The Vancouver Canucks promised fans that 2017-18 would be a rebuilding year, and they finally leaned more on the young players to carry the bulk of the workload — namely Bo Horvat and Brock Boeser.
Head coach Travis Green significantly cut back the ice time for now-retired forwards Daniel and Henrik Sedin, who each played three less minutes per game compared to 2016-17. He also gave the twins the assignment of mentoring 2014 first-rounder Jake Virtanen.
The 21-year-old was expected to show more signs of maturity and development under Green — his bench boss with the Utica Comets of the AHL last season.