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Vancouver Canucks: TCW’s Team Award Picks

By Jeff Godley

Mar 12, 2016; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne (35) defends against Vancouver Canucks forward Daniel Sedin (22) during the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 12, 2016; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne (35) defends against Vancouver Canucks forward Daniel Sedin (22) during the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 18, 2016; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers forward Matt Hendricks (23) and Vancouver Canucks defensemen Chris Tanev (8) battle in front of the Vancouver Canucks net during the first period at Rexall Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 18, 2016; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers forward Matt Hendricks (23) and Vancouver Canucks defensemen Chris Tanev (8) battle in front of the Vancouver Canucks net during the first period at Rexall Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports /

Walter “Babe” Pratt Award — Best Defenceman

Our Picks:

  • Jeff Godley — Christopher Tanev
  • Janik Beichler — Christopher Tanev
  • Sarah Laug — Ben Hutton
  • David Joun — Ben Hutton
  • Gerald Morton — Nikita Tryamkin (“Because, why not? Let’s crush the poor giant with MORE unfair expectations!”)

Consensus Pick #1: Chris Tanev

Can the value of Chris Tanev to the Vancouver Canucks be overstated?

Tanev has missed 14 games due to injury this season; in those games, the Canucks have a 3-8-3 record and have been outscored badly, 43-19.

In the four games since Tanev has returned from an injury, the Canucks are 3-1, outscoring their opponents 15-12 — this on a team tied for last in the league with a minus-45 goal differential.

Consensus Pick # 2: Ben Hutton

Ben Hutton makes a repeat appearance in our picks.

As if leading the Canucks in assists and points by defencemen was not enough, in the second half of his first NHL campaign, Ben Hutton was charged with taking the place of runaway ice-time leader Alexander Edler on the Canucks’ top defensive pairing. An enormous task, particularly for a rookie.

For all that, Hutton has hardly looked out of his depth. His stick handling is a joy to watch, and he seems to have no panic to his game. More often than not, Ben Hutton has been the player starting the Canucks’ offense.

The future is bright for this poised young D-man.

Conspicuously Absent: Dan Hamhuis

Interestingly, no one picked veteran Dan Hamhuis, though it’s safe to assume he was near the top of everyone’s list. After Jim Benning couldn’t deal away the veteran defenseman at the deadline, Hamhuis has proved to be invaluable to the Canucks.

He is third in ice-time on the Canucks (Hutton is fourth), and has given leadership to a very young defense corps, with Edler and Luca Sbisa missing significant time.

Related: Re-Signing Dan Hamhuis is the Canucks’ Only Option

Tongue-in-Cheek Pick: Nikita Tryamkin

It may be a stretch to consider a player with 11 games of NHL experience the Canucks’ best defenceman. Yet the hulking Russian has provided some much-needed physicality, and while he clearly still needs to adjust to the NHL game, Tryamkin’s long reach has helped him make up for most of his early mistakes.

Also, this happened:

Next: Pavel Bure Award -- Most Exciting Player

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