That’s a wrap(-ish)! Time to put out the Vancouver Canucks player report cards for the 2024-25 season. It’s been a wildly unstable season, leading to on-ice changes, so we’re limiting it to the players who finished the year with the team. It’s digital media, but there’s only so much space, even here.
Canucks Player Report Cards
The suggestions were always there, but the president of hockey operations, Jim Rutherford, finally stated outright the personality clash among Canucks forwards. The tectonic shift in moving J.T. Miller changed everything in Vancouver, for better and worse.
If you’re reading these and think “If that many people were above a C, then why didn’t the Canucks make the playoffs?” And that’s fair. The problem is that a lot of the players lower in the lineup did well – for who they are.
The issue was the top-end guys not coming through, or there just not being enough of them. Summer will be interesting.
The Regulars
Unlike last year, injuries played a major part in reducing the Canucks’ forward efficiencies. It was hardly the entire story, but highlights just how lucky the team was in 2023-24. In order of average ice time played, then:
Elias Pettersson – F
The short version is this wasn’t enough, and he knows it.
We’ll get back to Elias Pettersson in more detail later. Need something to talk about in the offseason, after all. It’s not like this management group will try overhauling the team this Summer or anything…
Conor Garland – B
Conor Garland continues to be, well, him. He plays the full season, gets around 20 goals and around 50 points, and drives opponents nuts—the usual. On a team that was often short on production, the old Joshua – Suter – Garland line got their chances. That had value, even if their defence wasn’t as solid as last season.
Coach Rick Tocchet tried him up with Pettersson and DeBrusk, and the opposite happened: excellent defence with no attack. It doesn’t seem to matter where he plays or for how long; Garland just produces. A low shooting percentage this year, but he still produced.
Brock Boeser – C
It’s easy to say he slipped back to his usual numbers this season and his performance last year was a one-off. That’s because – going by the numbers – he did. But he still picked up 25 goals and 50 points to be Vancouver’s second-leading scorer in a tumultuous season.
And, yes, another player we’ll likely dig into this Summer – assuming he’s still here.
Pius Suter – A+
Another free-agent forward who might cash in, eh? Pius Suter obliterated all expectations this season, ending the year as Vancouver’s top centre. He kept his phenomenal penalty-killing acumen while adding a career high 25 goals and 46 points.
Suter took a 50% pay cut in signing his two-year deal with Vancouver. He should easily reverse that this time around.
Jake DeBrusk – C+
Apologies to Ray Stevens, but The Streak has nothing on Jake DeBrusk. Zero goals in his first nine games was followed by three in a row. Then six without a goal, then 11 goals in 10 games. There was a streak of 11 games with no goals and just one assist, and a dozen games with just one goal.
Through all that, he still finished the year with a team- and career-high 28 goals. His ice time was likewise all over the place, anywhere from 12 minutes to 22. He didn’t get the penalty-killing time he had in Boston, but Vancouver didn’t need him there.
Kiefer Sherwood – A+
Any time a player hits a league high, it’s worth noting. Kiefer Sherwood led the league in hits this season with 462 – a record, though “hits” is notoriously ambiguous rink to rink. Even if those numbers are blurred a little, he and Suter top the Canucks player report cards.
That would be great for a team that often lacks physicality, but he did a lot more than that. Sherwood scored 18 even-strength goals and one short-handed, both career highs. Easily the signing that the fewest Canucks fans regret.
Teddy Blueger – C+
One of only two Canucks to play all 82 games along with Sherwood, Teddy Blueger just kept plugging away this season. Injuries at centre put him in some spots a bit beyond his reach at evens, but his penalty killing work was exemplary. If he can stay in the bottom-six, he’ll do his job.
Nils Höglander – C-(?)
Hm. If we’re talking players with records all over the place, Nils Höglander might be the poster child. He came into the year expected to build on last season’s breakout year. And boy howdy, he didn’t.
Höglander came into training camp in excellent shape and was ready to go, right up until he hit the ice. His defensive miscues seemed to stem from trying to do everything everywhere, but they were still mistakes. Tocchet started benching him and reduced his role.
A 21-game pointless streak was shocking, but eventually he got his feet under him again. He closed out the year with 12 points in 17 games, but trying to guess what happens next is a mug’s game. We’re digging into him, too.
The Part-Timers
Trades partway through the season are another way of admitting mistakes, and those happened. Some players came into Vancouver because of trades, injuries, or other opportunities and made a mark. Or didn’t, but at least had the chance. Here’s the part-time Canucks player report cards:
Filip Chytil – C
The talent is there. Filip Chytil has the speed Vancouver’s forward corps lacks, and a pile of skill. He also has a concussion history and the pressure of replacing a 100-point player whose name was occasionally chanted at home.
Chytil scored six points in his 15 games with Vancouver, which is fine. Not as many as hoped, but new team, new coach, new half of the continent, etc. Unfortunately, those six points were all in his first nine games, and an injury ended his year short.
Drew O’Connor – B
Canucks management knew what they were getting with Drew O’Connor, even if fans didn’t. The speedy, bottom-six winger earned his time with solid defence and a surprising forecheck. He’s getting a big raise next year, so they’re hoping for more.
Dakota Joshua – Inc.
Dude came back from testicular cancer surgery. If it took Dakota Joshua a while to get back to his game, we’re not going to judge him too harshly for it. It’s not exactly fair to include him with the other Canucks player report cards, so he gets an incomplete. See you next year, Dakota.
Jonathan Lekkerimäki – B
Having a skilled forward prospect on tap is a nice change for Canucks fans. Jonathan Lekkerimäki didn’t look out of place in his 24-game NHL tryout, and that’s all that can be expected. His shot is very strong, and he carries the puck well, earning his power-play time.
Looks like he weighs about 98 lbs and can get easily knocked off the puck, but the skill is there.
Linus Karlsson – A
It’s going to be very, very hard to argue against Linus Karlsson getting a spot next season. He played a solid defensive game, good board work, and has plenty of scoring at the AHL level.
Aatu Räty – B
A former top-end prospect who’s turned himself into a good middle-six one. Aatu Räty still needs to work on his skating and consistency, but proved he can handle the NHL. His ridiculous faceoff ability is something to see, too.
Nils Åman – C+
In theory, Nils Åman is a centre. In practice, he’s probably going to get his shot in the NHL on the wing as a responsible, bottom-six piece. The Canucks probably expected more from him than they should have when they signed him in 2022. Good depth.
Max Sasson – C+
An undrafted college player? In THIS economy? Actually, yeah, and Max Sasson was well worth the risk. Another should-be winger who can move to centre if needed, Sasson used his smarts against stronger veterans. He adds speed and a bit of scoring, too.
The Missing Canucks Player Report Cards
J.T. Miller, Danton Heinen, and Daniel Sprong were all traded away, so those are for other teams to judge.
Arshdeep Bains is probably who he is right now: a leader in Abbotsford and someone the Canucks can all in a pinch. He needs to take another step to get into the part-timer conversation.
Philip Di Giuseppe had his best chance in 2023-24 and showed decently. But he will likely continue his career as a top-flight character guy in the minors and a tweener for the NHL.
Main Photo: Bob Frid- Imagn Images
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