In 1994, Vancouver-native Cliff Ronning and the Canucks made a remarkable run, reaching the Stanley Cup finals before bowing out to the New York Rangers after seven games.

While in Whitehorse recently, Ronning reflected on the '94 Canucks and this year's team, which currently sits atop the Northwest Division and second overall in the NHL with 66 points.

"This year's team, I think they have a great shot at it,” Ronning said.

One similarity between the two teams is that all three lines can score, he noted.

"When the Sedin line gets shut down, you have (Ryan) Kesler doing the job. … We had three solid lines,

each line could score in '94; our scoring came from the back end also … look at guys like (Mike) Brown and (Bret) Hedican and (Dave) Babych.”

Also key to any solid playoff run: goaltending.

"Kirk McLean stood on his head for us, and it looks like they've got two great goalies in there,” Ronning said.

"I'm sure whoever is on a run they're going to go with. (Roberto) Luongo has the experience, he's won World Cup, World Championships, he's been in that setting, it's time, he's ready for it, and the city's ready for it, that's for sure.”

He cited playing for his hometown team as his standout moment.

"I was really playing for all the people that were born and raised (there), that always wanted to play for their hometown; there was a lot of them – and I felt I was a big part of that. It was just exciting, because maybe I looked at it a little bit differently, being born in Vancouver … we had a great team, a great team.”