The 2020 Canucks seemed like they were onto something. What happened?

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It was five years ago this week that the Vancouver Canucks began an epic playoff series during the Edmonton bubble against the Vegas Golden Knights.

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With other teams around them crumbling under the mental pressure of bubble life, somehow the Canucks persevered and pushed the much-favoured Knights to a seventh game.

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They got big performances from a number of young players, who seemed set to break out into proper stardom.

Thatcher Demko came in from the bench to post some outstanding performances in the final three games of the series, making 123 saves during those encounters. The Canucks clearly needed more defensively — Demko standing on his head spoke to the team’s defensive frailty — but there were lots of good bits.

Such as J.T. Miller, proving to be the exact kind of forward the Canucks hoped he would be when management traded for him at the previous year’s draft. Bo Horvat, who was proving to be a true big-game player, let alone a big-faceoff winner. Quinn Hughes had put together a majestic rookie season.

And good bits like Elias Pettersson’s 18 points in 17 games. Centring a line between Tanner Pearson and Tyler Toffoli, the second-year centreman was building himself into a potent two-way force.

His goal in Game 2 was a thing of beauty. He won the faceoff, peeled off Vegas’ William Karlsson and found himself all alone in the slot where he collected a perfect pass from Alex Edler before deking out Vegas goalie Robin Lehner to score.

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Remember that Pettersson? That’s the guy who had a sensational 2022-23 and was roaring along in January 2024, when he was recognized as one of the NHL’s stars of the month.

As we know, this will be a massive season for him. A new coach. A changed up roster.

There is no Horvat or Miller how. Pettersson is the man at forward and he has to meet the challenge. He is going to be out there for all the big faceoffs. His play is going to have to lead the way, to show his teammates how committed he is to winning.

He has spoken time and again about his desire to beat his opposites, to score goals, to chase glory. It’s been a difficult 18 months for him. By all reports, he is refreshed in his personal life and refreshed in his training life too.

When we look back at that 2020 squad, it’s not just Pettersson we wonder about.

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There’s Demko too. Obviously, five years ago, there was much less mileage on him.

That, more than anything, is the big question now. He’s put a lot of miles on his body the last few seasons and his joints have struggled under the strain.

But can a new routine, plus a lightened workload, lead him back to sustained success?

The Canucks of 2024-25 did not seem to be having very much fun. Remember the photo of Pettersson painted in gold body paint in the spring of 2018, when he helped Vaxjo win the Swedish championship? Remember when Demko posted on Instagram early in the pandemic, showing off his efforts to train at home in San Diego? He was having a laugh in a moment when we needed one. Or some of his epic Halloween costumes of years gone by? Or his love of hip hop?

On the ice, there’s a lot that needs fixing, that is clear.

But one thing we know about that 2020 team is they did like to have fun. That was how they got through the madness of the bubble. They found a way to have fun in the midst of a terrible time.

Surely they can find that again.

pjohnston@postmedia.com

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