On June 20th, 1994, Sports Illustrated released a cover featuring New York Rangers goaltender Mike Richter stopping phenom Vancouver Canucks winger Pavel Bure on a penalty shot with the headline reading: "Why the NHL's Hot and the NBA's not."

"Canucks Twitter exploded."

This statement could go two ways depending on what happened to Vancouver's beloved NHL team. This year, it often carried a negative connotation.

The 2021 NHL Draft Lottery will take place virtually on Wednesday, June 2 from the NHL Network Studios in Secaucus, New Jersey and will be broadcast on Sportsnet at 4:00 PM PST.

The Canucks won 23 games in the North Division during the shortened 2021 NHL season. Nils Höglander burst onto the scene with a sensational rookie campaign, while Thatcher Demko proved why he's the goaltender of the future with some mind-blowing performances. 

It was also another exciting year for the young core, as Quinn Hughes dazzled on the blueline and Brock Boeser returned to form as an elite goal scorer. Not to mention, Elias Pettersson showed off his elite skill-set before having his year cut short due to injury. 

Here's a look back and breakdown of the top plays and moments from the Vancouver Canucks' 2021 season. 
 

Vancouver, BC - Vancouver Canucks General Manager Jim Benning announced today that head coach Travis Green has agreed to terms on a multi-year contract extension.  

Vancouver, B.C. - The Vancouver Canucks announced their annual player awards during their final home game of the regular season on May 18 at Rogers Arena. Among the five awards announced, four were voted on by Canucks fans from May 3 to 9. 

Vancouver, B.C. - The Vancouver Canucks are proud to announce the winners of the second annual Fan Hero Awards, presented by BCLC. The Fan Hero Awards were launched last April in place of the Annual Team Awards to recognize and celebrate the personal contributions made by everyday heroes in communities throughout BC.

Jumping into the National Hockey League can sometimes present a wide array of challenges for new players. What Nils Höglander has endured and accomplished with the Vancouver Canucks in 2021 is something else entirely.

The Canucks remain in the hunt for a North Division playoff spot thanks to a strong month of March that saw them post an 8-4-1 record. From J.T. Miller' s sensational OT winner to Nils Hoglander's beautiful assist, here are the best plays and moments from March.

The Canucks bolstered their offensive depth on Wednesday, claiming 27-year-old forward Jimmy Vesey off waivers from the Toronto Maple Leafs organization. The former Hobey Baker Award winner appeared in 30 games for the Leafs this season, registering five goals and seven points.