Utter the year “2011” to Vancouverites and there’s a good chance that moments of crushing agony are momentarily revived.



It’s for a valid reason too — the Vancouver Canucks blowing a 2-0 finals series lead in 2011 and ultimately falling short in Game 7 is the closest the team has come to winning the Stanley Cup since a similarly painful 1994 loss. The devastating ending makes 2011 a delicate period to discuss, but the outcome of one game (even if it was for the Stanley Cup) shouldn’t define what was the most talented team in franchise history. If anything, it should serve as a reminder of how fun it is to root for a dominant team and make the fanbase that much hungrier for a legitimate Cup contention calibre team.



And boy what a team it was to follow. An Art-Ross winner in Daniel Sedin, the year prior’s claimant in brother Henrik. A Selke Trophy winner in Ryan Kesler and Vezina finalist Roberto Luongo all headlined a roster...