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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Last night’s Vancouver Canucks game against “Guy who bullied you in high school that you hold an everlasting grudge against,” the Edmonton Oilers, was an outlier in a doom-and-gloom week. Do not be fooled by three goals in the first period and a rip-roaring finale that saw Conor Garland go for Connor McDavid like he owed him money. The team had a rough week.
If you’ve been reading these three stars columns, I do generally like to keep a positive outlook. Without it, there is truly no point; no matter how much you deny still having that small sliver of hope, you hold onto it. That said, I try not to tread so far into optimism that I border on delusion.
Let us not go as far as to say this team is on the right track because they had one single not-entirely-terrible game, not after they had a week of games beforehand that made Madame Web look more worth my time. I’d honestly rather sit and watch paint dry than watch the performances the Canucks put up against the Winnipeg Jets and Los Angeles Kings this week. If this team is who they say they are, subsequent 6-1 and 5-1 losses that look this lifeless are not acceptable, regardless of if they are against a top team in the league or a middle-of-the-road contender – exactly what the Jets and Kings are.
When all is said and done, do I believe this Canucks season is a lost cause? Not yet. In the words of the late, great David Lynch (because let’s face it, Quinn Hughes has been looking like he’s faced Lynchian horrors while carrying this team as of late), let’s hope for &#8220;Beautiful blue skies and golden sunshine all along the way.&#8221;
<h1>Quinn Hughes</h1>
I know everyone is getting bored of seeing Quinn Hughes top the three stars column every week. It’s a very self-explanatory choice. But are you getting bored of watching him play his way there? No. I didn’t think so. He might be getting bored of having to play top minutes all the time in every situation or else the wheels come off this team bus. Perhaps ‘bored’ isn’t quite the right phrase. Frustrated, stressed, and “more anxious than a brain surgeon on a double shift running on no sleep” are also interchangeable. Hughes’ frequent deployment right now comes from necessity (and talent, and dedication, and all of those things we know full well are there). 
Hughes was responsible for the lone goal against the Kings, with another two credited to him against the Oilers, bringing his goal total to 12 with 50 points thus far. I think it’s lovely that he has extended his talents as an active forward this year. Maybe we could get him in net next? It can’t hurt to try at this point.
Here’s a poignant geographic metaphor relating to empiric proof that proves Quinn Hughes should top this list again this week. Just this once. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Hughes is Bermuda and the rest of the Canucks defense is South Carolina. <a href="https://t.co/E49JiTm4AC">pic.twitter.com/E49JiTm4AC</a>
&mdash; Corey Sznajder (@ShutdownLine) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShutdownLine/status/1880372612104351755?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 17, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<h1>Nils Höglander</h1>
He finally made it.
Looks like someone let Swedish Snoopy out of Charlie Brown’s dog house. Thankfully, Nils Höglander didn’t have to puppy-dog eyes his way out of Rick Tocchet’s bad books this week – although I’m sure that could work eventually. 
Three months separated his goal against the Winnipeg Jets from his lone two goals this season back in October– that’s a full 34 games. Both of them came against separate contests with the Philadelphia Flyers. This week, Höglander foiled Connor Hellebuyck’s shutout chance by scoring about halfway into the third but played under ten total minutes in the game. While entirely unexpected, it felt fitting that he made his grand return to the scoresheet in a game that can only be described as embarrassing. The Canucks’ hero at rock bottom: known offensive powerhouse Nils Höglander.
This goal was overdue, although Höglander has looked better as of late in all areas. Against Edmonton on Saturday night, he had a phenomenal look early in the first period and overall looked solid despite some Nils-typical minor lapses in judgment. His return to taking those shots when he has them and making choices he might not have just a few months ago might be reflective of some of his confidence slowly returning. He’s overall been more noticeable in a positive way, rather than only noticeable in the “Why on Earth would you do that” way, which I believe may be called ‘improvement.’ Whether it’s his increasing desperation to produce, or the general air of desperation hanging around the Canucks like a cloud aura right now, it’s working.
Keep up the hard work, Höglander. We see you, and we hear you. You’ll start hitting the back of the net eventually. Probably. 
<h1>Filip Hronek</h1>
This might be a softball pick to some, but you have to celebrate the wins where you can.
Hronek rejoined the team in Winnipeg, and his first two games back were not exactly a warm welcome from his teammates&#8217; efforts. His numbers at a glance upon his return, therefore, look a bit lopsided, but he has looked decent so far, especially coming back from surgery. He got the Canucks their first shot on goal against the Kings and would mark another two early on. Unfortunately, this failed to account for the fact that the Kings shot and actually scored three times in that frame. That dulls the shine of having the top pairing back, huh? However, Hronek picked up the secondary assist on Quinn Hughes’ lone goal in the second period and <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/statsies-another-on-ice-tragedy-for-vancouver-canucks-los-angeles-kings">led the team in Corsi For at 64.71 CF%</a>, reflecting the 5v5 role he’s jumped right back into. Leading the whole team in this dominant area? Worrying for the rest of the team, yes, but good news for him. Everything’s coming up, Filip!
There was no easing in for Hronek. He’s been thrown right back into the fire. And boy, is there a lot of fire right now.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<a href="https://t.co/WCCVX7ztVM">https://t.co/WCCVX7ztVM</a> <a href="https://t.co/4rHEkKLOz2">pic.twitter.com/4rHEkKLOz2</a>
&mdash; erin (@painacotta) <a href="https://twitter.com/painacotta/status/1855481536050819245?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 10, 2024</a></blockquote>
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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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Last night’s Vancouver Canucks game against “Guy who bullied you in high school that you hold an everlasting grudge against,” the Edmonton Oilers, was an outlier in a doom-and-gloom week. Do not be fooled by three goals in the first period and a rip-roaring finale that saw Conor Garland go for Connor McDavid like he owed him money. The team had a rough week.

