Canucks Recap: Three stars of the week (Feb 20th – 26th)

3. Nils Höglander

Is there anything that Nils Höglander can’t do?

The 20-year-old rookie continues to be a phenomenon and beacon of hope for the Canucks, and he is showcasing more and more ways that he can contribute to this team on a nightly basis. From calculated, well-executed turnovers and gritty, hard-fought battles against the boards, to creative passes and explosive speed down the wing, Höglander possesses the ability to create legitimate, high danger chances every time he steps over the board.

Unfortunately, not many other Canucks can attest to this.

Höglander also continues to be a handful for his Canadian division foes. He has accumulated a total of 50 hits against in just 24 games, and it’s evident that his opponents are having a difficult time shutting down his energetic and effective style of play.

Although he has gone pointless in his four games, Höglander was able to put up 15 total shots, with each of those attempts having the true potential to find the back of the net, and he is averaging just over 16 minutes of ice time per game.

He continues to be a staple on the second powerplay unit, but don’t be surprised if he gets promoted to the top unit in the near future, especially if they could use a spark to get going. He is also tied for third place in assists with six for the rookie scoring race.

And did we mention that he throws big hits now? Kris Russell found that out the hard way.

Höglander is the real deal, and he is checking off more and more boxes as his rookie campaign processes on. He has been one of the few bright spots on this underwhelming Canucks roster, and his adaptability to play with different linemates and in different on-ice situations isn’t going unnoticed.

Fans, coaching and management alike have been beyond impressed with the Swedish rookie, and we’re all hoping that he can continue his strong gameplay for the foreseeable future.

Maybe he’ll even throw in a Michigan lacrosse goal to put an exclamation mark on this season?! One can only dream.

Honourable Mention #1: Tyler Motte

Tyler Motte hasn’t been activated from the injury reserve list yet, but he still continues to make a meaningful impact with the organization nonetheless.

Just over a year ago, Motte shared his story about battling anxiety and depression, and how it drastically altered his life.

Motte, who holds the role of Hockey Talks Ambassador with the organization, made the decision to come forward about his own personal struggles because he wanted others to feel more comfortable to seek their own treatment, and he continues to use his platform to promote positive mental health initiatives.

Most recently, Motte sat down with Sportsnet and opened up about his mental health journey in a short video segment entitled “Adversity”. This was the first of five episodes, as part of “The Mental Game” initiative, that highlighted different professional athletes and their own personal battles against mental health. The initiative set out to promote the notion that anyone can suffer from poor mental health, and that no one should be ashamed to admit it.

To this day, Motte is a strong advocate for mental health awareness and accessibility, sharing resources and engaging in honest and open discussions, and he won’t stop until the stigma is finally broken.

Honourable Mention #2: Zack MacEwen

It’s been a while, but fans were treated to a good ol’ fashioned donnybrook on Sunday night, courtesy of Zack MacEwen.

The 6’3, 205-lb forward, who was added to the lineup after Friday’s 2-0 loss to the Jets, made his presence known immediately, dropping the gloves with Derek Forbort in a spirited tilt.

This transpired, of course, after Forbort repeatedly cross-checked and abused Höglander throughout the third period of Friday’s game, despite the noticeable size difference. Fortunately, MacEwen made sure that Forbort would be punished for his actions, and he was even able to walk away with the undisputed victory.

Upcoming games:

• Monday, March 1st – Vancouver Canucks @ Winnipeg Jets (5:00 pm PST)
• Tuesday, March 2nd – Vancouver Canucks @ Winnipeg Jets (5:00 pm PST)
• Thursday, March 4th – Toronto Maple Leafs @ Vancouver Canucks (7:00 pm PST)

Who do you think played well during the past three games? Make sure to drop a comment below!