Canucks Reject Contentment Despite .500 Start
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After finishing as the NHL's worst team last season, Vancouver players and staff are pushing for higher standards following a 2-2 opening week.
The Vancouver Canucks have started their season with a 2-2 record, a mark that reflects a difficult opening stretch featuring three games against projected Stanley Cup contenders, as Sportsnet first reported. Despite the .500 start, the locker room is refusing to settle for mediocrity given the franchise was the worst team in the league last year.
Following a 3-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday, center Max Sasson told Sportsnet that while outside observers might be satisfied with the start, the team believes they are a competitive NHL squad. Veteran winger Drew O’Connor echoed this sentiment, stating the team's mentality is to win every game regardless of external expectations.
Sportsnet reports that the team is undergoing a significant overhaul in roster, coaching, and management. Rookie head coach Manny Malhotra noted that while the team is showing progress, they must improve their starts and reactions to goals. In the loss to Vegas, the Canucks were outshot 26-11 through the first two periods, though they remained competitive thanks to goals from Paul Cotter and rookie Jonathan Lekkerimaki, as well as 25 saves from goaltender Kevin Lankinen.
Lankinen explicitly stated he is not satisfied with a .500 record, noting that the team is still building a new system and culture. Paul Cotter added that the group is "ego-less" and committed to improving together.
Vancouver now prepares for a six-game road trip through the East, facing the champion Carolina Hurricanes, the Florida Panthers, and the Tampa Bay Lightning, per Sportsnet.