Canucks: Is Thatcher Demko or Brock Boeser the team’s MVP?
It has been quite the season for the Vancouver Canucks. After a shaky start to the season, the Canucks now have won seven out of their last ten games. With twenty-one games remaining in the 56- game season, the Canucks are fifth in the Scotiabank North Division with a 16-16-3 record.
In normal times, the regular season would be very close to its conclusion and debates would happen amongst fans and analysts about the team’s MVP of the season. However, since times are anything but normal, I thought it would be fun to take a look at who is the team MVP this season.
There are two candidates in particular who stand out: Brock Boeser and Thatcher Demko.
The case for Brock Boeser
Boeser has been a good story. After suffering through injuries the last couple of seasons, it seems he is finally healthy again. It is also nice to see his shot return to the form it was in his rookie season.
It’s not only the wrist shot that has looked deadly, Boeser has been using the one-timer on the power play too.
Brock Boeser unloads a one-timer on the PP to give the #Canucks a 2-1 lead! pic.twitter.com/tCPhCwlhyg
— Sportsnet 650 (@Sportsnet650) March 21, 2021
Boeser has tied his goal total from last season with 16, only this time he did it in 35 games. That is on pace for 25 in a 56 game season. In a full 82 game season, that would be on pace for 37 goals.
Boeser is also first on the Canucks in points with 32. His nine assists have him in a three-way tie with Elias Pettersson and Nils Hoglander. He is first in power-play goals with six, second in power points with 14 and first in shooting percentage at 20%.
It isn’t only the goal scoring that makes the case for Boeser. He has become a decent playmaker and passer as shown below.
Boeser quick on the forecheck finds Pettersson who goes off the post, off the crossbar, off Brossoit's back and into the net to tie the game at 1. #Canucks pic.twitter.com/EuKszH34Wl
— Sportsnet 650 (@Sportsnet650) March 3, 2021
Boeser has been without a doubt the most consistent Canuck this season as he is regularly putting up the points, scoring and making plays happen. Even when the team was doing poorly, Boeser was one of the few bright spots in those bad stretches.
Remember when he was going to be traded for Matt Dumba? Pepperidge Farm remembers.
The case for Thatcher Demko
If it weren’t for Demko, this Canucks season would be a whole lot worse. He has really turned up his game especially for the month of March with an 8-1-0 run and a 1.74 goals-against average (2.66 season total) and .950 save percentage (9.21 season total).
Demko is in some elite company when it comes to save percentage above expected for starting goalies.
Starting Goalie Save Percentage Above Expected Leaderboard (All Situations) - March 20 pic.twitter.com/SM69SF7QVk
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) March 20, 2021
The man they called “Bubble Demko” after the 2020 playoffs is living up to his nickname. In fact, he doesn’t even need to be called that anymore because he is proving Bubble Demko is the real deal and not just a one-time thing.
Demko has pretty much become what Jacob Markstrom was to the Canucks last season, (Markstrom was named Team MVP), and maybe even better. Vancouver ranks 30th in shots against with per game with 33.6 and is dead last with an expected goals against per game of 3.39. They are also 29th in slot chances against per game with 16.1 and are 30th in rush chances against per game with 7.2. The Canucks are a poor team defensively and thanks to Demko and his heroics, the Canucks are still in the playoff hope despite their chances being quite slim.
Demko doesn’t look fazed in net and is making great saves left and right. With the way he is playing, you have to wonder if he should at least get a nomination for the Vezina trophy.
thatcher demko. that's it that's the tweet pic.twitter.com/FajDMUv361
— clarissa! (@quinnsedgework) March 14, 2021
Like Markstrom last year, Demko has kept the Canucks in games and given them the chance to win even though they don’t really deserve the victory.
The Verdict
Boeser has been the most consistent Canucks while Demko’s play has given the team a chance to win every game.
It is quite the tough call because both players have been two of the best Canucks this season. If I had to make the call right now it would be Boeser over Demko by a hair.
Even though Demko is becoming more of a fortress than the Great Wall of China at the moment, he did start off slow which included a .888 save percentage in February.
As for Boeser, he has been scoring at a rate that’s similar to his rookie season and has made his playmaking and two-way game better. He has been doing so against tough competition and has been scoring consistently all season. Nothing against Demko but since the start of the season, Boeser has scored plenty of goals and points in all situations and hasn’t slowed down.
Next. Canucks Recap: Three stars of the week (Mar 13th – 19th). dark
Let us know in the comments who you think is the Canucks MVP this season!
*Stats courtesy of Natural Stat Trick, NHL.Com and Sportsnet.