Canucks: Tanner Pearson is quietly enjoying a career year

Tanner Pearson played for three teams last season, but he’s enjoying a career year with the Vancouver Canucks.

After being traded twice in a three-month span, it appeared Tanner Pearson’s days as a top-six forward were outnumbered. Fast forward 10 months later, and not only is Pearson enjoying a successful first full season in a Vancouver Canucks uniform, but the most productive campaign in his NHL career.

In order to truly appreciate the highs, one needs to experience the lows. For Pearson, the latter ultimately led to his arrival in Vancouver last February.

Just over a year ago, Pearson, a former Stanley Cup Champion with the Los Angeles Kings, was off to an overwhelmingly disappointing start to the season. After posting consecutive 40-plus point campaigns with the Kings and becoming an everyday top-six forward, the Kitchener, Ont. native was held pointless in 16 of 17 games and quickly being demoted within the lineup.

“He came in and was playing so well as a young player,” Former Canucks head coach and then-Kings interim coach Willie Desjardins said at the time of Pearson’s early season struggles in late 2018. “I don’t think he’s playing quite as well now.”

For Pearson, frustration was mounting.

After recording just a single point in 17 games with the Kings, Pearson was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Carl Hagelin. Yet after seemingly regaining his form with the Penguins, Pearson quickly tailed off once again, recording just two points in the final 16 games leading up to the 2019 NHL trade deadline.

One for one

Nearing the final hour of the deadline, the Canucks rolled the dice on Pearson, acquiring the then-26 year-old along with the remaining two full years and $7.5 million and change remaining on his contract in exchange for the infamous Erik Gudbranson.

Reaction from Canucks nation at the time was jubilant, as one would have been hard pressed at the time to find a fan that wasn’t thrilled with the move. Sure, Pearson had struggled mightily offensively, and carried a less than ideal cap hit for the value he seemingly provided, but it was still a trade worth making considering what they gave up.

For all intents and purposes, Gudbranson was among the worst defenceman in the NHL.

New beginnings

After optimism tempered, many expected Pearson would merely add to the logjam of middle-six forwards the Canucks had throughout the season. But after being gifted a spot alongside Bo Horvat, Pearson hit the ground running on a team that had little to play for near seasons end.

Over the final 19 games of the last season, Pearson netted nine goals. For context, he scored as many goals through 61 games he split between L.A. and Pittsburgh. Suddenly, there was even more belief Pearson could corral some of that momentum into this season and become a staple amongt the Canucks top scorers.

He’s quietly done that, and more, in spades this season.

Pearson reborn

This season has all but been a high for Pearson.

Part of a forward group that includes Elias Pettersson, Brock Boeser, Bo Horvat and J.T. Miller, Pearson hasn’t had to be “the man”, but that’s more than okay with him. While consistently doled out alongside Horvat on the second line, pressure hasn’t mounted on Pearson like it had at times on his former teams.

Highlighted by a monstrous 11 shots in the Canucks season opening loss in Edmonton on October 2, Pearson has put up points in bunches. With six multi-point efforts through the opening 42 games of the season, he is now up to 12 goals and 31 points. What’s even more impressive, however, is his play as of late:

Pretty good value for a guy that hasn’t seen an ounce of first power play time all season.

With his previous career high for points in a season set at 44 back in 2016-17 with the Kings, Pearson is on track to shatter the mark this year. The acquisition is quickly becoming one of — if not the best move in the the tenure of tenure manager Jim Benning.

Pearson has been exactly what the doctor ordered for the Canucks; an excellent offensive minded player alongside Horvat, an experience veteran that brings leadership to an incredibly young core and a proven competitor that knows what it takes to win (with a Stanley Cup ring to show for it).

Here’s to hoping Pearson can continue rolling into the second half of the season.