Music: {allcanada} Canucks season preview: Must overcome difficult early schedule

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Coach: Bruce Boudreau (second season)

Last season: 40-30-12, fifth in Pacific Division; did not qualify for Stanley Cup Playoffs

3 KEYS

1. Better start to the season

The Canucks couldn't quite come back from their dreadful start last season. They were 32-15-10 in 57 games after Boudreau took over for Travis Green on Dec. 5, but their 8-15-2 record in their first 25 games ruined them and they missed the playoffs by five points.

That's a lesson learned for the Canucks, who know it won't be easy to get off to a strong start based on their schedule.

They play their first five games on the road in three time zones. They play 11 of their first 17 games and 14 of their first 22 on the road, including their second trip to the East Coast in less than a month for five straight games against the Ottawa Senators, Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins and Buffalo Sabres from Nov. 8-15.

2. Demko's workload

Thatcher Demko played 64 games last season, third most in the NHL behind Juuse Saros (67) and Connor Hellebuyck (66). He played in 30 of the Canucks' last 36 games, starting 27.

The 26-year-old goalie handled it well overall, but he tired toward the end, when he was also playing through a lower-body injury. Demko was 9-6-5 with a 3.00 goals-against average and .908 save percentage in his last 20 games. He was 24-16-2 with a 2.60 GAA and .918 save percentage in his first 44 games.

The Canucks will put a lot on Demko's shoulders this season, but managing his playing time early will be key, which makes likely No. 2 Spencer Martin a vitally important piece to Vancouver's puzzle.

Martin went 3-0-3 with a 1.74 GAA and .950 save percentage in six games last season. He has played nine NHL games. The Canucks also have Collin Delia, who signed a one-year contract July 13.

3. Carry defensive improvements into season

A key to helping Demko will be the defensive game as a whole, building on how the Canucks played under Boudreau last season. They improved after the coach took over, with a big emphasis on their ability to break the puck out cleaner and better overall.

Vancouver was fifth in goals against per game (2.67) after Boudreau took over. It was 23rd (3.16) in 25 games under Green.

The Canucks didn't make any significant changes or upgrades on the back end, which means they're banking on the improvements they made under Boudreau to carry into this season. They also expect to have Tucker Poolman back. He played seven shifts in just one of Vancouver's final 39 games last season because of a migraine issue.

ROSTER RUNDOWN

Making the cut

The makeup of the forward group will be determined by where J.T. Miller plays. If he's at center along with Elias Pettersson and Bo Horvat, it's possible Jason Dickinson will have to move to wing or be the odd man out, particularly with Curtis Lazar the likely No. 4 center. The Canucks also have Dakota Joshua, Nils Hoglander and Andrei Kuzmenko, who all will be fighting for spots in the top 12 in training camp. On defense, Danny DeKeyser is in camp on a professional tryout contract. If Poolman is healthy, DeKeyser will compete with Brady Keeper and Kyle Burroughs for a roster spot. Martin and Delia will compete to be the No. 2 goalie.

Most intriguing addition

Ilya Mikheyev signed a four-year contract July 13. The 27-year-old forward had NHL career highs with 21 goals and 32 points in 53 games with the Maple Leafs last season, when he was playing primarily in a third-line role. He'll get an opportunity to be a top-six forward in Vancouver. He will also add speed to one of the Canucks' penalty-killing units.

Biggest potential surprise

Kuzmenko signed a one-year contract July 13. He's 26 years old and spent the past five seasons playing regularly in the Kontinental Hockey League, the past four with SKA St. Petersburg. He had 53 points (20 goals, 33 assists) in 45 games last season. Kuzmenko could be boom or bust for the Canucks, but a big question will be how much power-play time he can earn.

Ready to break through

Vasily Podkolzin is entering his second NHL season after scoring 14 goals and getting 26 points in 79 games with Vancouver last season. The 21-year-old forward returned to Vancouver early in the offseason to continue his training. He should earn a top-nine role, potentially playing on a line with Horvat or Miller, and should get power-play time too. Podkolzin was the No. 10 pick in the 2019 NHL Draft and played with Kuzmenko in the KHL.

Fantasy sleeper

Mikheyev, LW/RW (undrafted on average in fantasy) -- He had NHL career highs in goals (21), points (32) and shots on goal (147) despite being limited to 53 games with the Maple Leafs last season. Mikheyev, who was fourth on the Maple Leafs in 5-on-5 goals per 60 minutes (1.02) behind top-liners Auston Matthews, Mitchell Marner and Michael Bunting, should slot into the Canucks' top nine with potential exposure to one of their valuable centers in Miller, Pettersson or Horvat. -- Anna Dua