The break is here, and it’s time to unwind. We’re getting the Vancouver Canucks players Christmas gifts to find under the tree this year.
Canucks Christmas Gifts Galore
It feels like overindulgence to bring presents to the players of a team sitting up on top of league standings. But in the tradition of Santa bringing nice kids the best gifts, let’s do it anyway.
Nils Åman
He’s up, he’s down, he’s up again. His two-way deal doesn’t kick in until next season, so some light reading to help while he’s in transit. Jack Han’s Hockey Tactics is a great flip-though, especially if he wants to be a defensive specialist.
Conor Garland
Just a hint more finish to go with his fantastic underlying numbers. Dropping from a 50-point pace to half that doesn’t endear you to fans or coaches, but he’s started to pick up points in the last week.
Teddy Blueger & Dakota Joshua
This one’s a joint gift for two members of the Canucks best line. That’s for three ghosts to visit Garland and convince him to spread a bit of his $6 million paycheque to those who are helping him earn it.
Brock Boeser
Nothing, Absolutely nothing. The normally streaky scorer is performing brilliantly, challenging for the Art Ross Trophy early. Nobody touch him, NOBODY CHANGE ANYTHING.
Noah Juulsen
The Luke Schenn Award for any first-round pick who recognizes they need to change their game. He’s found a home on Vancouver’s penalty-killing unit.
Thatcher Demko
What do you get the guy who has everything? A situation where he’s not scrambling in the third, but it’s close enough for him to get an empty net goal.
Filip Hronek
Noise-cancelling headphones for the quietest Canucks seems right.
Ian Cole
It’s impolite to say “the fountain of youth” when discussing athletes of a certain age. He’s only one year younger than Myers, after all. But given how Vancouver needs his physicality… that.
Andrei Kuzmenko
Slightly reduced expectations after his 39-goal rookie season. He still needs to score, but 25 goals on the top line is really what the Canucks need from him.
Quinn Hughes
The Canucks Christmas gift is him, not the other way around. Having other blue-liners taking his time on the penalty kill would be nice, though.
Ilya Mikheyev
What else? Health. Poor guy hasn’t managed a full season even once in his five NHL years. Hitting at least 60 games for 2023-24 would be a relief, and 70 a thrill.
Sam Lafferty
A reaction other than “Oh, yeah, him!” when he’s moved to the first line. His scoring may have slipped a bit off his early pace, but he’s still been excellent in support of whoever he’s lined up with.
Nils Höglander
A better nickname than “Hoagie”. Perhaps if Jannik Hansen is no longer using Honey Badger, he can bequeath it to a guy who plays much the same style?
Elias Pettersson
Kuzmenko getting his touch back. Nothing helps contract negotiations like high-scoring wingers!
Casey DeSmith
Not to be greedy, but how about a couple years security and an excuse to let Artūrs Šilovs cook for another season or two?
Pius Suter
Spa retreat coupons for the rest of the year. Sorry, mate, as long as Blueger is this successful with Joshua and Garland, that’s his spot now.
J.T. Miller
An assistant coach job title. He’s already doing that on the bench, so let’s just skip the whole “retiring” step and get him an office now.
Nikita Zadorov
It’s a hard call for a team with Hughes and Hronek, but a bit of power play time. He scored two extra-man markers as a rookie and none since. They always look nice during contract negotiations.
Tyler Myers
Frankly, Myers already got his gift with Zadorov coming to the team. He’s been rock-solid as a pairing with Zadorov, and the Russian takes some of the offensive pressure off, too.
Phillip Di Giuseppe
Good memories of his time with Miller and Boeser on the Canucks top line. Unless he gets his corner-grinding form back, those days are probably over for him.
Mark Friedman
He’s going to spend a lot of time as Vancouver’s seventh defenceman. Maybe he can read Åman’s copy of Hockey Tactics for game time.
Welcome to the Christmas break, and we hope you have a great one, even if it’s not your celebration. Like the jerseys you see in Vancouver’s stands, the more variety the better. After all, if you know a dozen people with a dozen different Winter celebrations, you get invited to a dozen different parties. No downside there!
See you after the break.
Main photo: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports
