Welcome to the latest edition of the Vancouver Canucks Stock Market, a series dedicated to analyzing the recent performance of all things related to the Canucks, including players, coaches, management, prospects, and more.
The Vancouver Canucks got back into the swing of things on Tuesday with their first practice following the 4 Nations Face-Off break. They entered the break on a bit of a roll, winning their last three games and going 3-0-1 since acquiring Filip Chytil, Marcus Pettersson and Drew O’Connor. They currently sit three points up on the Calgary Flames for the final wild card spot and two back of the Los Angeles Kings for third in the Pacific Division, which sets them up pretty well for the stretch run that begins tonight against the Vegas Golden Knights.
With that, let’s take a look at a snapshot of the stock market with 27 games left in the season.
Down – Elias Pettersson Injured After Disappointing 4 Nations Face-Off
Everyone was hoping Elias Pettersson would step up his game at the 4 Nations Face-Off and return with an injection of confidence for the rest of the season. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. He didn’t register a single point for Team Sweden over their three games and saw his ice time dwindle to a measly 9:54 in the 2-1 win over Team USA on Monday (Feb. 17). Basically, according to the stat sheet, it’s like he wasn’t there, finishing with zeroes across the board and only two shots on goal.
Related: Canucks Get Big Win With Kevin Lankinen Extension
This disappointing performance centering elite talent in Filip Forsberg and Adrian Kempe (for the first two games anyway – he was shifted to the wing against Team USA) should be a red flag for anyone that follows the Canucks. Everyone knows Pettersson hasn’t been good this season, but you would have thought that he could generate a little momentum playing with 40-goal scorers like Forsberg and Kempe. Now to make matters worse, he is rehabbing an injury he suffered during the tournament, further cementing this season as a write-off. Whether the Canucks believe that is another story, but I guess we’ll find out pretty soon as the trade deadline is only two weeks away.
Up – Drew O’Connor Signs Extension After Impressive First 4 Games
It didn’t take long for Drew O’Connor to settle into the Canucks’ lineup after coming over from the Pittsburgh Penguins alongside Marcus Pettersson. Now he’s a Canuck for the next two seasons after signing a two-year extension on Tuesday, joining Pettersson, who also signed earlier in the month, albeit for much longer at six years. The trade, which sent a first-round pick, Vincent Desharnais and Danton Heinen to Pittsburgh, is looking way better now that both are signed beyond this season and won’t be rentals.
O’Connor has brought speed to a Canucks team that has looked slow at times this season. He and fellow new addition Filip Chytil have teamed together on the second line (or should it be called the first?) with Brock Boeser and arguably changed the dynamic of the top-six overnight. Since O’Connor and Chytil joined the roster, the Canucks as a whole look faster and more engaged than they have all season, thanks in large part to the speed and willingness to push the puck into the offensive zone both of them have shown early on. Honestly, it’s been a game-changer.
Down – Thatcher Demko Injured…Again
Thatcher Demko is in the down category not for his performance, but the fact that he’s injured…again. The Canucks got some bad news on that front when they returned to practice after the 4 Nations Face-Off break, as it was announced that their star goaltender was deemed “week-to-week” and won’t be traveling with the team for their upcoming five-game road trip. What’s worse is that this setback comes after he had seemingly turned a corner in his comeback from the injury that cost him the first half of the season. Before he had to leave early on against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Feb. 8, he had put together back-to-back Vezina Trophy-like performances, allowing only one goal in two games – including his first shutout against the Colorado Avalanche.
Now, Demko is rehabbing yet another injury, and will need to start from zero again. Hopefully, he can ramp it up quickly when he returns because the Canucks likely will be under the 20-game mark and will need all the help they can get to make it into the playoffs and go further than the first round. Kevin Lankinen and Arturs Silovs will hold down the fort until then, and thankfully the former has shown to be more than capable of doing that this season and could be doing so for the next five seasons after his extension on Friday.
Up – Quinn Hughes Still on Fire & Will Be Returning to the Lineup Soon
The perennial stock market riser, Quinn Hughes, is on the road to recovery and should be leading the Canucks’ blue line again very soon. Unfortunately, head coach Rick Tocchet said on Friday that it won’t be tonight against the Golden Knights. He was seen at the beginning of practice, but left with Pettersson early on, which makes it even more fortunate that he didn’t end up playing for Team USA in the final of the 4 Nations Face-Off on Thursday. If he’s not healthy enough to play for the Canucks now, how could he have played for his country without the risk of further injury?
Hughes needs to be at 100 percent and in the lineup for the rest of the season for the Canucks to have any hope of making the playoffs. Yes, they have been good without him for the past few games, but we all know they are a way better team with him than without him. He is still their leading scorer by a landslide as he sits a whopping 24 points ahead of Brock Boeser, and drives the offence like only few in the game can. He is also on an eight-game point streak, all while dealing with a wrist injury – something that hopefully has healed during this break as well.
Up – Jonathan Lekkerimaki Dominating AHL in Rookie Season
Speaking of leading scorers, Jonathan Lekkerimaki is having a monster rookie season in the American Hockey League (AHL) for the Abbotsford Canucks, currently leading the team with 17 goals in 29 games. He is on pace for 30 goals, which would be the most he has ever scored in his hockey career, besting the 20 he got in 2021-22 for Djurgardens IF in the J20 Nationell. His elite snipe show of a shot has been on display all season long, and it’s only a matter of time before he’s doing it consistently in the NHL. He already has his first two goals under his belt and could be in for more if Boeser is traded or moves on in free agency in the offseason.
As for Lekkerimaki’s recent exploits, he has been on fire with five goals and eight points in his past 10 games. He recently had a four-game point streak snapped against the Bakersfield Condors on Feb. 17, but the goals and points are seemingly coming in bunches right now as he continues to run shotgun alongside Atu Raty and Arshdeep Bains on the top line.
Stretch Run Begins Tonight
As mentioned, the Canucks are back at it tonight against the Golden Knights, who currently are tied with the Edmonton Oilers for top spot in the Pacific Division. They are nine points back of them in the second wild card spot, and will be hoping to narrow the gap to seven when they meet in Sin City on Hockey Night in Canada. Hopefully, the ups continue in the stock market, and the downs take a turn for the better as the stretch run begins in earnest for the Canucks and the rest of the NHL.
