Welcome back to another instalment of Top Five at 15/30. Last time, we looked at the Vancouver Canucks’ top performers from December 1 to 15. This time, we’ll be looking at the best performances from players throughout the second half of December. Here are the top five Canucks for December 15 to 30.
Danton Heinen
Most notable game: December 23 vs. San Jose Sharks
Points since the 15th: 1G, 3A in 6GP
While often overlooked offensively, Danton Heinen is a solid two-way presence on the Canucks who can help kill a penalty as well as eat some minutes on the power play. Of Canucks who played all six games since December 15, Heinen has the lowest expected goals against and high danger chances against with 2.08 and seven respectively. Since December 15, he has spent 5:30 on the penalty kill, putting him in the top-five in minutes for non-defencemen in that span.
Jake DeBrusk
Most notable game: December 28 vs. Seattle Kraken
Points since the 15th: 2G, 2A in 6GP
It’s been a big couple of months for Jake Debrusk. He leads his team in goals right now with 16, and has scored two in the past six games. On December 28 against the Kraken, in his 500th career NHL game, he tallied a goal and an assist. DeBrusk has noticeably been shooting less, as he currently has 10 shots since the 15th, but he has still put up a 20% shooting rate.
Latest From THN’s Vancouver Canucks Site:
BREAKING: Canucks’ Quinn Hughes and Elias Pettersson Out Vs. Kraken
Canucks Prospect Officially Registered By Canada For The 2025 World Juniors
A Look Back At The Last Time The Canucks Played Without Quinn Hughes
Quinn Hughes
A playmaking weapon from the blueline as per usual in his team’s defeat to Utah last night, Quinn Hughes registered a couple of assists for the 73rd time in his NHL career thus far. That has him tied for 6th and 1 off tying for 5th here heading into tonight’s @Canucks game vs VGK pic.twitter.com/no5jznAEj0
— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) December 20, 2024
Most notable game: December 23 vs. San Jose Sharks
Points since the 15th: 1G, 7A in 5GP
The least surprising player on this list, and all of the lists to come, Quinn Hughes currently leads the team in points with 42. The second-highest efforts are from Elias Pettersson and Conor Garland, who have 28 — a full 14 points less. Despite being questionable for the team’s match against San Jose, and missing the game against the Kraken on Saturday, Hughes has still put up the most points since December 15 with a goal and seven assists. Despite playing last Monday, he is currently listed as week-to-week.
Kiefer Sherwood
Most notable game: December 16 vs. Colorado Avalanche
Points since the 15th: 4G, 1A in 6GP
Kiefer Sherwood started the past couple of weeks with a bang, notching a hat trick against the Avalanche on December 16. He made his 200th hit of the season on December 23, leading the league by a landslide in this stat. His team-leading 24 hits since the 15th has him tied for seventh in the NHL in the same time frame. In the past six games, he has spent 7:57 on the penalty kill and has only allowed two high-danger chances against.
Brock Boeser
Most notable game: December 28 vs. Seattle Kraken
Points since the 15th: 5G in 6GP
In a couple of weeks rife with discussions on injuries and other factors within the Canucks organization, Brock Boeser has quietly put up five goals in the past six games, including two multi-goal games against the Ottawa Senators and Kraken. He has a respectable 24 points in 28 games played, 13 of which have come since he returned from injury on November 26. While it’s likely not sustainable, in the past six games, Boeser has been shooting at a 62.50% success rate that ties him for second in the NHL of all players who have played in six games since December 15.
