Canucks Rewind: Brock Boeser’s NHL debut, and his time in Vancouver so far

On March 25th, 2017, the Vancouver Canucks were gearing up to play the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center.

At the time, this contest didn’t have too much significance for the Canucks, aside from airing on a Saturday night. The team, who had missed the playoffs the previous year, was in the middle of their drastic rebuild, and their position in the standings indicated that they were destined to be on the outside looking in once again.

However, for most of us, this game was never about the final score, or how it would impact their position in the standings. Instead, Canucks fans and management alike were focused on the projected line combinations; in particular, all eyes were on the right wing, as rookie Brock Boeser was set to make his highly-anticipated NHL debut.

Boeser’s career early on

Originally selected 23rd overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, there was already a tremendous amount of pressure on Boeser’s shoulders as soon as he joined the Canucks’ organization. The team had officially moved on from their aging stars, and they desperately needed to fill their roster with young, talented pieces that could quickly transition into the big leagues when called upon.

It was also no surprise that the Canucks were trending in the wrong direction when it came to offensive firepower, so general manager Jim Benning and co. were hopeful that Boeser, alongside recent 2013 first-round pick Bo Horvat, would be the initial building blocks of a new franchise core that could lead them back to the playoffs.

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

Not to mention, Boeser was part of one of the deepest draft classes in recent history, having been chosen in the same round as game-changing players like Kyle Connor, Mitch Marner, Jack Eichel and, of course, Connor McDavid.

So, naturally, his performance expectations were already through the roof in Vancouver.

Following the draft, Boeser decided to return to the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) to play for the University of North Dakota. He scored at over a point-per-game pace that season, notching 60 points in 42 games, and he also was a key factor in helping the team capture the NCAA Division 1 National Championship.

Boeser was unfortunately limited to 32 games the following season due to a wrist injury, but was still able to put up 34 points during that span. The right-winger once again helped guide his team into the postseason, but they weren’t able to replicate their success from last year. They were knocked out of the tournament in heartbreak fashion, falling to Boston University in a 4-3 double-overtime loss on March 24th, 2017.

While most young players would usually take the weekend to replay the game over and over in their head to see what they could’ve done differently, Boeser had to completely shift his mindset back into play-now mode.

Less than 12 hours after his team’s playoff exit, Boeser signed his three-year entry-level contract with the Canucks in preparation for his debut that Saturday evening.

The debut

As it goes for all newcomers, Boeser stepped onto the ice by himself to complete the inaugural warm-up lap, before his teammates emerged from the tunnel to join him on the ice. Boeser, who donned the now-familiar no. 6 on the back of his jersey, was projected to start the game alongside Daniel and Henrik Sedin, and, like all of their previous linemates, was being thrown into the spotlight almost immediately.

Again, for most young players, the opportunity to finally play in the NHL, alongside household superstar names and in front of energetic, sold-out crowds, is more than enough to quench their thirst for professional hockey, and the Canucks rookie was no exception.

For Boeser, however, this game would always have a special place in his heart, no matter his ice time, point totals or impact on the game.

The Burnsville-native was set to make his NHL debut against the team he idolized growing up, in a building that he has frequently visited during his boyhood years, and with a large crowd of close friends and family in attendance to cheer him on.

The grand stage was set for the rookie, and he did not disappoint.

Boeser logged just over 12 minutes of ice time that night, posting four shots on goal and a plus-one rating. He would also record his first-ever NHL tally, pushing a Horvat rebound past Darcy Kuemper to make it 3-0 for the visitors. In storybook fashion, this ended up being the game-winning goal.

Boeser played the remaining eight games of the season with the Canucks, registering four more points to cap off his first, albeit much shorter-than-usual, season in the NHL.

Yes, the team lost all of those contests, finishing the campaign at the bottom of the Pacific Division with a 30-43-9 record, while sporting a point total of 69 that landed them second last in the league.

But Boeser was one of the few bright spots in that final losing streak, sparking much-needed, long-awaited hope throughout a fanbase that was ready for a new core of superstars to emerge.

Cue the 2017-2018 season.

Boeser’s rookie season

Boeser was explosive right out of the gate, registering five goals, eight assists and 34 shots in the first ten games. This impressive start to the season was capped off with a four-point performance against the Pittsburgh Penguins on November 4th, 2017, where he also potted his first-career hat trick.

Boeser would continue to dominate from that point on, ruthlessly scoring at will with his lethal shot, while simultaneously pushing himself into the Calder conversation night in and night out. He was the favourite to win the Rookie of the Year accolades at the three-quarter mark of the season, but, as many Canucks fans unfortunately recall, the celebrations were cut short.

Boeser suffered a season-ending back injury on March 5th, 2018, breaking the transverse process of his L4 vertebrae after being decked into the open door of the Canucks bench by Islanders forward Cal Clutterbuck. He missed the remaining 20 games, ultimately erasing any chance of securing the offseason award.

He finished the 2017-18 campaign with 29 goals, 26 assists and four game-winning goals, with his 55 points landing him fifth in rookie scoring, but he would eventually play runner-up, falling to Mathew Barzal in Calder voting.

In an interview with Sportsnet’s Iain MacIntyre one month after the injury, Boeser discussed the whirlwind 24 hours that occurred after the incident, including his experience at the hospital, his initial stages of rehab and the nagging wrist injury that he also had to deal with.

More importantly, Boeser emphasized how fortunate he truly was afterwards, and how he’s beyond grateful that the injury didn’t put an abrupt end to his professional hockey tenure.

“It was hard, especially because I love the game so much and I never want to miss any games. But I’ve got to look at the other side of it. I am pretty lucky because that injury could have ended my career, honestly.”

Boeser was diligent and hard-working with his treatment over the summer, eyeing the October third home-opener as his return to play. He was able to kick-off the 2018-19 season that night, and played the majority of that season in relatively good health. But it seemed that Boeser never made a full recovery that offseason and, based on his offensive input, skating abilities and overall shot mechanics, was still feeling the effects of his previous two injuries.