But we can still love them, right?

Ok, the jig is up. The Canucks will not win the Stanley Cup this year…..or next. The optimism has all run out and I rescind my prediction. You may call me a quitter, but I prefer the term realist. Because realistically the Canucks are going to get their asses handed to them this month. No Bo, no Sven, no Sutter, no Guds, and no DD…ever again. I’m pretty sure that there is no way to dig out of the hole the Canuck have dug…and continue to dig this month.

Here are five reasons why the Canucks are doomed this year. (I know, it’s only 32 games in)

1. The Sedins have the highest Corsi%EV on the team. (D Sedin 55%, H Sedin 54%)

But Westy, isn’t that a good thing? Yes, it is but it also shows that only the Sedins really have the capability to control play and get more chances than they allow. Bo and Brock are both close to being 50% but alas they are below it. The only defenseman above 50% is Derek Pouliot. The Canucks as a team are 25^th overall with 47% EV.

2. Injuries during a very tough month.

I don’t have to elaborate on this one. It’s not the fact that there are five guys gone, it is the 5 guys and what their absence has done to the lineup.

3. This team is not a physical presence.

And before people start twisting my words, I’m not looking for goons. What I mean is that this team does not have big guys who throw they body around. Canuck Players avoid checks and avoid handing them out as well. This is where DD is missed. Forechecking without the hitting aspect makes it far easier for the opposition to get out of their own end. There is less panic when you know the Canuck players just want the puck and not to hit the shit out of you for having it. And before anyone says, “If Jake played more hitting would happen” Jake has 40 hits in 28 games. Biega has 42 hits in 15 games. Jake is not a physical force out there.

4. Our Goalies are backups, not starters.

Two stats I want to point out. The first one is save percentage. The two Canuck goalies are 20^th and 21^th in the league in this category. (min 10 games started). Rebound control and positioning is something both of goalies should hear on a daily basis from the coaches, management, their wives, fans on the street…their kids.

The second stat is quality starts. Markstrom has 22 starts and only 9 of them have been quality starts. Markstrom is the starter for this team and he needs to work on his game. You can cry and complain and moan and groan, but Nilsson was signed to be the back up and his numbers are similar to Markstrom’s. Besides, both of them are at best, average goalies.

5. The Canucks cannot score.

Brock Boeser will score 30+ goals this year. (knock on wood..no injury), but no other player will be close to 30. Hell, we would be lucky to see anyone else get to 25 the way this year is going. There are five Canucks that have played a lot of games that have zero goals. Besides Gaunce, who may never score again, the dynamic trio of Stetcher/Hutton/Guds have no goals this year. Elder and Del Zotto each have one goal. Pouliot has 2 goals. Holy fuck the defense sucks at offence.

With all this negativity…I mean realism, one might think I have given up hope on this team. I have not. I look forward to when the injured players get back and some chemistry returns and this team goes on a little run that wakes the masses up again and the word “playoff” gets through about on Twitter just to start an internet flame war.

I look forward to the trade deadline and hopefully the trade of Guds for some picks….and Vanek for a pick. Maybe Demko gets a game or two. I am hopeful for the future. Go Canucks Go!