September means that we are only a few weeks away from the start of the Vancouver Canucks 2024-25 season. Events over the next couple weeks include Young Stars and Training Camp in Penticton as well as the first preseason game, which is scheduled for September 24 versus the Seattle Kraken. Overall, anticipation is growing in the marketplace, with many expecting Vancouver to take another step forward this year.
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With the season on the horizon, The Hockey News Canucks team put together a questionnaire and asked fans to predict what will happen during the 2024-25 season. The questionnaire featured ten questions ranging from who will win MVP to how far Vancouver will go in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Without further ado, here are the predictions for the upcoming season.
Question 1: Who will lead the Canucks in scoring?
THN Canucks Answers:
Adam Kierszenblat: Elias Pettersson, 105 Points
Izzy Cheung: J.T. Miller, 102 Points
Max Miller: Elias Pettersson, 107 Points
Survey Answers (60 Responses):
Elias Pettersson: 42 Votes
J.T. Miller: 15 Votes
Quinn Hughes: 2 Votes
Brock Boeser: 1 Vote
Unspinsgly, the two players who received the most votes to lead the Canucks in scoring were Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller. Each has hit the 100-point mark over the last two seasons, with both projected to have significant seasons in 2024-25. While Quinn Hughes and Brock Boeser both received votes, the early projection is that the scoring title will come down to Vancouver’s top two centermen.
Related: A Cathartic Timeline of the Vancouver Canucks 2023-2024 Season
Question 2: Who will lead the Canucks in goals?
THN Canucks Answers:
Adam Kierszenblat: Elias Pettersson, 41 Goals
Izzy Cheung: J.T. Miller, 38 Goals
Max Miller: Brock Boeser, 37 Goals
Survey Answers (60 Responses):
Elias Pettersson: 26 Votes
Brock Boeser: 19 Votes
J.T. Miller: 14 Votes
Jake DeBrusk: 1 Vote
The goals race will be another fascinating one to keep track of throughout the campaign. Last season, Miller and Pettersson both scored at least 34 goals, while Boeser reigned supreme with his first 40-goal season. Just like the voting, this battle will be very close and may only be decided with only a few games to go.
Question 3: Who will be the Canucks Team MVP?
THN Canucks Answers:
Adam Kierszenblat: Quinn Hughes
Izzy Cheung: Quinn Hughes
Max Miller: Quinn Hughes
Survey Answers (60 Responses):
Quinn Hughes: 35 Votes
Elias Pettersson: 18 Votes
J.T. Miller: 6 Votes
Thatcher Demko: 1 Vote
Hughes was the runaway favourite for both The Hockey News team and fan voting. While Pettersson did pick up a significant amount of votes, it is hard to bet against Vancouver’s captain. If Hughes can put up another Norris-calibre season, this should be an easy vote at the end of the year.
Question 4: Unsung Hero for 2024-25?
THN Canucks Answers:
Adam Kierszenblat: Pius Suter
Izzy Cheung: Conor Garland
Max Miller: Jake DeBrusk
Survey Answers (60 Responses):
Conor Garland: 27 Votes
Jake DeBrusk: 17 Votes
Filip Hronek: 7 Votes
Danton Heinen: 3 Votes
Artūrs Šilovs, Pius Suter, Carson Soucy, Vincent Desharnais & Kiefer Sherwood: 1 Vote Each
After being named Unsung Hero for the last two seasons, Dakota Joshua’s reign atop the award will come to an end in 2024-25. Leading the way in the vote this year is Conor Garland, whose spins and strong defensive work have made him a valuable part of the lineup. He may have some competition from Jake DeBrusk and Filip Hronek, but based on what Garland brings on a nightly basis, he would be a rightful recipient of this year’s award.
Question 5: Breakout Player for 2024-25?
