NHL.com has released their latest Super 16 Power Rankings as we officially hit the half-way point of the 2024-25 season on Thursday night.
Every week, the writers over at NHL.com share their power rankings based on the previous seven days and if you're a Vancouver Canucks fan, you know that the last four games haven't been particularly great.
Starting things off with last Thursday's game in Seattle, which saw the team lose Thatcher Demko to an injury, which was later found out to be back spasms.
Kevin Lankinen came into the game during the second period and helped the Vancouver Canucks pick up a shootout win over their Pacific Northwest rivals.
However, the next three games following that win in Seattle, Rick Tocchet's group would go on to lose - 3-0 shutout loss to Nashville, 5-4 overtime loss to Montreal and last night's 2-1 overtime loss to the Washington Capitals.
Vancouver Canucks rise in recent power rankings by NHL.com
Despite their 1-1-2 record over the last seven days, the writers at NHL.com have put the Vancouver Canucks 14th on their most recent Super 16 Power Rankings, a rise of two spots from last week.
'Topsy-turvy, emotional, inconsistent and a bit soap opera-ish seems like a good way to describe the Canucks' first half, but they're in a playoff spot. Tenuously, yes, but nonetheless in it, which means they are at the very least set up to create some optimism with a second half push. Vancouver captain Quinn Hughes has been elite and is in contention to win the Norris Trophy as the NHL's best defenseman for a second straight season, but the Canucks need a whole heck of a lot more out of forward Elias Pettersson when he comes back from his injury. Wednesday's 2-1 loss to the Washington Capitals was their 10th in overtime. They play a lot of close games, but they have to start finding ways to get that extra goal. In the end, it likely will be the difference in making or missing the playoffs.' Dan Rosen of NHL.com said.
Over the next seven days, the Vancouver Canucks will have some tough games including stops in Carolina, Toronto and Winnipeg to wrap up their road trip before returning home next Thursday to face the Los Angeles Kings.
The Vancouver Canucks have a lot of work to do to climb back into the race for a top-three spot in the Pacific Division, but there's no doubt they have the talent on their roster to do so.
