The 2019–20 Vancouver Canucks season was the
50th season for the
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...
franchise that was established on May 22, 1970. The Canucks attempted to return to the postseason for the first time since the
2014–15 season.
The season was suspended by the league officials on March 12, 2020, after several other professional and collegiate sports organizations followed suit as a result of the ongoing
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...
. On May 26, the NHL regular season was officially declared over with the remaining games being cancelled. The Canucks advanced to the
playoffs
The playoffs, play-offs, postseason or finals of a sports league are a competition played after the regular season by the top competitors to determine the league champion or a similar accolade. Depending on the league, the playoffs may be eithe ...
for the first time since the
2014–15 season. They defeated the
Minnesota Wild
The Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The Wild compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Confer ...
in the qualifying round in four games. The Canucks then defeated the defending Stanley Cup champion
St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis. The Blues compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...
in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in six games, advancing to the second round for the first time since the
2010–11 season, where they faced off against the
Vegas Golden Knights
The Vegas Golden Knights are a professional ice hockey team based in the Las Vegas Valley, Las Vegas metropolitan area. The Golden Knights compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division ...
, losing the series in seven games.
Off-season
The Vancouver Canucks hosted the
2019 NHL entry draft on June 21–22, 2019.
Training camp
The Canucks held their training camp at
Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre
Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre (SOFMC) is an indoor arena located in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, and is the largest arena in British Columbia outside of Vancouver. It is primarily used for ice hockey, previously the home arena of the Vi ...
in
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of British Columbia, on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific Ocean, Pacific coast. The city has a population of 91,867, and the Gre ...
, from September 13–15. The following day, they hosted a preseason game against the
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary. The Flames compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. The ...
in Victoria, which they lost 4–3.
Regular season
October
The Canucks began their season with a 3–2 loss to the
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton. The Oilers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...
on October 2. After ending their season-opening two-game road trip with a 3–0 loss to the
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary. The Flames compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. The ...
, the team returned home for their October 9 home opener against the
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles. The Kings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. ...
, the same team the Canucks hosted in their inaugural game exactly 49 years earlier. In a special
pre-game ceremony
A pre-game ceremony or pre-match ceremony is an on-field ceremony occurring before a sporting event. Such ceremonies may celebrate a past event, honour a retiring athlete, commemorate a deceased athlete, or promote a cause.
Celebrating past event ...
, the Canucks named Bo Horvat the 14th captain in team history. The Canucks defeated the Kings 8–2. The Canucks would get back to .500 in their next game by beating the
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia. The Flyers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team play ...
3–2 in a shootout, their first shootout of the year. Before the final game of the homestand, Jacob Markstrom left the team for personal reasons, resulting in Thatcher Demko making his first start of the season, where the Canucks won 5–1 over the
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings (colloquially referred to as the Wings) are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit. The Red Wings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the East ...
. The Canucks opened their road trip on October 17 by defeating the defending champion
St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis. The Blues compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...
4–3 in a shootout, coming back after being down 3–1 in the game to earn their first road victory of the year. Playing their next two games on back-to-back days, the Canucks were shutout by the
New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The club w ...
1–0, however they rebounded and defeated the
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in New York City. The Rangers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team plays ...
3–2 the following day, which included Bo Horvat scoring his 100th career goal. The Canucks concluded their road trip by defeating the
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings (colloquially referred to as the Wings) are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit. The Red Wings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the East ...
5–2, with Bo Horvat scoring his first career
hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick is the achievement of a generally positive feat three times in a match, or another achievement based on the number three.
Origin
The term first appeared in 1858 in cricket, to describe H. H. Stephenson taking three Wick ...
and helping Vancouver overcome a 2–0 deficit in the game. On October 25, back at home facing the
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals (colloquially known as the Caps) are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. The Capitals compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NH ...
, the Canucks surrendered a 5–1 second period lead and lost the game 6–5 in a shootout. The team rebounded in their next game and beat the
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in the Miami metropolitan area. The Panthers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference. The team initially played it ...
7–2. To close out the month of October, the Canucks began a three-game California road trip by visiting the Los Angeles Kings. Vancouver earned a 5–3 victory in the October 30 game, which included a Brock Boeser hat-trick.
November
Continuing their road trip, the Canucks opened November with a 2–1 overtime loss to the
Anaheim Ducks
The Anaheim Ducks are a professional ice hockey team based in Anaheim, California. The Ducks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Confere ...
. They responded the following day by winning 5–2 over the
San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California. The Sharks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Con ...
. The Canucks earned five of six points on the road trip, and won their first game in San Jose since March 31, 2016.
