Canucks: Presenting the 2010s all-decade awards
The Vancouver Canucks have kicked off a new decade. We’re taking one more trip down memory lane to look at the best of the best in the 2010s.
The first half of the 2010s decade was the greatest stretch run in the history of the Vancouver Canucks. They won four straight Northwest Division titles from 2010 to ’13, two Presidents’ Trophies (2011 and 2012) plus a trip to the Stanley Cup Final in 2011.
But Vancouver wound up making the postseason just once between the 2013-14 and 2018-19 seasons. The silver lining is that they received plenty of high end draft picks, which led to the arrivals of Elias Pettersson, Brock Boeser and Quinn Hughes.
As we prepare to endure a new decade of Vancouver Canucks hockey, staff writers at The Canuck Way decided to reflect one last time on the very best of a special 2010s decade. Brayden Ursel Jacob Calvert and myself decided to run an unofficial team award ceremony.
And without further ado, we present the following awards for the Canucks in the 2010s decade.
Best goal
This was an easy one for me. It took no more than five seconds to think.
That would be Daniel Sedin’s between-the-legs goal against the Calgary Flames on Apr. 10, 2010. Brother Henrik delivered a fancy tip pass to his twin, and Daniel scored the prettiest goal of his career to put Vancouver up 6-2.
T’was a fine exclamation point on another Northwest Division-winning season.
Best save
Roberto Luongo received plenty of criticism for his inconsistent performances in big games, but there’s no denying that he carried his team on the back more often than not.
Unsurprisingly, Bobby Lou takes home the save of the decade award. It took place in Game 6 of the Canucks’ first round match up against the Los Angeles Kings. Luongo got a glove on a point-blank shot by Ryan Smyth to keep it a one-goal game.
The Canucks would go on to win the game 4-2, thus clinching the series. If Luongo didn’t make that save, Vancouver would have probably had to go back home for Game 7.
Best moment
Two words: Dragon slayer.
Alexandre Burrows ripped a slap shot past Corey Crawford in Game 7 of the opening round in 2011 to send Vancouver to the second round. It took them three opportunities to eliminate the arch rival Chicago Blackhawks. Burrows delivered when Vancouver needed it most.
You may suggest Kevin Bieksa’s infamous “stanchion” goal against the San Jose Sharks — which sent Vancouver to the Stanley Cup Final — should be on here instead. But without Burrows’ heroics, the Bieksa goal doesn’t happen.
Best trade
Former general manager Mike Gillis and current GM Jim Benning made plenty of questionable trades during the 2010s. But the former at least set up Vancouver’s rebuild nicely at the 2013 draft, when he traded goalie Cory Schneider to the New Jersey Devils for the ninth overall selection.
The Canucks took Bo Horvat with that pick. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Best signing
Looking to upgrade their blue line, the Canucks inked B.C. boy Dan Hamhuis to a bargain six-year deal worth $27 million. Hamhuis provided incredible defensive play, superb leadership and remarkable performances on the special teams unit.
This was one of the rare instances where the Canucks actually hit a home run in free agency during the 2010s.
Best draft pick
The 2017 NHL draft was widely regarded as one of the weakest in recent memory, with no Connor McDavid or Sidney Crosby-caliber players available.
Benning went off the board and took Pettersson with the No. 5 overall pick that year. I’d say that selection turned out nicely!
Next up, Brayden shares his picks for four best forward, best defenceman, best goalie and best two-way forward.
Brayden Ursel
Best forward: The Sedin twins
Something so magical about the Vancouver Canucks in the 2010s was the fact they had two elite players in the Sedin twins.
A once in a lifetime brotherhood chemistry made up of an incredible cycle game, revolutionary passing ability and the creation of the move dubbed “The Sedin Tip” helped cement the Swedes as the faces of the franchise.
They were the heart and soul of Vancouver for over a decade, and they brought the Canucks within one win of their first Stanley Cup. Winning back-to-back Art Ross Trophies was remarkable to see: Henrik first in 2009-10, followed by Daniel in 2010-11. Playing their entire careers for the Canucks, they became the only two brothers to each reach 1,000 points.
Without a doubt, the Hall of Fame. should come knocking soon enough.
Best two-way forward: Ryan Kesler
The overall fan feeling on the dearly departed Ryan Kesler is a mix of love and hate, to say the least. Nonetheless, Ryan Kesler trumped Bo Horvat as best two-way player of the decade — having reached feats beyond the young career of Vancouver’s current captain
He is a multi-time nominee for Selke trophy, even winning it in 2010-11. He recorded two 70-point seasons, and he could play at every aspect of the game. He reached 41 goals in the 2010-11 season, and he completely took over the second round of the Canucks’ series against the Nashville Predators in 2011 — where Vancouver emerged victorious in six games.
Related Story. Canucks: Selecting the all-decade team of the 2010s. light
Best defenceman: Alexander Edler
Alex Edler has been a star here in the 2010s, notoriously growing into the club’s No. 1 defender. The Swede and his family felt right at home in Vancouver, and they planted their roots deep within the pacific community.
Last season, Edler became the franchise all-time leader in points for a defenceman. His presence and ability to eat large amounts of minutes have simply made Vancouver a better team. Even at age 33, he still has enough gas in the tank to be a part of the team as they embark into their next tier as a playoff contender.
Best goaltender: Roberto Luongo
A retired jersey in Florida and a suitable candidate for future Ring of Honor glorification in Vancouver makes Roberto Luongo the goalie of the decade.
The former captain of the Canucks put everything he had into this team including a 72-save performance in his first playoff game (2007 against the Dallas Stars). In 2006-07, he made a whopping 76 stars, and let’s not forget the four shutouts Luongo posted in the postseason.
He is a class one and future Hall of Fame goaltender who finished his career third in all-time wins (489), and Luongo is the Canucks’ best goalie of their 50-year existence. Luongo was mistreated, which in the end led to his exit — a big mistake by the organization that tainted a very special relationship between goalie and franchise.
Now, it’s Jacob’s turn to reveal more awards.
Jacob Calvert
Toughest player
This award easily goes to Kevin Bieksa, who played six seasons with the Canucks in the 2010s decade.
Bieksa managed 23 fights over those five seasons. His record as follows is categorized into wins (Bieksa over 50 percent), losses (opponent over 50 percent) and draws (neither over 50 percent) by the voting done on by Hockey Fights, good for a record of 14-3-6. He also recorded a whopping 646 hits from 2009-10 to 2014-15.
Picking anyone else would be impossible.
Best bargain
This award was a toss up with a lot of options, but with this decade being a turning point for the franchise, there are a lot of past bargains that stopped being one a couple of seasons into the decade.
Horvat receives this award, by being on an entry-level contract for three whole seasons and for being the first of the 2010s to dethrone Henrik and Daniel Sedin for the team lead in scoring — which he accomplished in 2016-17 with 52 points.
He also re-signed a fairly team friendly contract at $33 million over six years. There could be a lot of hate on this one, but REMEMBER, its over the whole decade — and some bargains turned into overpayments.
Unsung hero
I don’t think there will be any disagreement that Jannik Hansen was the biggest unsung hero of the decade, his resurgence and commitment to the game was vital for the young players coming up to witness. No praises get sung for Hansen. Personally I can’t remember seeing many if any Hansen jerseys out there prior to 2013.
Most exciting player
For 20 percent of the decade, we have got to witness something so extravagant and spectacular that it makes up for the other 80 percent.
Next. Canucks' New Year's Revolution: Make the playoffs. dark
Elias Pettersson has been the most exciting player of the decade, arguably since Pavel Bure. This one was easy!