After the Canucks missed the playoffs from 2016-19, most viewed the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs as a building block for a young Vancouver team that features 21-year-old forward and reigning Calder Trophy winner Elias Pettersson along with 20-year-old defenseman and 2020 Calder finalist Quinn Hughes.
But as the St. Louis Blues found out, the future may be now for the Canucks.
Vancouver, which knocked off the Minnesota Wild, 3-1, in a qualifying series, shocked the reigning Stanley Cup champion Blues in their best-of-seven first round series 4-2, including a decisive 6-2 victory in Game 6 on Friday night.