Canucks Talk Hughes Can Drag This Team Into the Playoffs
Nov 4, 2025
Kevin Woodley, a goaltending analyst from NHL.com and InGoal Magazine, joins the discussion as they delve into Vancouver's biggest challenges. He evaluates Thatcher Demko's performance and the inconsistency in net-front offense that hinders scoring. Woodley highlights the Canucks' struggling penalty kill and why early-season data must be interpreted cautiously. They also explore Quinn Hughes' potential to elevate the team to playoff contention and question whether returning players can shift the team's offensive dynamics.
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Hughes' Outsize Impact Versus Team Reality
- Thomas Drance believes Quinn Hughes can single-handedly lift Vancouver into playoff contention if he plays like an MVP nightly.
- Drance warns team-wide underlying metrics still flash danger and the roster may be trending toward being non-competitive.
Overtime Wins Mask Deeper Problems
- Drance flags the Canucks' underlying five-on-five metrics as alarming despite an even record driven by overtime results.
- He stresses overtime success is volatile and not a reliable indicator of true team quality.
Demko's Dip Is Regression, Not Collapse
- Kevin Woodley views Thatcher Demko's recent rough stretch as regression from an unsustainably high save rate.
- He sees no technical decline and calls it a normal goalie dip, not a long-term concern.