The Vancouver Canucks are halfway through the 2024-25 season, so it’s time to hand out some grades.
Well, we’re slightly over halfway at 42 games, but who’s counting? Other than the NHL, for purposes of accurate statistics and the standings. Look, it’s not my fault that games 41 and 42 were on back-to-back nights.
Every single player still with the team — sorry, Daniel Sprong — is going to get a grade, even if that grade is an “I” for “Incomplete” due to not playing a lot of games. We’re not grading on a curve, either. A players with low expectations is not going to get a high grade just for meeting those low expectations.
We’re going to go by alphabetical order by last name from Bains to Åman, because “Å” comes after “Z” in the Swedish alphabet. Let’s get started:
Arshdeep Bains - I
After a fantastic preseason, it looked like Arshdeep Bains had staked a claim to a spot on the roster. When he scored his first career goal, which stood up as the game-winner against the Pittsburgh Penguins, it seemed like he’d arrived.
Unfortunately, Bains struggled defensively after his strong start and he got limited ice time. Bains was sent down to the AHL not long after Dakota Joshua returned to the Canucks’ lineup and he hasn’t been back up since.
I’m going to give him an Incomplete as he has just 11 games played so far and that grade is a kindness.
Teddy Blueger - C-
This hasn’t been a great first half of the season for Teddy Blueger, who hasn’t been able to have as big an impact for the Canucks without Conor Garland on his wing.
Offensively, Blueger’s been able to chip in some points, with 5 goals and 17 points putting him on pace for a career year. Defensively, however, he hasn’t been anywhere near as good. He’s been on the ice for the highest rate of shots against among Canucks regulars and hasn’t fare well when matched up against tough competition.
Blueger’s underlying numbers on the penalty kill aren’t particularly good either, so that’s also an area that could use some improvement.
Brock Boeser - B+
If not for circumstances beyond his control, Brock Boeser probably could have an A. The concussion that took him out of the lineup also seemed to slow him down when he returned to the ice. He seemed a step behind defensively, which hurt his grade here.
Still, he’s got 15 goals in 35 games, which would be a 35-goal pace over 82 games. That’s some solid production in a follow-up to a 40-goal season, even if it looked like he might have a shot at 50 goals.
Boeser has also faced some of the toughest competition on the Canucks this season, as he’s often used in a match-up role, so that’s something to keep in mind when assessing his defensive results.
Erik Brännström - C-
We’ve seen two different Erik Brännströms this season. There was the Brännström of the first quarter of the season, who controlled puck possession, competed hard defensively to make up for his smaller stature, and chipped in some secondary scoring.
Then there’s the Brännström of the second quarter of the season, whose defensive game fell off a cliff, leading to limited ice time and eventually getting placed on waivers for reassignment to the AHL.
There’s no denying that Brännström struggled in his last stretch before getting sent down but there’s also no denying that he was one of the Canucks’ best defencemen prior to that. As a result, he gets a very middle-of-the-road grade: a C-minus. It’s a passing grade for one of the only Canucks defencemen who can pass.
Guillaume Brisebois - I
We simply haven’t seen enough of Guillaume Brisebois this season to accurately assess him. Like the representative from the Neutral Planet, I have no strong feelings one way or the other.
Jake DeBrusk - B+
Let’s not complicate matters in our grading process. Jake DeBrusk leads the Canucks in goalscoring with 17 goals. He’s played a decent two-way game, though he’s had some defensive lapses — looking at you, overtime goal in Washington. He’s largely lived up to expectations.
Some might say that deserves an A but I’m reserving A grades for performances that are a little more elite. DeBrusk has been quite good, so he gets a B+.
Thatcher Demko - I
It’s been a tough return to action for Thatcher Demko after his long recovery from a popliteus injury. He had an .883 save percentage in eight starts with a 2-2-3 record.
