The Canuck Way
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Canucks: 3 players that will take on bigger roles next year

By Brayden Ursel

EDMONTON, ALBERTA - AUGUST 14: Tanner Pearson #70 of the Vancouver Canucks (C) celebrates a power-play goal against the St. Louis Blues at 13:01 of the second period and is joined by Elias Pettersson #40 (L) and Jake Virtanen #18 (R) in Game Two of the Western Conference First Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on August 14, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images)
EDMONTON, ALBERTA - AUGUST 14: Tanner Pearson #70 of the Vancouver Canucks (C) celebrates a power-play goal against the St. Louis Blues at 13:01 of the second period and is joined by Elias Pettersson #40 (L) and Jake Virtanen #18 (R) in Game Two of the Western Conference First Round during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Rogers Place on August 14, 2020 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images) /
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Adam Gaudette skates up ice for the Vancouver Canucks (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images).
Adam Gaudette skates up ice for the Vancouver Canucks (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images). /

2. Thatcher Demko

The Canucks sent a message and Thatcher Demko received it loud and clear. Demko is the goalie of the Canucks’ future, and that future is upon us. Jim Benning made that choice when he decided to move on from MVP Jacob Markstrom and hand the net over to the 24-year-old netminder who had himself quite the showing through 3 playoff games versus the Vegas Golden Knights.

Yes, Vancouver agreed to terms with a former Stanley Cup champion back-stopper, Braden Holtby, but Demko put the entire hockey world on notice with his God-like goaltending versus the Golden Knights.

The rookie almost single-handedly defeated a team that, to be completely honest, was making the Canucks players look pathetic in a matchup of boys versus men. Demko made more saves than I could count and his performance alone got deep inside the heads of Vegas’ best shooters.

Demko is ready for a more prominent role in Vancouver, and if his playoff performance was any indication, he’ll get every chance he needs to steal the crease from his new Vezina Trophy mentor. It won’t be something that is just handed to the San Diego native, but Vancouver is banking on him to be a legit 1B option with the ability to take over as the true starter.

3. Adam Gaudette

Whether it’s playing centre on the third-line or if it’s moving to the wing inside the top-six, Adam Gaudette will be needed for a larger role in his second full season with the Canucks.

At some point or another, a decision will have to be made on whether Gaudette is better to serve this team as a shutdown centre on the third-line or to contribute as a scoring winger. From what he showcased last year, Gaudette has the tools to bring energy on every shift and score the occasional goal. His game on the defensive side of the puck needs work but could be promising under the right set of circumstances.

But how will Gaudette decide to roll with that? Does he want to take the time and put in the work to adapt his playing style to be more defensive and to learn the ways of a true centre? Or does he want to sharpen his offensive abilities and be a winger with a scoring punch? Either way, the Canucks need him to step up and be a bigger contributor to the overall success of the team.

Next. Canucks need to offer an extension to Travis Green. dark

Brandon Sutter has failed time and time again to be an effective two-way third-liner. Jay Beagle can’t do it, and after that, the options just aren’t there. The days are numbered for Sutter and Beagle, and Gaudette has to be ready to take on more responsibility. The passing of the torch is underway.

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