Poll: How do Vancouverites expect the Canucks to do this season?

After an amazing 2023-24 season, there seems to be a bit more hometown hope for the Vancouver Canucks.

Finishing sixth in the league last year was a bit of a surprise to many, especially the majority of local fans who, before the season started, figured the team would just barely make the playoffs, if that.

This year's success has set expectations higher.

While not even 8 per cent of last year's poll participants thought the team would win their division or do better (they did, indeed, win the division), this year more than 11 per cent of local fans are looking for the team to finish at the top of the NHL.

Another 18 per cent (and 20 per cent overall) are expecting a repeat of last year. That means just under 30 per cent of fans are looking for the team to equal last year's result.

There's been huge growth in those two categories, but by far the most popular option is the most middle-of-the-road, with the team making the playoffs but not topping the division. More than 45 per cent picked this option.

That also means the majority of fans are expecting a playoff run this year; last year that wasn't the situation.

Despite all that success last year, there still are some naysayers in the city. More than 25 per cent don't expect a playoff run, and there are apparently lots of Vancouverites who think the Canucks might finish at the very bottom of the league.

Given they've finished an average of 20th over the past decade (helped by last year's sixth place), that seems possible but pessimistic.