Predicting a player’s end-of-season point totals is never an easy task. There are so many different variables that occur throughout the year that can both positively and negatively impact a player’s performance that any point projection can go out the window. In the spirit of projections, here’s a look at why Henrik Sedin’s franchise-record 112 points will fall this season and which player or players could surpass the Hockey Hall of Famer in 2024-25.
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Before we talk about what’s next, let’s take a moment to look back at Henrik’s historic 2009-10 campaign. Not only did he set the franchise’s all-time points record in a single season, he also became the first Canucks player to win the Art Ross and Hart Trophies. Henrik’s 83 assists that season were also the most by a player in nearly a decade, before being surpassed by Nikita Kucherov in 2018-19, and others since.
As for the logistics of reaching 113 points, there are a couple of ways a player can do it. Like Henrik, a player can rack up 80+ assists, which also means scoring 30+ goals. The other way is to score a ton of goals like David Pastrňák did in 2022-23, when he finished with 61 and 52 assists. While one of Vancouver’s best players could have a season to remember in terms of goals, the most likely way the record would be broken is with a 35+ goal season, 75+ assists.
When it comes to who can break the record, three names come to mind. The first is Elias Pettersson, who already has a 100-point season in the NHL. Up until February of last season, Pettersson was on track for just over 110 points, but then he largely declined due to a knee injury. Now, with stronger teammates, Pettersson’s five-on-five totals should increase, which could put him on track to break the record.
Next up is JT Miller, who first surpassed the 100-point mark last season. Like Pettersson, Miller was also on pace to surpass 110 points before the All-Star break, and finished the season with 103. With Brock Boeser at his side and plenty of power play time, Miller has a good chance to score and even surpass 113 points this season.
The third player who has an outside chance of hitting 112 is Quinn Hughes. Now, before the reactions go wild, here’s the logic. If both Pettersson and Miller have excellent seasons on offense, Hughes will continue to score points, which would put him close to the franchise record. While this theory may seem outlandish to some, if there’s one thing the NHL learned last season, it’s not to bet against Hughes. Yes, it will take a Herculean effort, as no defenseman has hit 110 since Paul Coffey in 1988-89, but if all goes well, Hughes could etch his name into history alongside Coffey and Bobby Orr by the end of the season.
Given the way the NHL has progressed and the overall goaltending situation in the Pacific Division, it’s not out of the question that the record will be broken. Last season alone, four players scored 120 or more points, with Pastrňák reaching 110. If Pettersson, Miller and even Hughes can take their games to the next level, Henrik’s record should fall sooner rather than later.
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