Canucks miss playoffs due to slow start, COVID-19 outbreak

The Vancouver Canucks were eliminated from contention for the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Monday when the Montreal Canadiens earned a point in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Edmonton Oilers.

The Canucks (21-26-3) have missed the playoffs in five of the past six seasons. Their only postseason appearance during that span was last season, when they lost in seven games to the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference Second Round.
Depending on the 2021 NHL Draft Lottery results, the Canucks are in the mix for a top-five selection in the first round of the 2021 NHL Draft on July 23.
Here is a look at what happened in 2020-21 for the Canucks and why things could be better next season.

The Skinny

Potential unrestricted free agents: Travis Boyd, F; Jalen Chatfield, D; Alexander Edler, D; Tyler Graovac, F; Travis Hamonic, D;
Brogan Rafferty
, D;
Ashton Sautner
, D; Brandon Sutter, F; Jimmy Vesey, F
Potential restricted free agents: Justin Bailey, F; Jayce Hawryluk, F; Quinn Hughes, D; Olli Juolevi, D; Kole Lind, F; Marc Michaelis, F; Elias Pettersson, F
Potential 2021 Draft picks: 8

What went wrong

Rocky start:There was optimism following the Canucks' play in the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs in the Edmonton bubble, but it faded quickly when Vancouver began this season 6-11-0, including a six-game losing streak from Feb. 1-11. During those first 17 games, goalies Thatcher Demko (3-6-0, 3.74 goals-against average, .896 save percentage, nine games) and Braden Holtby (3-5-0, 3.75 GAA, .885 save percentage, eight games) each struggled.
The outbreak: The Canucks were coming out of a six-day break in their schedule when forward Adam Gaudette tested positive for COVID-19 and was pulled from practice March 30. It was the first sign of an outbreak that extended to 22 players and four staff members, including coach Travis Green, testing positive. Vancouver, 16-18-3 at that point, had nine games postponed, didn't play again until April 18 and lost all hope when they went 3-7-0 in their next 10 games after resuming play.
Pettersson injury:Having the 22-year-old center limited to 26 games because of an upper-body injury was too much to overcome. Pettersson, who scored 21 points (10 goals, 11 assists), is one of Vancouver's most explosive performers, having scored 66 points (27 goals, 39 assists) in 68 games last season. Without him since March 2, a game-breaker was lost.

Reasons for optimism

Demko emerging: After a rough start, the goalie rallied to go 11-11-1 with a 2.57 goals-against average, .921 save percentage and one shutout in 23 games since Feb. 12. The 25-year-old signed a five-year, $25 million contract April 8, and the way he stabilized his game this season is a big positive for the future.
Young core promising: The transformation of the Canucks' leadership group has put younger players in key roles. Despite Vancouver's step back this season, the amount of upside for center Bo Horvat, 26; Demko; forward Brock Boeser, 24; Pettersson; Hughes, 21; and forward Nils Hoglander, 20; is a promising foundation around which to build.
Advantage with the man-advantage: The Canucks' power play ranked fourth in the NHL last season at 24.2 percent, but the loss of Pettersson scuttled a repeat of that success with Vancouver slipping to 25th at 17.4 percent. But with Hughes as the quarterback and Boeser and Pettersson as shooting options on either flank, the unit should be a potent weapon again next season.