Determining the best player on the Vancouver Canucks is a complex task due to the presence of several standout individuals. Unlike teams such as the Edmonton Oilers, which clearly revolve around Connor McDavid, or the Toronto Maple Leafs with Auston Matthews, the Canucks have multiple top performers without a single, unequivocal superstar.
The Canucks’ roster includes several elite players, and evaluating their contributions can be subjective. Here, we explore the potential candidates for being the team’s best player: J.T. Miller, Elias Pettersson, Quinn Hughes, and Thatcher Demko.
J.T. Miller
is a strong contender for the title of the Canucks’ best player. Last season, he led the team with 99 points, the highest total for the Canucks since Daniel Sedin’s 104 points in 2011. In his three seasons with the team, Miller has amassed 217 points in 202 games. He excels on the power play, creates opportunities for his teammates, and contributes on both ends of the ice, including penalty killing. His faceoff skills are also among the best in the league.
The Canucks’ general manager, Patrik Allvin, views Miller as the top player, citing his exceptional performance and competitive nature. Allvin believes Miller has the potential to enhance his game further with better management of his ice time. Despite Miller’s strong showing, some fans are not fully convinced. An informal Twitter poll placed him fourth among the best players, suggesting that his defensive shortcomings might be a factor in the mixed opinions. Miller himself acknowledges the need to improve defensively and is working on becoming a more complete player.
Elias Pettersson
is another key player who could be considered the Canucks’ best. Although he had a difficult season last year, his prior performances make a compelling case. Pettersson had a slow start, possibly due to a wrist injury or other factors, but he finished the season strongly with 26 goals and 51 points in his final 43 games. His two-way play and potential for high offensive output give him an edge. Pettersson’s ability to be a dynamic force on the ice and his potential to be an elite forward are why many fans still see him as a cornerstone of the team.
Quinn Hughes
also makes a strong case for being the Canucks’ best player, particularly as a defenseman. Hughes set a franchise record for points by a defenseman with 68 in 76 games last season and finished sixth among NHL defensemen in scoring. His exceptional skating, passing, and ability to contribute on both the power play and penalty kill highlight his importance. Hughes’s defensive improvements and offensive contributions make him a crucial player for the Canucks. While comparing defensemen to forwards is challenging, Hughes’s role in the team’s overall success and his potential for further growth make him a key figure.
Thatcher Demko
the Canucks’ goaltender, is another top contender. Demko’s performance last season earned him a seventh-place finish in Vezina Trophy voting, reflecting his status as one of the NHL’s top goaltenders. Advanced metrics show that Demko was among the best in save percentage and goals-against at 5-on-5, despite the team’s defensive challenges. His consistently strong performances and the fact that he often stood out as the best player in games support his claim as the team’s top player.
Lastly,
Conor Garland
offers an interesting analytics-based perspective. Garland’s 5-on-5 play was impressive, with the best goal differential and expected goal percentage on the Canucks. His contributions in even-strength situations were significant, and he led the team in several advanced statistics. However, Garland’s impact on special teams was limited, and his finishing ability could be better, which affects his overall case as the team’s best player.
In summary, the Vancouver Canucks boast several exceptional players, each with a strong case for being considered the team’s best. J.T. Miller’s scoring and versatility, Elias Pettersson’s potential and two-way play, Quinn Hughes’s elite defense and offense, and Thatcher Demko’s goaltending all contribute to the debate. While Conor Garland’s advanced stats are compelling, he may not yet surpass the other contenders. The choice of the best player ultimately depends on which aspects of performance and impact are prioritized.
