9 of their next 12 at home to finish out the calendar year. Big chance to put themselves on more solid footing for the playoffs. 6-3-3 would be an attainable and solid outcome.
That would put them at 19-14-7 to start January. I think anyone would have taken that before the puck dropped on this season.
That said, its gonna come down to the last game or two of the season whether they make it in our not.
Re - upcoming draft. Tampa Bay has our 1st round pick, with the condition - if the Canucks fail to make the playoffs in 2019-20, their first round pick moves to the 2021 draft for Tampa Bay. That provides some protection for the 2020 draft, which is expected to be very strong, if the Nucks do slip out of the playoff race.
Then again, there is their history of only LOSING ground in the lottery.