It’s simply not enough to give Demko a proper grade, so he gets an Incomplete for now, with hopes of him getting back to his Vezina-caliber form in the second half of the season.
Vincent Desharnais - C-
Some might suggest that I’m being too kind to Vincent Desharnais with a C- grade, but I’ve been genuinely impressed with how he’s improved as the season has progressed. He’s provided next to nothing offensively but his defensive game has taken steps forward as he’s settled into the Canucks’ system.
More than that, Desharnais has been genuinely excellent on the penalty kill, with the lowest rate of unblocked shot attempts against and goals against among regular Canucks penalty killers. He’s been on the ice for just one goal against in just over 38 minutes on the penalty kill.
Phillip Di Giuseppe - I
If Bains gets an Incomplete grade for an 11-game sample size, it’s only fair to do the same for Phil Di Giuseppe, who was injured after getting sent down to the AHL to start the season. He has 3 assists in 11 games since returning from injury and getting called up to the NHL.
Di Giuseppe hasn’t done much in his return to the lineup but has shown flashes of his hard-forechecking game making a comeback. We’ll see how that translates to results in the second half of the season.
Derek Forbort - C
Derek Forbort has dealt with a lot this season, from personal loss to injuries, so has only played 16 games. In those 16 games, Forbort has looked slow and has struggled to move the puck.
And yet, Forbort’s underlying numbers are actually quite strong. He’s played a low-event game that has limited scoring chances against and has been a solid penalty killer. As a third-pairing defenceman, he’s done the job, so he’s deserving of a C grade.
The real issue with Forbort is the Canucks’ general lack of puck-moving defencemen, which isn’t really his fault. Hopefully, he can stay healthy and provide some steadiness on the third pairing in the second half of the season.
Mark Friedman - I
Three games is too small a sample size to assess Mark Friedman. It’s an Incomplete for now.
Conor Garland - A-
The Canucks would be in a lot of trouble this season if not for Conor Garland, who has stepped up when the team’s star forwards have struggled or been absent from the team due to injury or personal leave. Garland leads the Canucks forwards in scoring with 30 points in 42 games, putting him on pace for new career highs in goals, assists, and points.
On top of that, Garland has been excellent defensively, using his ability to control possession of the puck to prevent scoring chances, while also adding penalty killing to his toolbelt.
Those elements combine to inch Garland into star territory himself, bumping him up to an A- grade thanks to his defensive game, with some making the case that he should be in the Selke conversation.
Danton Heinen - C-
What would you say you do here?
When the Canucks signed Danton Heinen, he was expected to be a versatile winger who could play up and down the lineup, perhaps even in a top-six role alongside J.T. Miller or Elias Pettersson. Instead, he’s mostly played down the lineup on the fourth line.
Heinen is on pace for one of his worst years offensively but his grade is saved a little bit by his penalty killing. He’s second among Canucks forwards with the lowest rate of unblocked shots against while shorthanded, just behind Garland.
That one saving grace bumps him up from a D grade.
Filip Hronek - B
Before he got injured, Filip Hronek was playing just fine. Sure, it helps that he is riding shotgun with one of the best players in the world, but he was doing a fine job with that shotgun.
Hronek is actually first on the Canucks in expected goals percentage at 5-on-5, just ahead of Hughes, though that’s largely because he’s the one who got injured and he didn’t have to spend a big chunk of the season playing alongside Tyler Myers.
Let’s give Hronek a B — a nice, simple, good grade.
Quinn Hughes - A+
Was there any doubt? Of course, Quinn Hughes is getting an A+. Of course.
Hughes leads the Canucks in scoring and all NHL defencemen in points per game. His underlying numbers are sparkling, especially when contrasted with the Canucks’ underlying numbers when he’s not on the ice.
Hughes isn’t just one of the favourites for the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s best defenceman; he’s in the conversation for the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player.
Nils Höglander - D
This isn’t how this season was supposed to go for Nils Höglander. After scoring 24 goals last season, Höglander aimed to solidify a spot in the top-six alongside Elias Pettersson.
