October 22nd, 2024
JC Clemas
There is nothing Canucks fans like to do more than overreact. After losing the first 3 games of the season, there was a sense of panic in the fanbase. While it was certainly an annoying start, there really wasn’t much to worry about at that point. The Canucks are now 5 games into their season. After their questionable start, they’ve won their past two games to sit at a 2-1-2 record. I’d like to do some overreactions of my own, but in a more positive manner than most of this fanbase does. Here are some players who have impressed me in the early goings of this season.
Kiefer Sherwood
This one won’t be a surprise addition to the list for most of you (I’ve been very outspoken about my love for Sherwood on Instagram). It’s best to get him out of the way first. I have been referring to Sherwood as a “dawg” for the first few games of the season, but now it’s clear to me that there’s a better animal comparable. Sherwood is a bull. With a whopping 30 (!!!) hits through just 5 games, this guy just hits anything that moves. 19 of those hits have come in the past 2 games alone. This guy is angry. He is absolutely relentless on the forecheck, a characteristic that we learned when he faced Vancouver in the playoffs as a member of the Predators. Maybe he’s seeing red. He has also demonstrated a great degree of defensive awareness and is becoming a valued member of the penalty-killing team. Not to mention a goal and an assist through the first games so far, while averaging just 12 minutes on the ice. Many people have mentioned to me that he’s been playing like Dakota Joshua so far this season, which I agree with. It’s fun to have someone play in that style while Joshua is working his way back. When Joshua is back in the lineup, watching those two on a line together is something that entices me. Garland is doing well on the Pettersson line right now, so I don’t see any need to rush Garland and Joshua back on the same line immediately.
Sherwood taking a slot on a line with Dak would make for a duo that would absolutely torture anybody on the opposing team holding the puck. I fear for the bruises they will face. I want more than anything for Sherwood to continue playing exactly the way he has been. If we can get these results consistently throughout the season, I’m buying his jersey. Guaranteed.
Brock Boeser
Boeser has entered the season with consistency game in and game out that we’ve come to expect from him after last season. The main credit to Boeser so far has been his scoring. He is the only Canuck at a point-per-game pace so far, with 3 goals and 2 assists in the 5 games. He has also been a reliable player in the defensive zone, often showcasing the ability to read plays early and find the puck before the other team can. I honestly think Boeser’s defensive ability was underrated last season, likely because he wasn’t a penalty killer. Though it isn’t the main part of this game, he has proved time and time again that he is more than capable in his own zone. Obviously, JT Miller is an exceptional defensive forward, which likely takes some pressure off of Boeser.
It only makes sense that he would be the team’s highest scorer early, as he is by far the most significant of the Canucks who are in a contract year. It scares me to think of the number he’ll get, but I am at least confident that he will remain a Canuck given his past dedication to the team and conversations with management about a desire to stay in Vancouver. I will instead choose to keep that out of my mind for now, and just focus on the 77 more regular season games (plus hopefully playoffs).
Teddy Blueger
Of the remaining members from last season’s group, none have exceeded my expectations to this point quite as much as Teddy Blueger. Blueger has always been a defensive-minded forward, a trait he has carried into the early parts of the season. His play in the offensive zone is what has really been catching my attention so far. We know that he can have offensive outbursts, but it isn’t even really the production that’s impressing me (though he already has 2 goals and 1 assist). It’s the fact that he has been generating so many grade-A scoring chances, positioning himself perfectly in the offensive zone, and still making sure to shut the opposing team down when they come the other way. He just seems to have a different energy, and the fight against fellow Latvian Uvis Balinskis is proof.
We all really started to love Blueger with his contributions to the line with Joshua and Garland. He was a huge reason why both of those guys were able to come out of their shells last season and become essential players. He doesn’t just make himself better, he makes the players around him better. I think we’re seeing new reasons to love Blueger this year, though. So far this season, if I had to give the title of “Hungriest Canuck” to anyone, it would be Teddy. He’s been getting into all the right areas. We can’t expect him to be an All-Star, 40-goal scorer, or award winner. What we can expect is for him to give it his all every single night. I think it’s more likely that we see a Canuck goalie score a goal this season than watch a game and think “Teddy Blueger looks like he isn’t even trying out there.” That should be the case for every player, but it isn’t. For Blueger though, that’s the standard. I was so thankful that we re-signed him. It’s been paying off early.
Kevin Lankinen
I knew this guy was going to be pretty reliable, but I didn’t realise he’d perform like THIS so far. 3 games played out of the 5, and in every single one Lankinen has given us reasons not to panic about Demko’s injury timeline. He currently stands tied for 2nd in the NHL in save percentage at a .954. Lankinen has been a brick wall to start the season, highlighted by a 26-save shutout in Philadelphia on Saturday night. His positioning is impeccable, and he is able to make tough saves at times to bail his team out. People forget that goalies have to do that sometimes. Lankinen has been very good at it. With the early struggles of Arturs Silovs, Lankinen looks set to be the Canucks’ starter for the foreseeable future. Even when Demko’s back, he seems to be a guy we can absolutely count on as a backup, and that is something that excites me.
It’s fun to remember a time when we weren’t even sure that we’d sign Lankinen. Conversations went on for so long and it felt like they were never going to reach an agreement. He was unlikely to take less than $1 million, especially after a season that deserved a much larger paycheque. I am so unbelievably thankful that nobody offered him anything more enticing, and that he finally decided to accept our offer. Canucks hockey is saved!
Honourable mentions for this article would be Conor Garland, Quinn Hughes, and Nils Höglander, all of which have been living up to their expectations so far. The four I mentioned are ones that I just felt more of a necessity to shout out. The Canucks continue their season on Tuesday night in Chicago, a game where anything less than a win is a disappointment. My hopes are high for a big game from Pettersson, but the team game is what really matters