And just that like, the season is over. A 4-1 loss to Vegas on Wednesday night put an end to a turbulent and strange season for the Canucks. There will be time to investigate it and dissect it and get into the nitty gritty over the next couple weeks with locker clean out and whatnot. But for now, here are some highlights:
"I don't want to really play the what-if game," Canucks coach Rick Tocchet said after Game 82. "I think you've got to reflect on the year, like: What could you have done different? I'm not going to use excuses at all. I know that you guys know this year what's happened, but you've got to deal with that stuff. Could we have dealt with it better? We talked about 'embracing the hard' at the start of the year and, you know, maybe we weren’t ready for it.”
A quiet way to end the season that was wildly disappointing. Things can change fast, and for this team to have a shot at it again next year, they will have to. Reflection will come.
“There's been a lot going on, obviously,” senior-ranking defenceman Tyler Myers said after Wednesday’s morning skate. “But, you know, at the same time, a lot of teams go through stuff throughout a season. You want to find a way to push through and overcome certain obstacles (and) we came up a bit short this year.
“But you know how quick it can change, too. Last year, when we won the division, we didn't make the playoffs the year before. So, you know, things can change fast. You've just got to keep pushing and keep trying to come in every year in shape and bring your best game. We'll do the same thing coming into next year.”
Next year might be a little different look to the team. Boeser seems like a good candidate to move on, and he got cheered by the faithful during warmup as acknowledgement of that.
“You know, it's tough knowing that this is our last game this year,” Myers said. “And then when you really think about it, how it could be your last game with some of the guys. It's always tough, but it's part of the game. You develop friendships that, you know, that you'll keep for the rest of your life. Whatever turnover there is, you take it in stride.”
“We dealt with a lot of stuff this year,” Sherwood said. “I think when adversity hits, we learn a lot of lessons. I think our chip on our shoulder for next year grows even bigger. You know, we've got something to prove and something to work for. I saw a lot of personalities change down the stretch here once we got eliminated. We've got to channel (that disappointment) the right way. And like I said, we have something to prove and we have an edge now that we're playing with.”
It’ll be a short trip back to the rink to get their things before being off for the summer. The players will clean out their lockers and face the media for the final time on Friday.
Tocchet and Allvin, who is trying to negotiate an extension with his coach, are expected to hold a press conference on the weekend or early next week.
Golden Knights players lined up after the game to shake hands with Canucks equipment manager Pat O’Neill, who is stepping back from full-time duty after 45 years in the NHL.
For now, we have the draft and free agency to look forward to as Canucks fans. As hockey fans though, first round of playoffs start on Saturday! Always the best round.
Vancouver Canucks Blogger • 
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