Canucks mailbag: Fans make their resolutions for 2025

Article content

Vancouver Canucks fans are a pretty wise bunch and they’ve been through the ringer more than once.

Article content

Article content

Article content

In 2024, they witnessed the return of playoff hockey. That was a high point. But they also witnessed their team stumble its way through the first half of the 2024-25 season.

“I’m not content at all but there’s been a lot thrown to this team, let’s face it,” head coach Rick Tocchet said Friday. “People in and out, stuff like that, lot of noise. To be where we’re at is a positive. Like Quinn (Hughes) said the other day, we know we have some guys that we need to play better, but to be in our situation, that’s a positive.”

And now the team is without Hughes and Elias Pettersson, both dealing with undisclosed injuries suffered in recent games, for at least Saturday’s game. The team is still in a playoff spot, but it’s a tenuous situation.

Article content

Article content

So what are the resolutions Canucks fans are making this season?

I am going to appreciate every second Quinn Hughes is on the ice. It’s going to be a short time in Canucks history that “we” have a player that great.

— Shane Austin via BlueSky

We are going to be reminded just how big a load Hughes carries for this team when he misses Saturday’s game with his undisclosed injury, apparently suffered last Saturday versus Ottawa.

There’s just no filling the hole left by him. He’s the most thrilling and dynamic skater this city has seen, certainly since Pavel Bure. The Canucks control the game when he’s on the ice; they chase it when he’s on the bench.

We’re likely to see ugly hockey for as long as he’s out.

Much like Andy Bernard, who said “I wish there was a way to know you’re in the good old days before you’ve actually left them.” I resolve not to take for granted all of the successes the team currently have in the quest for the Cup. Too many dark years to not appreciate what we have now.

Article content

— Derek Kwan via BlueSky

This is a long-winded version of the answer every veteran athlete gives when they’re asked about what the advice they give to athletes getting sent to enter the big stage for the first time: just enjoy it.

What they always mean is that the first time is when everything looks rich and pure, with no nonsense. The world seems all yours. It’s a moment you will never feel again.

So try to hold on to that spirit as best you can.

It’s good advice for fans, too.

To be grateful that we are beyond the darkness (Jim Benning and COVID eras) and to enjoy the sporting thrills (like a roller-coaster, for there to be highs, there must be lows) no matter the result.

— The Tao of Oat on BlueSky

This is a lovely follow-on to the point made above.

Article content

Hot take: Most talented Canuck roster all time. May they find a way to put it all together.

— Aaron via BlueKsy

This is bold. And I’m sorry Aaron, I just don’t think you can look at this D corps, even with the best defenceman in team history, and say it’s better than the 2011 defence corps. The forwards are good and pretty deep, but again, the 2011 forwards had the Sedins and two of the best two-way forwards in team history in Alex Burrows and Ryan Kesler in their primes.

I admire the optimism, but I’m not buying it.

I hope they finally find a D man that can exercise the ghost that Quinn Hughes keeps seeing.

— Myra C. via BlueSky

Even before Hughes suffered whatever injury he’s dealing with this week, before Filip Hronek hurt his shoulder last month, Canucks management was on the hunt for another defencemen. It’s no secret they want to add a blue-liner who is adept at moving the puck.

That’s been clearly the case since the summer. This is a big, bruising group that, outside of Hughes and Hronek and, when he’s on his game, Erik Brännström, doesn’t have a whole of puck-moving talent.

As for the ghost face, that’s just how the man focuses.

Let’s hope we get to see it again soon.

pjohnston@postmedia.com

Article content