The stakes have never been higher for the Vancouver Canucks under the Jim Benning regime.



Benning and his group pushed their chips in with conviction this summer in a valiant bid to put an end to Vancouver’s four-year playoff drought. To the team’s credit, they’ve responded with a healthy 5-3-0 record through the first eight games and are in the midst of a run where they’ve won five of their last six. Strong starts have proven to be fool’s gold more often than not in this market — the Canucks haven’t been outside a playoff position come November since the lockout-shortened 2012-13 year — so it’s only natural that some have met these early wins with raised eyebrows.



At the same time, there’s something to be said for the fact that the Canucks have looked much better than in years past. They’re quicker, stingier defensively and more potent near the crease offensively. Does that mean they’re set up...