It’s not at all out of line to imagine Vancouver cheering in the streets on a night that could have seen the Vancouver Canucks drop as low as the eighth seed in the Auston Mathews sweepstakes. But there’s never been a better time to lose as a team, and the stakes have never been higher.
Reality has shaken Vancouver down to its core, and it’s no secret this core is ready for the change.
After going on a nine-game losing streak, most Nucks fans had settled into the idea of a last-place finish. If you’re going to miss the playoffs, it’s only natural to start grasping at ways to spin a season for the positive, and the draft is the first place to look.