5 NHL teams that missed the 2019 playoffs but will clinch in 2020
By Kyle McKenna
2. Vancouver Canucks
Yes, the Western Conference is stacked with playoff-caliber teams and some clubs will get snubbed this spring. However, one of the biggest surprise teams of 2019-20 is that of the Vancouver Canucks.
That’s right – Edmonton and Vancouver will be back in the playoffs together, plus the Calgary Flames will be involved in the mix too; but that’s a conversation for another time.
The Canucks haven’t clinched a berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs since the 2014-15 campaign and that was even short-lived after the blue and green were eliminated in the first round in six games by Calgary. There’s potential that the Canucks could face-off with the other two Canadian clubs mentioned, or even the Winnipeg Jets, which would mean all four Western Conference teams north of the border will have a crack at the Stanley Cup.
However, Vancouver’s rebuild is finally falling into place after a handful of chaotic years.
Forward Bo Horvat appears to be a great fit to act as the team’s first captain since Henrik Sedin retired, Quinn Hughes has already portrayed flashes that he can be an elite defenseman at the NHL level and let’s not forget that Elias Pettersson is going to be up for the Hart Trophy at least once during his tenure with Vancouver.
A question mark right now is between the pipes, but Thatcher Demko and Jacob Markstrom could turn heads this year as one of the better tandems in the league. Both masked men have solid numbers early on, and the two seem to complement each other’s abilities and Vancouver’s style at the moment.