In Vancouver, the Canucks are gearing up for the upcoming hockey season with a renewed hunger for success after getting a taste of playoff action last year. Right-winger Brock Boeser emphasized the importance of their post-season experience, calling it a “blast” and highlighting the team’s success as a motivating factor heading into the new campaign.
Last season, the Canucks finished at the top of the Pacific Division with an impressive record of 50-23-9. Their postseason journey saw them face off against the Nashville Predators in a six-game series before meeting the Edmonton Oilers in a tough seven-game battle.
Head coach Rick Tocchet acknowledged the progress made by the team last year but issued a challenge for his players to elevate their performance even further in the upcoming season. “To get to the next plateau, there’s higher expectations and it’s going to be hard,” Tocchet stated, setting the tone for the team’s goals moving forward.
The Canucks front office was busy over the summer, making key moves to strengthen the roster. General manager Patrik Allvin opted to sign left-winger Jake DeBrusk to a lucrative seven-year, US$38.5-million contract instead of retaining midseason acquisitions Elias Lindholm and Nikita Zadorov. Lindholm and Zadorov both ended up with the Boston Bruins, while Vancouver bid farewell to several players including backup goalie Casey DeSmith, veteran defenseman Ian Cole, and forwards Sam Lafferty and Ilya Mikheyev.
As the Canucks gear up for the new season, the team is focused on building off their playoff experience, solidifying their lineup, and meeting the heightened expectations set by their coach. With a hunger for success and determination to make a deeper playoff run, Vancouver is poised to make waves in the upcoming NHL campaign.
