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Who is the unsung hero on the 2021-22 Canucks?

By Joshua Rey |
Apr 6, 2022; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore (27) covers Vancouver Canucks left wing Tanner Pearson (70) during the first period at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 6, 2022; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore (27) covers Vancouver Canucks left wing Tanner Pearson (70) during the first period at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
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The Vancouver Canucks season is nearing the end. In a season full of changes, ups and downs, and COVID protocols, it looks like the playoffs won’t happen in Vancouver this year.

It is also time to determine the team awards. It is an annual tradition for Canucks fans to vote for four out of the seven awards. They are the Cyclone Taylor Trophy for the Most Valuable Player, Pavel Bure Most Exciting Player Award, Walter “Babe” Pratt Trophy for the Best Canucks Defenceman and the Fred J. Hume Award for Unsung Hero.

You can cast a vote yourself here. Voting is open until 11:59 Pacific Time on April 26.

As you read the title of this article, we will be discussing the Unsung Hero award. There are a bunch of players to choose from. The Unsung Hero is a player that doesn’t get enough recognition for their contributions on the ice. Tyler Motte was the winner of the Fred J. Hume Award last season. Over the next week, myself, Zaahid Lalani or any of our great contributors will write about the rest of the awards.

Let’s go over three players that could make the case for the Canucks Unsung Hero. Of course, you don’t have to agree and you can vote for a player not listed in this article. However, I think these three make the strongest cases.

Apr 18, 2022; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Dallas Stars forward Jamie Benn (14) fights with Vancouver Canucks defenseman Luke Schenn (2) in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 18, 2022; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Dallas Stars forward Jamie Benn (14) fights with Vancouver Canucks defenseman Luke Schenn (2) in the second period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports /

Tanner Pearson

Just over a year ago, Tanner Pearson signed a three-year contract extension worth 3.25 million dollars per season. Many Canucks fans didn’t like this deal. Pearson was entering his 30s and that is when players decline.

Yes, Pearson probably isn’t worth his contract but he still is useful for the Canucks. He has 14 goals and 20 assists for 34 points on the season, which isn’t bad. However, he is fourth on the team in points at 5 on 5 with 26 and is sixth at 5 on 5 goals on the team with 11. Pearson is also fourth on the Canucks who played at least 500 minutes this season in Corsi for with 52.92% according to NaturalStatTrick. He is also fourth on the team second in shots for percentage, (52.77%) second in expected goals percentage, ( 53.95%) and second high danger Corsi for (50.95%) at 5 on five.

Pearson does well on the forecheck and the board battles and is a decent middle-six option. He doesn’t get a ton of credit for helping out up and down the lineup. My vote for the Unsung Hero goes to Pearson.

Luke Schenn

After winning two Stanley Cups with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Luke Schenn decided to come back to Vancouver on a cheap two-year deal.

Schenn has been a reliable partner for Quinn Hughes and is often sticking up for the young defenceman by sticking up for him by getting into scrums and fights. (Like that epic tilt with Jamie Benn. )Schenn is also known for his big hits and has been one of the top hitters in the NHL this season.

He has brought toughness and strength to the back end. Schenn has also brought 15 points isn’t much but for his standards, it is pretty good. He has also been fairly decent in his own end.

Schenn isn’t a guy you expect to play big minutes but he has done well with them. He was signed to be a bottom pairing or seventh defenceman but has played 62 games.

However, Schenn gets a lot of love from fans and that might put him out of the running for the unsung hero award.

Apr 9, 2022; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; San Jose Sharks goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen (34) and Vancouver Canucks right wing Juho Lammikko (91) watch the play during the third period at Rogers Arena. Vancouver won 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Derek Cain-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 9, 2022; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; San Jose Sharks goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen (34) and Vancouver Canucks right wing Juho Lammikko (91) watch the play during the third period at Rogers Arena. Vancouver won 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Derek Cain-USA TODAY Sports /

Juho Lammikko

I admit I was wrong about Juho Lammikko when I said he does nothing.

However, Bruce Boudreau brought out the best in Lammikko and he doesn’t get enough credit. Lammikko has done really well along the boards and has been solid in Boudreau’s heavy forechecking system.

Lammikko’s analytical numbers aren’t the best. In fact, they are near the bottom of the Canucks on NaturalStatTrick but he has proven that he can be a capable fourth-liner with them. Lammikko has seven goals and eight assists in 71 games this season. That’s not bad.

However, his play has kind of dropped off since Motte was traded to the New York Rangers but if he is brought back on a cheap one-year deal, then fine with me.

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Who else do you think should make a case for the Canucks Unsung Hero Award? Let us know in the comments below, in the Facebook comments or on Twitter.

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