Canucks Power Rankings – Top 20 Week 2
Henrik Sedin has been the Canucks’ best player this season. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Henrik Sedin
Henrik has been consistently, day in, day out, the Canucks best player this season. He’s been looking for the net more while still finding his teammates. He’s even looking good in the faceoff circle.
Kevin Bieksa
Bieksa is logging a ton of ice-time and his +7 rating on the season is good for 13th in the league and best on the team. Considering the Canucks have scored 3 less goals than their opposition this season, that’s pretty good.
Jason Garrison
No question about it, Garrison’s shot is a great bonus to have on the power play. He had 10 shots on net against Montreal, and is second to P.K. Subban in defenseman scoring.
Mike Santorelli
One of the league’s best sneaky free agent signings, Santorelli leads the team in goals and faceoff percentage. Showing nice versatility and great creativity on the ice, Tortorella is trusting the shifty centre with nearly 20 minutes a game.
Daniel Sedin
Still finding his form, Daniel has yet to get hot this season but he’s consistently putting points up on the board. Now learning how to play on lines separate from Henrik, Daniel is looking for his teammates a little more this season.
Tanev’s 23 blocked shots lead the NHL. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-US PRESSWIRE
Chris Tanev
The fourth year player has had a nice, steady start to the year. Currently sitting first overall in the NHL in blocked shots, he is quickly becoming one of Tortorella’s faves.
Roberto Luongo
Lou has been serviceable, and nobody can really blame him for the goals he’s let in… still… something tells me that he’s got another gear we’ll be seeing shortly.
Brad Richardson
Another nice surprise on the Canucks’ roster, signed this off-season. He gives the team tenacity on the forecheck and his 2 shorthanded goals are enough to lead the NHL as of October 20th.
Alex Edler
Despite the three game suspension and some often mind-boggling gaffes, Edler has been a standout both offensively and defensively for the team. Just think how valuable he would be if he ever put it all together.
Chris Higgins
Higgy has been the road warrior so far this season, with all of his 4 points coming in 6 road games. Now if only he can put it together at home….
Ryan Kesler
To be fair, Kesler has been skating well, taking all the important faceoffs, and shutting down as many forwards as he can get his hands on but he isn’t looking good on the offensive end. The shoot-first Kesler is squeezing the stick.
Ryan Stanton
Another nice surprise for the team, claimed from waivers earlier last week, Stanton scored his first goal against Buffalo last week. His defensive play has been solid, and he boasts a surprising and respectable 4 points in his first 9 games.
Dan Hamhuis
After some early discussion related to Hamhuis as an outside shot for the Olympic roster, Hammer has tried to merely clean up his play on his own team. He has two own goals this season, and has generally looked a little lost, but good games against Pittsburgh and Columbus have stopped his slide down.
Oct 15, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Luke Schenn (22) fights against Vancouver Canucks right wing Zack Kassian (9) during the first period at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Zack Kassian
Kid Kassian is “getting it” lately, using his body, forechecking hard, being strong on the puck and going to the net. He’s cut down some weight and some needless penalties. Good things to come?
Eddie Lack
Lack has had a nice start in limited minutes. His play against Columbus was excellent and with another 17 back to back games this season, the team will count on Lack to be consistent.
Jannik Hansen
Hansen hasn’t shown very much this season defensively or offensively. Turning the puck over too much, and skating into defenders too much, Hansen is beginning to look more and more like a penalty killer and less and less like a second liner.
Tom Sestito
Sestito has seen limited ice-time, but he should be proud of his work while he’s been on. Big hits, keeps the puck in the offensive zone, tries some fancy passes, and gets his face in the way of punches. What’s not to like?
Alex Burrows
Burrows’s foot injury will see him drop some before he shoots right back to where he belongs in the top 6. For now, he’s traveling with the team and coach T remains hopeful that he’ll see some action sooner than later.
Dale Weise
Weise hasn’t really had much of an effect, even for his limited minutes. He still grinds a regular shift but he is so limited offensively that he is literally a human time-out for the better players on the roster.
David Booth has, thus far, avoided the injury bug. Knock on wood for “the dude”.