Wait – why does this episode of The Vancouver Canucks Best by Number only have five entries? Because it’s on double secret probation, that’s why! Or maybe it’s because we’re getting into the goaltenders now, and goalies are frikkin’ weird at the best of times.
Not that numbers in the low 30s are the only place goaltenders sit. We’ve already had a few go by. But historically speaking, hockey teams have had their regular skaters, then a few spots for backups, then the goalies. Numbers followed suit, with few exceptions. It’s also a good time to play catch-up with the rest of the series if you missed any.
Hey, it’s August. Treat yourself to a hockey-reading binge!
Canucks Best by Number: 35-44
Canucks Best by Number: 45-54
Canucks Best by Number: 55-64
Canucks Best by Number: 65-79
Canucks Best by Number: 80-99
Canucks Best by Number: 30-35
First off is the number that inspired us to stop cold. Think this was an easy pick? Yeah, we know you can see the name, and it’s the one you thought of right away. But it wasn’t easy.
35 – Thatcher Demko
A small tribute to “King” Richard Brodeur, here. He came to the NHL the long way – through the World Hockey Association. When that league folded, the Quebec Nordiques was brought into the NHL, and they traded Brodeur to the New York Islanders. They barely used him – tough to get past Glenn Resch and Billy Smith – and flipped him to Vancouver the next year.
Brodeur was very good for Vancouver, immediately becoming their starter. But he was also 28 years old, so while he started strong, eventually his numbers dipped. Before they did, though, he took the team on one of the least expected Stanley Cup runs the league has ever seen.
Now comes the real challenger to Thatcher Demko‘s title. Cory Schneider never got the deep playoff run of Brodeur, but he did win the William M. Jennings Trophy with Roberto Luongo.
His regular season stats over five seasons were absolutely phenomenal. A goals-against average of 2.20, a save percentage of .927, and nine shutouts in 98 games. Even his eventual trade to New Jersey was great, bringing back Bo Horvat. But that last number – 98 games – is why he’s the runner-up here.
The Main Event
So, yes, the best Canuck to wear number 35 is Thatcher Demko.
Demko has maintained a high standard on a very up-and-down team. He had his best season so far last year, joining Luongo and Kirk McLean as Canucks who were runners-up for the Vezina. But he’s not without flaws or flaw: his injury history. Not only was the team unable to take advantage of his skill in the playoffs last season, they don’t know when he’ll be back for this one.
Still, leading up to the 2024-25 season, Demko has played 219 games. His career save percentage is .912 with eight shutouts in the regular season. He can still build on this, for better or worse, we’ll find out. But his playoff totals include just five games, but in those five he has a 0.97 goals against average and a .974 save percentage.
If he ever gets back to the playoffs, he’ll get his chance to build on those numbers, too.
34 – Jason Strudwick
It’s tricky comparing a forward to a defenceman, especially when they are from different eras. Recency bias – and the always-popular underdog story – may suggest Phillip Di Giuseppe as the Canucks best player to wear 34. But while Di Giuseppe has done everything asked of him, there’s only so far he can go.
The same can be said of Jason Strudwick. His time in Vancouver encompassed five seasons and 243 games, giving him the edge on Di Giuseppe. It doesn’t help that he was brought in for beloved enforcer Gino Odjick, but that’s hardly his fault. Strudwick built a 14-year career with what skills he had, and in retrospect, that’ll do.
33 – Henrik Sedin
Okay, fine, some of these numbers are still going to be very, very easy. We appreciated what Mike Peca brought to the team – including Alexander Mogilny – as anyone. But really, there’s a Hall of Famer sitting right there.
Henrik Sedin may lack a Stanley Cup, but that doesn’t mean his shelf is bare. It includes an Art Ross Trophy, a Hart Memorial Trophy, and two King Clancy Memorial Trophies. He’s one of two Canucks with more than 800 points, finishing his career with 1070, all with Vancouver.
But you know this already. Saying Henrik Sedin is the Canucks best number 33 in their history isn’t a surprise. Movin’ on!
32 – Murray Craven
Eighteen players have worn #32 over the years. Only two skaters wore it for more than a single season, though. And as fun as it is to talk about “Dutch Gretzky” Dale Weise, and as fun as he was to watch, Murray Craven wins this battle.
Craven was brought in because the Canucks needed more strength at centre. Petr Nedvěd was showing his skill in his third season, scoring 38 goals and 71 points in 84 games. But the expansion draft of 1993 was coming, so the more skill brought in beforehand the better.
As it happened, the Canucks lost centre Anatoli Semenov, so good thing they had Craven and Nedvěd. Except they suddenly didn’t have Nedvěd, either. So Craven got his chance to be the Canucks best player to wear number 32. Though that only took 88 games.
His regular season’s totals were pretty good – 15 goals and 65 points in those 88 games – but his playoff scoring is the capper. In 34 playoff games over two seasons, Craven had eight goals and 23 points.
31 – Corey Hirsch
Corey Hirsch played 101 Canucks games and made a huge reputation for himself as a rookie. He split the season with Kirk McLean racking up a 17-14-6 record through 41 games. He made the All-Rookie team in 1992-93 and came fifth in voting for the Calder Memorial Trophy that year.
The next 60 games in Vancouver didn’t go so well, but that doesn’t erase that first year’s accomplishments.
30 – Ryan Miller
Speaking of one-year wonders, Spencer Martin had a brilliant return to the NHL with the Canucks. After playing three games with the Colorado Avalanche in 2016-17, Martin was out of the league for four years. He took full advantage of the opportunity.
In his six games in 2021-22, he went 3-0-3, had a goals-against average of 1.74, and a .950 save percentage. That got him a two-year contract, but he couldn’t live up to his godlike start and ended up on waivers. Two teams and two years later, he’s still in the league with Carolina.
Thanks for the Effort – Or Not
Ryan Miller, on the other hand, had pretty much the opposite trajectory with the Canucks. The St. Louis Blues traded for him to be the push to anchor their playoff dreams. That effectively highlighted the risks of bringing a goalie in late as the Blues were bounced in the first round.
Vancouver, meanwhile, had finally moved Roberto Luongo after years of false starts and confused reassurances. The team was still desperate to return to the Stanley Cup Final, and Miller was a free agent. They handed him a three-year, $6 million per season deal and he happily accepted.
In those three years, Miller did everything he could for Vancouver. It could be argued that he stopped the team from going through a desperately needed rebuild. But you don’t hire a veteran like Miller to lose.
He was a leader for the club in his three seasons, getting in front of the cameras when needed and pushing his team when he could. And coming to the defence of his rookies when he had to.
Miller finished his Canucks tenure with 150 games played, a .914 save percentage, and a 2.69 goals-against average. He also has the eighth-most wins in Vancouver’s history (64) and fifth-most shutouts (10). He is easily the Canucks best player to wear number 30.
Canucks Best by Number Coming Up!
The five-plus decades of Vancouver Canucks history really shows up now! Out of the goaltenders – mostly – and into the players in front of them. Historical defenders, a few forwards, and maybe another goalie or two in the next episode.
Stay tuned!
Main photo by: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