Instead, Höglander hasn’t even been able to stay in the lineup consistently. He has just 2 goals and 8 points in 39 games and has repeatedly found himself in Tocchet’s doghouse thanks to poor decisions in the defensive zone or penalties in the offensive zone.
There’s still time for Höglander to turn his season around but right now it’s hard to give him any more than a D grade.
Dakota Joshua - C-
Dakota Joshua has every excuse in the world for struggling in the first half of the 2024-25 season. He deserves a ton of credit for how he worked to get back into game shape after recovering from surgery for testicular cancer.
Has Joshua been good since returning to the lineup? Well, no. But we’re definitely going to give him a pass and hope that he returns to form in the second half of the season; at least, once he’s back in the lineup from his current injury.
Noah Juulsen - D
There have been times this season when Noah Juulsen has looked borderline unplayable. But, to a certain extent, it’s not his fault. With Filip Hronek injured, Juulsen was forced to play bigger minutes against tougher competition and struggled in that larger role.
Juulsen has struggled to move the puck and his tendency to chase hits has led to odd-man rushes and breakaways behind him. His penalty killing has been his saving grace in the past but he’s been merely mediocre while shorthanded this season.
Linus Karlsson - I
With just two games this season, Linus Karlsson gets an Incomplete. But, to be blunt, he did not look like an NHL forward in those two games. The footspeed is lacking, making it tough for him to find time and space at the NHL level.
Kevin Lankinen - A
Where would this team be without Kevin Lankinen? That’s a question that has been asked many times this season.
Signed after the start of training camp, Lankinen has been the Canucks’ best goaltender and arguably saved the Canucks’ season with his play in the first half. His .906 save percentage may not look like much but it’s actually clearly above the league average of .901 and he’s already posted four shutouts this season.
With Demko still finding his feet after returning from injury, it’s unclear how much the Canucks will have to rely on Lankinen in the second half, but he’s given them every reason to be confident in him.
Jonathan Lekkerimäki - I
In his nine games, Jonathan Lekkerimäki has looked like he can handle the pace of the NHL, even if he still needs a little more time before he’s ready to be an everyday contributor.
He gets an Incomplete for the first half.
J.T. Miller - B
While J.T. Miller has produced at close to a point-per-game pace at 29 points in 32 games, it’s a far cry from the 100-point pace that might have been expected.
The bigger concern is that Miller has lapsed into some of his old defensive habits, at times looking checked out in the defensive zone or going for ill-timed line changes. He should also be kept off the penalty kill entirely, as he’s been absolutely lit up with the highest rate of power play goals against on the team.
Still, Miller’s underlying numbers at 5-on-5 are quite strong. He leads all Canucks forwards in expected goals percentage, just ahead of Garland, as well as in on-ice goals for per 60 minutes, even if he’s not the one scoring the goals most of the time.
Miller gets a B for the first half, with hopes that he can bump that up into A territory in the second half.
Tyler Myers - C-
Tyler Myers has not been good this season. But he’s been better than Noah Juulsen. Bam: C-.
But seriously, Myers would be in D territory if not for the fact that it’s probably the struggling Carson Soucy dragging him down rather than the other way around. Myers has done a yeoman’s job filling in for the injured Hronek on the top pairing with Hughes, so he gets a passing grade.
Elias Pettersson - B-
Yes, I’m giving Elias Pettersson a lower grade than J.T. Miller. Don’t freak out about it.
With 10 goals and 29 points in 36 games, Pettersson has not produced the way anyone was hoping when he signed his new, $11.6 million contract. The scoring has been inconsistent and he hasn’t looked like the dynamic, game-breaking talent that he has proven he can be in the past.
Defensively, however, Pettersson has been pretty good. He’s spent a lot of time on the ice matched up against elite competition and has done well shutting them down. He leads all Canucks forwards in blocked shots by a wide margin, with 44 blocks — DeBrusk is next best with 26.
