Reviewing Vancouver Canucks' Opening Night Roster: Strengths & weaknesses of Quinn Hughes-led roster

The Vancouver Canucks opening night roster is set for the 2024-25 season. While there are no major surprises following the final cuts, some players could be on the bubble if they don’t perform up to expectations.

Overall, the Canucks have a solid roster, ready to compete with the powerhouses of the Western Conference like the Edmonton Oilers, Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars.

The Quinn Hughes-led Vancouver Canucks roster lacks any glaring holes up front. The forward group, led by uber-talented forwards like Elias Pettersson, Brock Boeser, J.T. Miller and Jake DeBrusk should give opposing coaches nightmares.

As for the bottom six, top prospect-turned-regular-NHLer Aatu Raty could be this season’s biggest revelation. Raty will be leading the third line for the Vancouver Canucks, but could eventually jump into the top six. Depth players like Danton Heinen and Teddy Blueger will play crucial roles in helping Vancouver repeat as division champs.

Meanwhile, the defense looks rock solid. Reigning Norris Trophy winner Hughes will be expected to compete for his second Norris in a row. He’s got the potential to notch 100 points while being an effective leader on and off the ice.

Hughes’ partner, Filip Hronek could be in for a big season following his massive extension this offseason. The rest of the defense includes solid NHL blueliners like Carson Soucy, Derek Forbort, and Tyler Myers. If the blue-line players are up to their capabilities, there’s little doubt the Canucks will have another strong season.

Looking at weaknesses on the Vancouver Canucks opening night roster

The most glaring weakness is in the crease. The Canucks starting netminder Thatcher Demko will start the season on IR without a clear timetable for his return.

The situation has thrust young goaltender Arturs Silovs into the starting role for the Vancouver Canucks. Last season, Silovs was a revelation during the postseason as he backstopped the Canucks when both Demko and Casey DeSmith went down with injuries.

This time around, Silovs will be the man in the crease. However, that’s where the question marks emerge. Can Silovs be relied upon as a true number one? Moreover, with backup Kevin Lankinen be able to carry the load in the event Silovs is inconsistent?

There is no doubt that Silovs is a good netminder. But it remains to be seen if he can sustain that success over the course of a full season. If he does, the Canucks will have no need to rush Demko back. But if the goaltender falters, they may need to scramble for answers.

Ultimately, the goaltending situation could be Vancouver’s downfall. As such, the entire team needs to play well in front of Silovs and Lankinen to avoid risking a playoff appearance this season.

How do you think the Vancouver Canucks will fare next season? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.