With Christmas on the horizon 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.
16. Christian Ehrhoff (2009-2011)
Statistics: 159 GP, 28 G, 68 A, 96 PTS
Christian Ehrhoff only had a two-year campaign in Vancouver, however it was filled with success. In these two seasons, Ehrhoff was able to establish himself as one of the greatest offensive defenders in franchise history. While having Ehrhoff on the roster Vancouver was able to win four playoff series. Christian Ehrhoff was an key member of one of Vancouver’s best teams in their most prosperous era. Without him, many debate that Vancouver may have never made the Stanley Cup Finals in 2011.
In 2009, former Canucks’ GM Mike Gillis would acquire Christian Ehrhoff along with veteran Brad Lukowich in exchange for a pair of floundering prospects. These prospects would never see success in pro hockey. This would go down as one of the better moves Mike Gillis made during his tenure.
In his first Vancouver season, Ehrhoff impressed fans scoring his career-high 44 points with +36 rating. Ehrhoff was instrumental in a successful regular season for Vancouver that helped them place 3rd in the Western standings. Unfortunately a career year for Ehrhoff would end in repeat of the previous year for the team as a whole. Yet again, the Chicago Blackhawks eliminated Vancouver in the second round.
Ehrhoff would continue impressing in during the following season. The 29 year-old German recorded a new career high with a whopping 50 points. This was the highest total from a Vancouver defenceman since Jyrki Lumme‘s 54 points during the 1995-96 season. Throughout the decade no Canucks defenceman has hit 50 points besides Ehrhoff. This regular season success carried over into the playoffs where Ehrhoff would help the Canucks reach the Stanley Cup Final.
Christian Ehrhoff was a key member in arguably Vancouver’s greatest era of hockey. He was a top pairing defenceman who could put up impressive offensive numbers that Canucks fans have yet to see since. Although he would only play two seasons in Vancouver, Ehrhoff had a seismic impact on the blue line. He was crucial in the 2011 Cup run and he deserves the 16th spot on the Canucks Advent Calendar.
Who’s Next?
I hope that you have enjoyed this installment of the Canucks Advent Calendar! Be sure to check back tomorrow for the next player on the list!
Previous Rankings: Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9
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