesitate.

Two Reasons the Canucks Could Be Really Good

Here are two reasons the Canucks could be an outstanding team.

Reason One: The Canucks Core Can Still Carry Them

No matter what the record says, the Canucks still have a legitimate foundation. Quinn Hughes moves the puck like few others, Elias Pettersson remains a two-way star, and Thatcher Demko is giving them a chance to win most nights. Those three alone make this a competitive team. When the stars are engaged, Vancouver looks organized and confident — the kind of team that can roll into Dallas or Washington and come away with points.

Reason Two: The Canucks Don’t Go Quietly

Say what you will about their record, but these Canucks don’t fold. They’ve been hit by injuries, inconsistent scoring, and patchwork lineups, yet they’ve hung around the playoff mix. There’s a maturity in the group — a willingness to battle through off nights instead of letting things spiral. You don’t have to squint too hard to see a team learning how to win ugly, which is often how teams make the next step. Once the injury bug has left the building, we might see how good this team actually can be.

Two Reasons the Canucks Might Not Be as Good as Fans Believe

Here are two reasons the Canucks could be something less than an outstanding team.

Reason One: The Canucks Defence Isn’t Clicking Yet

Here’s the other side of it — this Canucks as a team give up far too many chances. For all the talk about structure, Vancouver still looks scattered in its own zone. They’re near the bottom of the league in expected goals and in scoring chances allowed, which suggests this isn’t just bad luck. Demko’s workload is heavy, and the blueline — especially beyond Hughes and Hronek — has been a patchwork. For a team built around its goaltending, that’s not sustainable.

Reason Two: The Canucks Offence Sometimes Goes Cold

This Canucks team was supposed to be a deeper, tougher lineup, but the goals aren’t coming. Conor Garland leads the team in points, and that’s not necessarily a good thing. Pettersson hasn’t hit his stride, and new faces like Evander Kane and Jake DeBrusk haven’t made much noise. The Canucks are sitting near the bottom third in goals per game — a tough place to be if your defence isn’t airtight.

So, What’s the Verdict on This Canucks Team?

Right now, the Canucks are caught between what they want to be and what they actually are. On their best nights, they look like a playoff team with real potential. At their worst, they look like a group still trying to figure out who they are. Maybe that’s just what this season will be — a long stretch of “almosts” and “not yets.”

But in Vancouver, that’s still better than apathy. You can sense a heartbeat, even if it’s an uneven one.