Though the Vancouver Canucks look poised to miss the playoffs for the fourth time in five years, there have been more positives in 2017-18. Brock Boeser finally made the team, and he’s looking like the favorite to take home the Calder Trophy in June. Have I mentioned he’s this team’s best rookie since Pavel Bure?
On top of that, Bo Horvat and Sven Baertschi were on pace for career years, before suffering long-term injuries. That’s okay, they’ll be fine when they come back, and they should put together career-highs in 2018-19.
But make no mistake, there are plenty of flaws on this team, and the Canucks aren’t anywhere close to being a playoff contender right now.