What Happened
Vancouver Canucks general manager Ryan Johnson said the team's difficult start was foreseeable, pointing back to a pre-camp meeting in Penticton where he told staff and players the challenge would be harder than they expected. The Canucks are 2-8-1 through 11 games, the first full season of their rebuild, and have lost eight in a row. According to Sportsnet, Vancouver has allowed an NHL-high 51 goals.
Key Details
- Vancouver is 2-8-1 through 11 games in the first full season of its rebuild.
- The Canucks have lost eight consecutive games.
- Vancouver has allowed an NHL-high 51 goals.
- In the last five games, the Canucks were outscored 11-0 in the third period and lost all five.
- Seven of Vancouver's first 11 opponents won the Stanley Cup or reached the final in the past five years.
- Detroit is Vancouver's opponent on Thursday.
What It Means
The Canucks are in the early stage of a rebuild under new management, new coaches and new systems, with a roster that includes many young and new players. Johnson's message before camp framed early struggles as expected, and the schedule has added to the difficulty. The third-period scoring gap in the recent skid stands out as a specific problem within a broader adjustment period.
What's Next
Vancouver hosts Detroit on Thursday, looking to end the eight-game slide. The Canucks' early schedule has included several recent Stanley Cup contenders, and the club continues its first full season under the new management and coaching staff.