Vancouver Canucks fantasy projections for 2023-24

As part of NHL.com's 32 in 32 series, the fantasy hockey staff has projections for relevant players on the Vancouver Canucks. Players are listed in order of fantasy rank for this season.

**

Elias Pettersson, C

NHL.com fantasy rank: 20

Reason for optimism: Pettersson had a full-fledged breakout last season, hitting the 100-point mark for the first time in his NHL career and finishing 10th in the League in points (102 in 80 games). Pettersson was tied for the sixth-most even-strength points in the NHL (68), and was tied for the 14th-most even-strength goals (28). Pettersson should be considered a top-10 center option in fantasy drafts and the 24-year-old should be prioritized in keeper and dynasty leagues.

NHL.com point projection: 97

Quinn Hughes, D

NHL.com fantasy rank: 55

Reason for optimism: Hughes was tied for the second-most points (76 in 78 games) and had the second-most assists (69) among NHL defensemen. He was tied for the most power-play points at the position last season (34) and is the leader in the category the past two seasons combined (65 in 154 games). Hughes should be viewed as a top-10 fantasy defenseman this season.

NHL.com point projection: 80

J.T. Miller, C/RW

NHL.com fantasy rank: 58

Reason for optimism: Miller has averaged more than 1.00 points per game each of his past two seasons, with 99 points (32 goals, 67 assists) in 80 games in 2021-22 and 82 points (32 goals, 50 assists) in 81 games last season. He also was tied with Pettersson for the most short-handed points (nine) and short-handed goals (five) in the NHL last season. Miller has upside on the top power-play unit with Pettersson, Hughes, Andrei Kuzmenko and Anthony Beauvillier.

NHL.com point projection: 78

Andrei Kuzmenko, LW

NHL.com fantasy rank: 76

Reason for optimism: In his first NHL season, Kuzmenko put up excellent numbers with 74 points (39 goals, 35 assists) in 81 games. Kuzmenko was tied for the 20th-most goals in the NHL and was tied with Pettersson for the Canucks lead in the category. He has high production and scoring upside on their top line with Pettersson.

NHL.com point projection: 74

Thatcher Demko, G

NHL.com fantasy rank: 144

Reason for optimism: Demko had 33 wins in 2021-22 but played only 32 games last season because of a groin injury. Demko has bounce-back potential this season and has a solid fantasy floor, never having a save percentage below .900 in any season in which he played two or more games. Demko further benefits from playing behind a Canucks team that allowed the 12th-fewest shots on goal per game last season (30.8).

NHL.com win projection: 28

Other VAN players to consider in fantasy: Brock Boeser, RW; Filip Hronek, D; Anthony Beauvillier, LW

---