Welcome back to Stars of the Week at CanucksArmy! Every week, we’ll be bringing you our Top Three best and brightest performers on the Vancouver Canucks that week. Disagree with our picks or have your own stars to nominate? Let us know in the comments below!
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It’s been quite the week for seafaring animal life, as long as your name doesn’t start with Vancouver. 
The rebuilding San Jose Sharks managed to get within just one goal of beating the Canucks thanks to having an extra skater in the dying seconds of the game on Monday. The Seattle Kraken, who are experiencing their sophomore slump a little late, posted a remarkable comeback in the final five minutes of Saturday’s game to push to an overtime win. Either way, on paper, both of these teams should have easily fallen to the Canucks. 
Hockey games are not played on paper, not precisely by the standings and statistics theoretically applied, but in actuality. We all had to watch as Vancouver had their game versus Seattle in hand and lost it anyway. Right now, the mighty orca is looking more like a beached whale.
At least there were some highlights amid the holiday break, but let&#8217;s hope the new calendar year brings better tidings to this team.
<h2>Elias Pettersson</h2>
I’m sure this is a sensible choice that everyone will agree on and create no controversy whatsoever. The name “Pettersson” and the word “controversy” are never used together, especially not recently. 
Multi-goal games from Elias Pettersson have been few and far between for quite some time. This, in isolation, is not the end of the world. Pettersson has essentially been putting in shifts as an extra Canucks defenceman, and his offence has suffered as his priorities on the ice have shifted. However, this, when combined with the return of voracious rumours, the fanbase grasping at straws for a scapegoat amongst a struggling team, and last year’s hefty contract extension for the Swedish centre, is an issue. 
The second period against the San Jose Sharks was a spicy 20 minutes of hockey. This game, between a slowly improving bottom-feeder and a team grasping for a playoff spot, had no business being as fiery as it was. After a questionable first period from Vancouver, they quickly got it together. Pettersson’s first goal held up despite a lengthy review for goaltender interference. Pettersson scored 44 seconds into San Jose’s delay of game penalty from the goal review, making his two goals technically just 44 seconds apart. This is the fastest two goals of Pettersson’s career thus far. 
Pettersson’s intermission interview following his dominant period, signature Petey-ness and all, would be the most we would of Pettersson for the rest of the week.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Have a night, Petey! 🔥 
After his two goals in the second period, he looks forward to the third. ⬇️ <a href="https://t.co/S80DTSu38H">pic.twitter.com/S80DTSu38H</a>
&mdash; Sports on Prime Canada (@SportsOnPrimeCA) <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsOnPrimeCA/status/1871411209943101535?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 24, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
He left the game after just one shift in the third period, apparently after suffering an injury in the second, and was not in the lineup against Seattle on Saturday.
It would have been ideal to see Pettersson gain some confidence and capitalize off of his two-goal effort after the Christmas break, but it seems like everything in the universe is working against the Canucks at the moment – maybe even the Canucks themselves.
<h2>Brock Boeser</h2>
Brock Boeser has struggled in the production department somewhat after he spent most of November out of commission with a concussion. Thankfully, Boeser posted three goals in two games this week, which is more like the Boeser we’ve come to know. Call it a holiday gift from #6. 
After the Sharks struck first on Monday night’s game, Boeser found the equalizer in an otherwise concerning first period for the Canucks. Boeser’s line alongside J.T. Miller and Jake DeBrusk all factored on his opening goal against the Kraken on Saturday. He’s been great at creating early momentum for the team as of late – being able to maintain this momentum for a full 60 minutes is a different story altogether. 
Unfortunately, a two-goal game against Seattle was not enough to save the team from imploding at the end of the game. Still, if Boeser can continue this pace and look like his usual self when his team has everyone back in the lineup and isn’t eating itself from the inside, it bodes well for his upcoming contract negotiations…right? 
<h2>Danton Heinen</h2>
There is no better way to counteract allegations of infighting on your team than by fighting for your team. Heinen understands this assignment. A+ on your morale report card this week, buddy.
Immediately following San Jose forward Ty Dellandrea’s massive hit on Teddy Blueger, Heinen showed up to defend his fourth-line centre.
The best part? This was Heinen’s first professional career fight ever. I couldn’t name a better time for him to show his stripes. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canucks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canucks</a> Danton Heinen is in the Festivus spirit
He records his first fight &quot;AKA: Rumble&quot; in his professional hockey career (AHL or NHL) <a href="https://t.co/0Lb2Wo6uAW">pic.twitter.com/0Lb2Wo6uAW</a>
&mdash; Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) <a href="https://twitter.com/SNstats/status/1871400478007058840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 24, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<h2>Quinn Hughes Obligatory Star of the Week</h2>
Some weeks, he deserves his own section.
Hughes only played in one game this week but almost didn’t play at all. He was a <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/quinn-hughes-gametime-decision-vancouver-canucks-vs-sharks">game-time decision</a> against the Sharks, apparently beleaguered by a hand injury.
With him being questionable just mere hours before puck drop, I don’t think anyone expected him to be his usual self. He proceeded to factor on two out of the four Canucks goals and look as dominant as he usually does. Go figure. I should know not to lower my expectations for him at this point. 
With the news that both he and Elias Pettersson would be out of the lineup against Seattle, it drove home that Hughes did play through that game injured, mild as it might be, and still didn’t look out of step for a moment. I’ll never complain about working through the sniffles ever again.
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Welcome back to Stars of the Week at CanucksArmy! Every week, we’ll be bringing you our Top Three best and brightest performers on the Vancouver Canucks that week. Disagree with our picks or have your own stars to nominate? Let us know in the comments below!
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It’s been quite the week for seafaring animal life, as long as your name doesn’t start with Vancouver. 

