Vancouver Canucks make huge jump in recent NHL power rankings

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Cooper Godin
October 25, 2024 (7:49)

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The Vancouver Canucks have made a huge jump in a recent NHL power rankings list.

After a slow start to the 2024-25 season, going 0-1-2 in their first three games, Rick Tocchet's group have turned things around in a big way. The Canucks have won their last three games against the Florida Panthers, Philadelphia Flyers and Chicago Blackhawks to wrap up their four-game road trip with a 3-1-0 record.

As the Vancouver Canucks return home to begin a three-game home stand starting on Saturday, the team is beginning to get the recognition they deserve around the National Hockey League.

In their most recent edition of the Super 16, a power rankings of 16 teams who are doing well right now, NHL.com has not only included the Vancouver Canucks on that list, but they're quite high up in their debut on it this season.

Now, in their article, NHL.com essentially has two different power rankings. One from their writers collectively and one from Dan Rosen, the latter of whom has the Canucks in eighth place on his power rankings. Meanwhile, this week's Super 16 sees the Vancouver Canucks land in the 12th spot after not being ranked at all previously this season.

""Vancouver has won three straight, outscoring opponents 12-5 after beginning the season with three straight losses. The key to the turnaround has been backup goalie Kevin Lankinen, who is 3-0-1 with a 1.70 GAA and .941 save percentage in four games. With starter Thatcher Demko still out and Arturs Silovs having struggled in his two starts, Lankinen has been the very early season MVP for the Canucks." David Satriano of NHL.com said.

As Satriano says, Kevin Lankinen has been the team's MVP so far this season and there's no doubting that whatsoever. After reports that the team was trying to sign him, but couldn't meet his salary demands, the Canucks and Lankinen finally agreed on a contract on September 21st, just as training camp was getting underway.

In four games this season, Lankinen has a record of 3-0-1 with a 1.70 goals against average, a .941 save percentage and one shutout. Until Thatcher Demko is able to return, which is still unclear at this point, it's Kevin Lankinen's crease and he's likely surpassed Arturs Silovs on the depth chart based on his early season performances.

Lankinen and the Canucks will be back in action on Saturday night at Rogers Arena as they look for their fourth-straight win. Puck drop for tomorrow's tilt against Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins is set for 7 pm PT on Hockey Night in Canada.