Let’s be honest, the Vancouver Canucks are not going to be a playoff team in 2016-17. Relying on aging veterans Daniel and Henrik Sedin (both 36), and Loui Eriksson (31), as your top line isn’t a recipe to win in today’s NHL.
Even though the Canucks were the NHL’s third-worst team last season, president of hockey operations Trevor Linden and general manager Jim Benning refused to rebuild. They’re following ownership’s wishes of putting together a competitive team to try to make the playoffs in order to enhance ticket sales.