Pettersson needs to do more offensively — he’s on pace for the worst season of his career by goals and points — but at least he’s contributing on the other side of the puck.
Aatu Räty - C-
Aatu Räty’s 20 games for the Canucks this season have been very non-descript but there is one area where he excels: faceoffs.
Räty’s 56.3% faceoff percentage is second only to J.T. Miller on the Canucks this season. Just for that, I’ll bump him up from a D to a C-. If only Räty could hold his own at 5-on-5 and find a fit on the penalty kill, that faceoff percentage would likely make him an everyday NHLer.
Räty’s 5-on-5 play, however, has been quite poor despite some decent forechecking and work along the boards. His footspeed is a real impediment.
Max Sasson - C
While footspeed has prevented some of the Canucks’ AHL callups from contributing at a high level, that hasn’t been an issue for Max Sasson. In fact, his speed has been a separating factor, allowing him to win races or crash in on the forecheck to get the puck.
On top of that, Sasson has shown some confidence in holding onto the puck and distributing it in the offensive zone, allowing him to pick up a few points: 6 points in 19 games, to be exact.
Now some caveats: Sasson has been pretty heavily sheltered thus far in his career. He hasn’t quite worked at centre, as he has been mediocre in the faceoff circle and needs some work in the defensive zone. That pushes him out to the wing, where there’s a lot of competition.
I like what I’ve seen so far from Sasson but I can’t really justify giving him a higher grade than a C. But a C is a pretty high grade for a player who was just barely on the radar heading into the season.
Kiefer Sherwood - A-
I know that I said A grades were for elite players only but Kiefer Sherwood has been elite in one category: hits.
Sherwood is on pace to shatter the record for most hits in a season, as he leads the league with a whopping 249 hits in 42 games.
But, more than that, Sherwood has contributed on both sides of the puck. Sherwood has 13 goals and 21 points in 42 games, which is already a career high in goals. His underlying numbers are strong in terms of puck possession and scoring chances
Arturs Silovs - I
An Incomplete grade is a kindness for Arturs Silovs, who was expected to be the Canucks’ starting goaltender to start the season. Instead, he faltered badly in his six starts, with an .847 save percentage and a 1-4-1 record.
Silovs has been sharper in the AHL since getting sent down but it’s been a disappointing step backwards for a goaltender many were heralding as the heir apparent to Demko just a few months ago.
Carson Soucy - F
One of the biggest issues for the Canucks’ defence this season has been the play of Carson Soucy. Expected to be a steady second-pairing defenceman, Soucy’s struggles to move the puck and defend in his own zone have been a massive issue, especially since he’s been playing in a match-up role against tough competition.
Soucy has the worst corsi percentage on the Canucks, as he regularly gets pinned down in the defensive zone. By Evolving-Hockey’s Goals Above Replacement (GAR) metric, Soucy has been the worst player on the Canucks, with a minus-6.8 GAR, suggesting he's cost the Canucks nearly 7 goals compared to a replacement-level player.
Soucy has also been the Canucks’ worst penalty killer, with the highest rate of unblocked shot attempts against and the second-highest rate of goals against while shorthanded.
Here’s hoping he bounces back in the second half, but Soucy gets a failing grade for the first half.
Pius Suter - B
For a brief period of time, Pius Suter led the Canucks in goalscoring but he’s now gone 17 games without a goal.
Still, Suter has been the Canucks’ Swiss army knife all season, stepping up to be a top-six centre when J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson haven’t been available. He’s chipped in scoring with 11 goals and 19 points in 41 games, while also being one of the Canucks’ best defensive forwards at 5-on-5.
Nils Åman - I
With just five games played this season, Nils Åman gets an Incomplete. He had two assists in those five games, which is nice.
Those are the grades. Agree? Disagree? Let me know in the comments below.
