Vancouver Canucks fans, unfortunately, are accustomed to their team not being very good.
But this year is different.
That’s true for a myriad of reasons, one of them being that their two franchise pillars should be in their prime and dominating, but let’s focus on the standings.
After the Canucks lost 3-1 to the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday night, their record dropped to 10-14-3 on the season.
That leaves them just one point ahead of the Nashville Predators and Calgary Flames.
Yes, the Canucks are one point away from being the worst team in the NHL.
Canucks haven’t been this close to the basement in a long time. (NHL)
The lacklustre start is nothing new for this group.
During the bizarre 2020-21 North Division season, the Canucks had a slightly worse 10-15-2 record after the 27-game mark. Right now, nine teams have fewer points than the Canucks. Vancouver would finish the season as the eighth-worst team in the league.
The Canucks also had a 10-15-2 record the following season in 2021-22. They were 8-15-2 before Travis Green was fired and Bruce Boudreau was hired.
But even though their record at the 27-game mark in 2021-22 was worse than this year’s Canucks, Vancouver was only the seventh-worst team in the league. They were also 10 points clear of the basement-dwelling Arizona Coyotes.
That’s what makes this crappy start unique for the Canucks.
Gary Bettman’s vision of NHL parity is alive and well. Even though the Canucks’ porous start is similar to previous seasons, the NHL basement has risen.
Recent bottom-feeders like the San Jose Sharks and Chicago Blackhawks are closer to the playoff bar than the basement.
In the Eastern Conference, seemingly everyone has a shot at the playoffs. Two of the three worst teams in the East right now are the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Florida Panthers.
For the Canucks, unlike the 2021-22 season, it doesn’t seem like a new coach bump is on the horizon. And, they might actually trade veterans to weaken the short-term prospects of this group.
So yes, the Canucks have a realistic shot at finishing with the worst record in the NHL.
Perhaps this is a long-overdue blessing for Canucks fans. Vancouver hasn’t picked top three in the draft since 1999, when they snagged the Sedin twins.