Canucks Advent Day 5: Top 25 Players Of The 2010’s

Overtime Heroics Editorial

1396 days ago

Everyday from December 1st to the 25th I will be counting down the top 25 players of the 2010’s in this Canucks Advent Calender. Here is number 21!

With Christmas on the horizon and and the decade coming to a close, it is the perfect time to rank the best Canucks of the 2010’s. This is the Canucks Advent Calendar.

Each day until Christmas I will rank one player until we have the top 25 of the 2010’s. These Vancouver icons will be ranked on their statistics, impact on the city and overall play during their time with Vancouver. Rankings will be based on the player’s Vancouver tenure during the 2010’s only, prior seasons with the team will make little impact to the rankings.

21. Sami Salo (2002-2012)

Former Canucks defenceman Sami Salo (6) unloading a wrist shot | Photo Credits: montrealgazette.com

Statistics: 566 GP 74 G A 162 PTS 236

For 10 years Sami Salo was a reliable member of the Vancouver defence-core. Although he was often injured, it is undeniable that he had one of the best slapshots in Vancouver history. Salo originally began his campaign in Vancouver during the 2002-03 season when Ottawa dealt him for Peter Schaefer.

Salo had a hot start when he joined Vancouver, scoring 30 points – a pace he would mostly maintain over the next ten years. Unfortunately Salo was often overlooked and underrated in Vancouver. With this being said he was pace for 40-60 points multiple years if he was healthy.

Canucks’ defenceman Sami Salo (6) throwing a check | Photo Credits: ottawacitizen.com

Arguably his best performances came during the 2008-09 postseason. Salo put up an impressive and important seven points in seven games. Salo would play 74 playoff games with the Canucks. Those 74 playoff games included the 25-game stretch during Vancouver’s cup-final run in 2011.

All in all, Sami Salo was a crucial part of the team for the better part of a decade. His shot was an absolute rocket and was able to lead. Salo served as an assistant captain while in Vancouver. If this list wasn’t just based on a specific decade Salo would likely be placed much higher. With this being said, Sami Salo is the still 21st greatest Vancouver Canuck of the 2010’s.