Canucks: Who would be on their All-American starting lineup?
We previously ran the all-Canadian Vancouver Canucks lineup. Up next, we present the all-American team lineup.
The Vancouver Canucks have had some great players over their history, but most have not been from the home country of the team. Foreign countries have been the home of most of Vancouver’s top players, and one of those main nations has been Canada’s biggest international hockey rival: The United States of America.
The Canuck Way took a look at some of the best Canadians to suit up for the Canucks last month. Today, we present our All-American Canucks lineup. It isn’t just a “Top five” Americans list, it’s the best five players to make one complete line that could technically work in a real game.
Right wing: Brock Boeser
He’s new, but he’s got the best hair, and that makes him an instant lock. Okay, that’s a bit of a joke, but the hair doesn’t hurt his case. The Canucks have not had many great American right wingers, and Brock Boeser’s success in his first three seasons has vaulted him to pole position. In 197 NHL games, Boeser has scored 161 points, and he’d have even more if he wasn’t sidelined by multiple injuries.
Some of those injuries have been a nagging problem throughout the year for Boeser. When he lit up the league in his rookie season (29 goals, 55 points), some thought he was a potential future superstar for the hockey club. But it’s unlikely he’ll end up being such.
His inconsistencies have plagued his career so far, making Boeser an above average player at best, and not a superstar. Nevertheless, the Canucks haven’t had an abundance of top-end American right wingers, leading Mr. Boeser to the top of the list.
Centre: Ryan Kesler
Some may accuse me of recency bias with the first two picks, but it was impossible to leave Ryan Kesler off the list. The 2010-11 Selke Trophy winner was an integral part of the best team in franchise history, and he had a solid presence on the American national team. He is the all-time American leader in nearly every category for Vancouver, with 655 games played, 393 points and two team MVP awards (2008-09 and 2013-14).
The Michigan native had his moments with the fans and the city — leaving many with a bitter taste — but he’s worked hard to endear himself to the fanbase recently. Kesler deserves the respect, given his performance on the near Stanley Cup winning team of 2011.
Left wing: Donald Brashear
This line would be a tough one to play against. Donald Brashear is the oldest of these players and never played on a contending Vancouver team, but the time he spent in the city was memorable.
When he was with the Canucks, Brashear was one of the league’s most feared enforcers. It’s a role that is seldom seen in today’s NHL, but when Brashear played, it was critical. However, he wasn’t merely a fighter; Brashear chipped in offensively, scoring 8-11 goals in five straight seasons for Vancouver.
Left defence: Bret Hedican
Back to the Stanley Cup Finals teams. Bret Hedican was an intrinsic piece of the 1993-94 Canucks puzzle, whilst also being a salient component of the Vancouver squads he was on through 1994-1999. He is the team’s all-time American leader in points for a blueliner with 102, which he posted through 310 NHL regular season games.
The Canucks have had many American blueliners, but few have gotten the chance to represent their countries as much as Hedican did. The Minnesotan represented the USA five times, including two Olympic games, a feat few in the NHL will ever get to match with the current relations of the league and international hockey bodies.
More from The Canuck Way
- Which team won the Bo Horvat trade?
- What to expect from newcomers Anthony Beauvillier, Aatu Räty
- Back to the future: How the skate uniforms became a regular Canucks’ feature night
- Canucks kick off 2023 with disappointing 6-2 loss to Islanders
- 2nd period penalty trouble sinks Canucks in 4-2 loss against Winnipeg
Right Defense: Quinn Hughes
Quinn Hughes is the youngest but the most prolific player on the list. The Canucks have never had a player like him, and after only a year in the league, he’s being thought of as one of the best players in franchise history.
If he’s thought to be on a possible all-time Canucks team, there’s certainly enough there to put him in the All-American lineup. Yes, Hughes is left-handed, but with Hedican on the right, Hughes is simply too good to leave off the list.
In just his first season, the young blueliner has garnered comparisons to Bobby Orr and Drew Doughty, some of the best defencemen to ever play the game.
The No. 7 selection from the 2018 draft endeared himself to Canucks fans with his swift skating and 53 points in 68 games. With his performance, he’s earned the status of a Calder Trophy favourite, alongside fellow defender Cale Makar. Hughes has represented the USA at the senior level twice, but four times in his youth. He may not have any all-time franchise leads yet, but just wait. He will eventually.
Goaltender: Ryan Miller
Who would have thought that the goaltending decision would be the toughest one to make? Ryan Miller comes out on top, but serious considerations were given to Cory Schneider and even a quick thought to rookie Thatcher Demko.
Miller was never part of a cup contending Canucks side, but he backstopped the team to their last playoff appearance in 2015 and solidified a tenuous goaltending situation following the infamous John Tortorella-coached 2013-14 season.
150 games over three seasons and a .914 save percentage may not shout “best goalie ever.” But the fact of the matter is, Miller was the Canucks’ only solid goaltender in a fragile time for the club, and he’s one of the few Americans ever to hold a rigid presence in Vancouver’s crease.
Although it was prior to his time in Vancouver, Miller was one of Team USA’s main goalies for the majority of the 2010s — most notably in 2010 when he won a silver medal dawning the stars and stripes.
Next. The Canucks all-time Canadian team. dark
The Canucks all-time American team is a tough one to play against. Good luck to any opponent who wishes to face Brashear and Kesler up front, while dealing with Hughes’ funky feet on defence. Of all the foreign countries the Canucks have drawn talent from, the USA puts together one of the strongest sides, with arguably only Sweden providing a capable group to beat them.