Canucks Advent Day 16: Top 25 Players Of The 2010’s

Overtime Heroics Editorial

1385 days ago

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.

10. Brock Boeser (2017 – Present)

Canucks’ right winger Brock Boeser (6) | Photo Credits: vancourier.com

Statistics: 174 GP, 71 G, 77 A, 148 PTS

After joining Vancouver in the 2014 offseason, the most praised tool in Jim Benning’s kit was his drafting ability. During the first round of his second draft (2015) in Vancouver he showed the legitimacy of his draft picks. He selected Brock Boeser at 23 who at the time seemed like an average pick. However, Brock turned out to be a steal at pick 23. A steal who light it up in college hockey before contending for a Calder in the NHL.

The autumn of his draft year, Boeser played his first season of college hockey. The American winger suited up for the University of North Dakota. He was able to record 60 points in 42 games, leading the entire NCHC in scoring. It was at this time that the significance of Benning’s draft pick was realized. Vancouver didn’t just land a solid pick near the end of round 1. No, they landed a high-end prospect or seemingly could score at will.

At the beginning of the 2016-17 college hockey season, Boeser was on everyone’s radar. He wasn’t just being monitored by Canucks fans and management, other college teams now knew of his scoring prowess. His scoring would settle during his second year. The sophomore would record 34 points in 32 games before landing an NHL call-up at the end of his college season. While suiting up for Vancouver during a nine game stand in 2017, Boeser would impress. He ‘lit the lamp’ four times and finished with 5 points in nine games. Canucks fans were ready to see this kid in blue and green permanently.

Canucks’ right-winger Brock Boeser (15) putting on the Canucks sweater for the first time during the 2015 NHL Entry Draft | Photo Credit: The Canuck Way

NHL Career

Brock Boeser’s first full season in the NHL would bring a sense of excitement back to Canucks hockey. This excitement and optimism had not been present in Vancouver for a very long time. Boeser was often mesmerizing fans with his ultra-accurate shot. He constantly scored and even potted a hat-trick against the Penguins.

Early in the season Boeser was a front-runner for the Calder Trophy. This was an award that no Canuck had won since Pavel Bure. Unfortunately Boeser would not obtain this award. Fellow rookie Matthew Barzal heated up in the second half of the season and overtook Boeser. Brock would fall to injury, missing 20 games and solidifying Barzal as the most successful rookie. Boeser would still finish with 29 goals 55 points in only 62 games.

The sophomore season of Brock Boeser brought similar success to his first. With this being said, he missed another 13 games with injury and looked a step slower upon return. A few slow games would deter Boeser throughout the season. With this being said, with Henrik and Daniel Sedin gone, Boeser was now one of Vancouver’s top guys. Even in what seemed like a slow season, Boeser was good for 56 points in a 69 game season.

Canucks’ right-winger Brock Boeser (6) was all smiles after scoring his first NHL hat-trick | Photo Credits: Vancouver Sun

2019-20

Throughout this current 2019-20 season Boeser has gotten off to a fairly well-regarded start. While he has seemed a step slow at times and his shot sometimes isn’t as laser accurate compared to his first season, Brock Boeser is still one of Vancouver’s top guys. He currently has two points under a point-per-game and is on pace for a great offensive season. Strangely, only 12 of Boesers 32 points thus far are goals. This is exciting for analysts as it shows that even if he is struggling with scoring goals, he can still move the puck and contribute assists.

Brock Boeser, a steal in the 2015 draft to one of Vancouver’s leaders. He has been one of the Canucks’ top scorers throughout this decade. Although he has yet to help lead Vancouver to the elusive playoffs, he is helping rebuild this team. If Boeser can stay healthy this season and continue to maintain his point totals, we may be seeing the beginning of another great Canucks core-group. Brock Boeser has done nothing but impress this far and has earned himself a top 10 spot on the Canucks Advent Calendar as a result.