The rebuilding San Jose Sharks managed to get within just one goal of beating the Canucks thanks to having an extra skater in the dying seconds of the game on Monday. The Seattle Kraken, who are experiencing their sophomore slump a little late, posted a remarkable comeback in the final five minutes of Saturday’s game to push to an overtime win. Either way, on paper, both of these teams should have easily fallen to the Canucks. 

Hockey games are not played on paper, not precisely by the standings and statistics theoretically applied, but in actuality. We all had to watch as Vancouver had their game versus Seattle in hand and lost it anyway. Right now, the mighty orca is looking more like a beached whale.

At least there were some highlights amid the holiday break, but let's hope the new calendar year brings better tidings to this team.
<h2>Elias Pettersson</h2>
I’m sure this is a sensible choice that everyone will agree on and create no controversy whatsoever. The name “Pettersson” and the word “controversy” are never used together, especially not recently. 

Multi-goal games from Elias Pettersson have been few and far between for quite some time. This, in isolation, is not the end of the world. Pettersson has essentially been putting in shifts as an extra Canucks defenceman, and his offence has suffered as his priorities on the ice have shifted. However, this, when combined with the return of voracious rumours, the fanbase grasping at straws for a scapegoat amongst a struggling team, and last year’s hefty contract extension for the Swedish centre, is an issue. 

The second period against the San Jose Sharks was a spicy 20 minutes of hockey. This game, between a slowly improving bottom-feeder and a team grasping for a playoff spot, had no business being as fiery as it was. After a questionable first period from Vancouver, they quickly got it together. Pettersson’s first goal held up despite a lengthy review for goaltender interference. Pettersson scored 44 seconds into San Jose’s delay of game penalty from the goal review, making his two goals technically just 44 seconds apart. This is the fastest two goals of Pettersson’s career thus far. 

Pettersson’s intermission interview following his dominant period, signature Petey-ness and all, would be the most we would of Pettersson for the rest of the week.

https://twitter.com/SportsOnPrimeCA/status/1871411209943101535

He left the game after just one shift in the third period, apparently after suffering an injury in the second, and was not in the lineup against Seattle on Saturday.

It would have been ideal to see Pettersson gain some confidence and capitalize off of his two-goal effort after the Christmas break, but it seems like everything in the universe is working against the Canucks at the moment – maybe even the Canucks themselves.
<h2>Brock Boeser</h2>
Brock Boeser has struggled in the production department somewhat after he spent most of November out of commission with a concussion. Thankfully, Boeser posted three goals in two games this week, which is more like the Boeser we’ve come to know. Call it a holiday gift from #6. 

After the Sharks struck first on Monday night’s game, Boeser found the equalizer in an otherwise concerning first period for the Canucks. Boeser’s line alongside J.T. Miller and Jake DeBrusk all factored on his opening goal against the Kraken on Saturday. He’s been great at creating early momentum for the team as of late – being able to maintain this momentum for a full 60 minutes is a different story altogether. 

Unfortunately, a two-goal game against Seattle was not enough to save the team from imploding at the end of the game. Still, if Boeser can continue this pace and look like his usual self when his team has everyone back in the lineup and isn’t eating itself from the inside, it bodes well for his upcoming contract negotiations…right? 
<h2>Danton Heinen</h2>
There is no better way to counteract allegations of infighting on your team than by fighting for your team. Heinen understands this assignment. A+ on your morale report card this week, buddy.

Immediately following San Jose forward Ty Dellandrea’s massive hit on Teddy Blueger, Heinen showed up to defend his fourth-line centre.

The best part? This was Heinen’s first professional career fight ever. I couldn’t name a better time for him to show his stripes. 

https://twitter.com/SNstats/status/1871400478007058840
<h2>Quinn Hughes Obligatory Star of the Week</h2>
Some weeks, he deserves his own section.

Hughes only played in one game this week but almost didn’t play at all. He was a <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/quinn-hughes-gametime-decision-vancouver-canucks-vs-sharks">game-time decision</a> against the Sharks, apparently beleaguered by a hand injury.

With him being questionable just mere hours before puck drop, I don’t think anyone expected him to be his usual self. He proceeded to factor on two out of the four Canucks goals and look as dominant as he usually does. Go figure. I should know not to lower my expectations for him at this point. 

With the news that both he and Elias Pettersson would be out of the lineup against Seattle, it drove home that Hughes did play through that game injured, mild as it might be, and still didn’t look out of step for a moment. I’ll never complain about working through the sniffles ever again.

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