THN Canucks Answers:
Adam Kierszenblat: Kiefer Sherwood
Izzy Cheung: Artūrs Šilovs
Max Miller: Linus Karlsson
Survey Answers (60 Responses):
Artūrs Šilovs: 21 Votes
Kiefer Sherwood: 20 Votes
Linus Karlsson: 13 Votes
Daniel Sprong: 2 Votes
Dakota Joshua, Vincent Desharnais, Danton Heinen & Jonathan Lekkerimäki: 1 Vote Each
After a sensational 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Artūrs Šilovs is the predicted favourite for breakout player of the season. Depending on Thatcher Demko’s health, Šilovs could see significant time in the crease this year and will need to put up solid numbers for the Canucks to have success. That being said, don’t rule out newly acquired Kiefer Sherwood, who could end up being one of Patrik Allvin’s best pickups of the summer.
Related: 2023-24 Vancouver Canucks Player Review: Artūrs Šilovs
Question 6: Top Newcomer for 24-25?
THN Canucks Answers:
Adam Kierszenblat: Jake DeBrusk
Izzy Cheung: Kiefer Sherwood
Max Miller: Jake DeBrusk
Survey Answers (59 Responses):
Jake DeBrusk: 46 Votes
Danton Heinen: 9 Votes
Kiefer Sherwood: 3 Votes
Daniel Sprong: 1 Vote
It is not surprising that fans have high expectations for DeBrusk. Signed to a seven-year deal on July 1, he is projected to play beside Pettersson and see significant time on the power play. While others like Sherwood, Danton Heinen and Daniel Sprong will have important roles within the lineup, all eyes will be on DeBrusk as he looks to hit the 30-goal mark for the first time in his career.
Question 7: Will Quinn Hughes be nominated for the Norris Trophy?
THN Canucks Answers:
Adam Kierszenblat: Yes
Izzy Cheung: Yes
Max Miller: Yes
Survey Answers (60 Responses):
Yes: 53 Votes
No: 7 Votes
After winning the Norris Trophy last season, Hughes should once again be a finalist in 2024-25. NHL.com currently projects Vancouver’s captain at 89 points, which ranks third for the upcoming season and should be enough to get Hughes in the Norris conversation once again. Overall, this should be a special season for Hughes as he is projected to not only eclipse the 400-point mark but also become the franchise’s all-time leader for points by a defenceman.
Related: BREAKING: Quinn Hughes Becomes First Canucks Defenceman To Win The Norris Trophy
Question 8: Will the Canucks win 50 games?
THN Canucks Answers:
Adam Kierszenblat: Yes
Izzy Cheung: No
Max Miller: No
Survey Answers (61 Responses):
Yes: 40 Votes
No: 21 Votes
Last season, the Canucks did something they had only done twice before in franchise, win 50 games. While the team is arguably deeper this year, hitting the 50-win mark for a second straight season is going to be a significant challenge. Even if they do not hit 50 wins, they should come close, which should once again land them near the top of the Western Conference standings.
Question 9: Will the Canucks win the division?
THN Canucks Answers:
Adam Kierszenblat: No
Izzy Cheung: No
Max Miller: No
Survey Answers (60 Responses):
No: 38
Yes: 22
While the Vegas Golden Knights and L.A. Kings have strong teams, the Pacific Division should once again come down to Vancouver and the Edmonton Oilers. These two heavyweights will no doubt go back and forth all season, with the division potentially coming down to the final games of the year. Regardless of who wins the division, these two teams look destined for another collision course in the second round.
Related: Canucks Crack Top Ten In NHL.com’s First Super 16 Of 2024-25
Question 10: How far will the Canucks go in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs?
THN Canucks Answers:
Adam Kierszenblat: Conference Finals
Izzy Cheung: Confernce Finals
Max Miller: Second Round
Survey Answers (61 Responses):
Conference Finals: 23 Votes
Second Round: 19 Votes
Win The Stanley Cup: 12 Votes
First Round: 6 Votes
Miss The Playoffs: 1 Vote
Lose Stanley Cup: 0 Votes
Based on the votes, there is confidence that the Canucks will be able to improve on their final result from 2023-24. As mentioned, this most likely means going through the Oilers in the second round, which will be no easy feat. Regardless, the 2024-25 season should provide plenty of memories for fans in Vancouver as the Canucks enter the campaign with one of the strongest rosters in the West.
Make sure you bookmark THN’s Vancouver Canucks site for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.
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