End of season
At the 2020 NHL Awards, first year defenceman
Quinn Hughes
Quintin Hughes (born October 14, 1999) is an American professional ice hockey Defenceman, defenseman and Captain (ice hockey), captain of the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL). Hughes was drafted seventh overall by the Canuck ...
would finish second in the
Calder Memorial Trophy
The Calder Memorial Trophy is an annual award given "to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the National Hockey League (NHL)." It is named after Frank Calder, the first president of the NHL. Serving ...
voting, marking the third consecutive year that a Canucks rookie finished in the top 3 in voting for this award, a feat that has not been matched since the
New York Rangers
The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in New York City. The Rangers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team plays ...
did so from 1969 to 1971.
Standings
Divisional standings
Western Conference
;Tiebreaking procedures
# Fewer number of games played (only used during regular season).
# Greater number of regulation wins (denoted by RW).
# Greater number of wins in regulation and overtime (excluding shootout wins; denoted by ROW).
# Greater number of total wins (including shootouts).
# Greater number of points earned in head-to-head play; if teams played an uneven number of head-to-head games, the result of the first game on the home ice of the team with the extra home game is discarded.
# Greater goal differential (difference between goals for and goals against).
# Greater number of goals scored (denoted by GF).
Schedule and results
Pre-season
The Canucks released their pre-season schedule on June 18, 2019.
Regular season
The regular season schedule was released on June 25, 2019.
Playoffs
The Canucks defeated the
Minnesota Wild
The Minnesota Wild are a professional ice hockey team based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The Wild compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Confer ...
in the qualifying round in four games.
The Canucks faced the
St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis. The Blues compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...
in the first round, and defeated them in six games.
In the second round, the Canucks faced the
Vegas Golden Knights
The Vegas Golden Knights are a professional ice hockey team based in the Las Vegas Valley, Las Vegas metropolitan area. The Golden Knights compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division ...
, but lost in seven games.
Detailed records
Player statistics
Skaters
Goaltenders
†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Canucks. Stats reflect time with the Canucks only.
‡Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Canucks only.
Bold/italics denotes franchise record.
Awards and honours
Awards
Milestones
Records
Transactions
The Canucks have been involved in the following
transactions during the 2019–20 season.
Trades
Free agents
Waivers
Contract terminations
Retirement
Signings
Draft picks
Below are the Vancouver Canucks' selections at the
2019 NHL entry draft, which was held on June 21 and 22, 2019, at
Rogers Arena
Rogers Arena, (formerly General Motors Place), is a multi-purpose list of indoor arenas, arena at 800 Griffiths Way in the Downtown Vancouver, downtown area of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Opened in 1995, the arena was known as General ...
in
Vancouver, British Columbia
Vancouver is a major city in Western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the cit ...
.
Notes:
# The
San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California. The Sharks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Con ...
' fourth-round pick went to the
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver. The Canucks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conferenc ...
as the result of a trade on June 22, 2019, that sent a fourth-round pick in 2019 (102nd overall) to Buffalo in exchange for Winnipeg's sixth-round pick in 2019 (175th overall) and this pick.
# The
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators (), officially the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club and colloquially known as the Sens, are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa. The Senators compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Di ...
' sixth-round pick went to the Vancouver Canucks as the result of a trade on January 2, 2019, that sent
Anders Nilsson and
Darren Archibald to Ottawa in exchange for
Mike McKenna,
Tom Pyatt
Thomas Cullum Pyatt (born February 14, 1987) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre. He spent most of his career in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Montreal Canadiens, Tampa Bay Lightning and Ottawa Senators. Pyatt also pl ...
and this pick.
# The
Winnipeg Jets
The Winnipeg Jets are a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg. The Jets compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. The te ...
' sixth-round pick went to the Vancouver Canucks as the result of a trade on June 22, 2019, that sent a fourth-round pick in 2019 (102nd overall) to Buffalo in exchange for San Jose's fourth-round pick in 2019 (122nd overall) and this pick.
# The
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals (colloquially known as the Caps) are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. The Capitals compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NH ...
' sixth-round pick went to the Vancouver Canucks as the result of a trade on June 23, 2018, that sent a sixth-round pick in
2018
Events January
* January 1 – Bulgaria takes over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, after the Estonian presidency.
* January 4 – SPLM-IO rebels loyal to Chan Garang Lual start a raid against Juba, capital of ...
to Washington in exchange for a sixth-round pick in 2018 and this pick.
# The
San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California. The Sharks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Con ...
' seventh-round pick went to the Vancouver Canucks as the result of a trade on June 22, 2019, that sent
Tom Pyatt
Thomas Cullum Pyatt (born February 14, 1987) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre. He spent most of his career in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Montreal Canadiens, Tampa Bay Lightning and Ottawa Senators. Pyatt also pl ...
and a sixth-round pick in 2019 (164th overall) to San Jose in exchange for
Francis Perron and this pick.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:2019-20 Vancouver Canucks season
Vancouver Canucks seasons
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver. The Canucks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conferenc ...
Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver. The Canucks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference. The team plays its home games at Rogers Arena ...
Vancouver Canucks, 2019-20
Vancouver Canucks, 2019-20
Canucks, 2019-20
Canucks, 2019-20