Vancouver Canucks season opener at Rogers Arena Wednesday

Sportsnet 650 Host Satiar Shah isn’t sure this is necessarily a make-or-break season but stresses the team has to take a step forward, which means going beyond the second round of the NHL playoffs.

He adds the clock is ticking for the organization to deliver the Stanley Cup to a city and fanbase that’s starving to win.

“They’re on the right track. It’s been many years of waiting and as much as they have a lot of these guys who are still young, you have J.T. [Miller] in his 30s. You have (Thatcher) Demko with a couple of years left (on his contract) and we don’t know where his status is at. So, you don’t know how many chances you have really to take a run at it.”

Shah says the door has been nudged open to go all the way, and predicts the team will make it to the Western Conference Final.

“That’s a real nice progression for this team that made the playoffs for the first time since 2020 in that whole bubble playoffs. I think in terms of taking a step and putting yourself on the map as a legitimate Stanley Cup contender, you get to the Western Conference Final.”

He believes the roster has a chance to do some real damage to other teams.

“When you’re that type of team, that type of calibre, you have a chance, and considering what the Western Conference looks like, I think the Canucks have a really good opportunity this year to go all the way. Will they do it or not? We’ll see.”

Last season, president of Hockey Operations Jim Rutherford said he had a three-year window to win. Shah says it’s fair to say they need to get tangible results.

“Especially when you look at Demko this year and next year, and obviously, we’re all awaiting to see what his status is at, and I think that’s going to be one of the bigger determining factors of can this team really go far? Can they have Demko healthy in the post-season?” Shah said.

“With that two-year window, you have Quinn [Hughes] for a couple more years and eventually those guys have to get paid. And as good as J.T. Miller has been, you’re talking about a guy who is 31, so how many prime years does he have left?”

Shah doesn’t think Demko will be back before Halloween as the Vezina Trophy finalist continues dealing with a nagging injury suffered last season.

“His health looms large over the team,” he said.

Shah questions if the blueline is deep enough following the departure of Nikita Zadorov, despite the additions of Vincent Desharnais and Derek Forbort.

It’s also a contract year for superstar Brock Boeser who’s coming off a breakout season.

“They have to figure out whether they’re going to keep him or trade him. They’ve pretty much made the assertion that by the [trade] deadline they want to have a good idea. I think if all things are equal and Boeser gets off to a good start, I think the team is going to do everything they can to keep him,” Shah said.

“It wouldn’t shock me if they start talking contract in a couple of months, as long as he plays well to start the season.”

And then there’s the question whether Boeser would be open to taking a so-called hometown discount to stay in Vancouver, the only team he’s ever played for.

“The question is what range are we talking about? Is he willing to take $500,000 less than $9 million and take $8.5 million, or are we talking he’s willing to take from $8 million to $7.5 million?

“Guys that love a place will take anywhere from $500,000 a year less or somewhere along those lines, which over an eight-year contract is $4 million. It’s not insignificant. So, where is Brock Boeser’s range? If he’s looking at pushing for $9 million-plus, the discount may not look as good, but if he’s willing to take a little bit less than $8 million, then you’re talking about a legitimate hometown discount.

“If they can get a team-friendly deal, $7 million or in that range, I’d be all for it because it’s going to be really hard to replace him.”

Another factor determining the team’s success is the change in mindset and culture shift.

“It really has [changed]. You see it on ice, in terms of how the players are but when you talk to people in the organization, off-ice and the overall vibe in the organization, how people are getting along now and the working environment for hockey staff, I think it has changed,” Shah said.

“You see it in the behaviour of the players and how they interact with one another. When things are good, it masks any sort of problems, so when you’re winning, it’s a lot easier for everybody to be a bit happy and I think that’s really the root cause of the culture change.”

If things don’t get off to a good start or the team falters this season, Shah doesn’t see the brass blowing things up, perhaps just some minor roster tweaks.

Regardless of what happens, there’s much to be optimistic about as a Canucks fan.

“Canucks fans in this market have gone through a tough 10-year period, not a lot of highs and this is the first time the team is coming off from a successful season, [there’s] some real hope around the organization. The fanbase is reinvigorated, everyone loved what happened in the playoffs, so I think fans should really embrace it.”

Listen to Satiar Shah alongside Dan Riccio on Canucks Central from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday and catch Shah and Bik Nizzar every time the Canucks play for post-game analysis.