If you’ve been reading these three stars columns, I do generally like to keep a positive outlook. Without it, there is truly no point; no matter how much you deny still having that small sliver of hope, you hold onto it. That said, I try not to tread so far into optimism that I border on delusion.

Let us not go as far as to say this team is on the right track because they had one single not-entirely-terrible game, not after they had a week of games beforehand that made Madame Web look more worth my time. I’d honestly rather sit and watch paint dry than watch the performances the Canucks put up against the Winnipeg Jets and Los Angeles Kings this week. If this team is who they say they are, subsequent 6-1 and 5-1 losses that look this lifeless are not acceptable, regardless of if they are against a top team in the league or a middle-of-the-road contender – exactly what the Jets and Kings are.

When all is said and done, do I believe this Canucks season is a lost cause? Not yet. In the words of the late, great David Lynch (because let’s face it, Quinn Hughes has been looking like he’s faced Lynchian horrors while carrying this team as of late), let’s hope for "Beautiful blue skies and golden sunshine all along the way."
<h1>Quinn Hughes</h1>
I know everyone is getting bored of seeing Quinn Hughes top the three stars column every week. It’s a very self-explanatory choice. But are you getting bored of watching him play his way there? No. I didn’t think so. He might be getting bored of having to play top minutes all the time in every situation or else the wheels come off this team bus. Perhaps ‘bored’ isn’t quite the right phrase. Frustrated, stressed, and “more anxious than a brain surgeon on a double shift running on no sleep” are also interchangeable. Hughes’ frequent deployment right now comes from necessity (and talent, and dedication, and all of those things we know full well are there). 

Hughes was responsible for the lone goal against the Kings, with another two credited to him against the Oilers, bringing his goal total to 12 with 50 points thus far. I think it’s lovely that he has extended his talents as an active forward this year. Maybe we could get him in net next? It can’t hurt to try at this point.

Here’s a poignant geographic metaphor relating to empiric proof that proves Quinn Hughes should top this list again this week. Just this once. 

https://twitter.com/ShutdownLine/status/1880372612104351755
<h1>Nils Höglander</h1>
He finally made it.

Looks like someone let Swedish Snoopy out of Charlie Brown’s dog house. Thankfully, Nils Höglander didn’t have to puppy-dog eyes his way out of Rick Tocchet’s bad books this week – although I’m sure that could work eventually. 

Three months separated his goal against the Winnipeg Jets from his lone two goals this season back in October– that’s a full 34 games. Both of them came against separate contests with the Philadelphia Flyers. This week, Höglander foiled Connor Hellebuyck’s shutout chance by scoring about halfway into the third but played under ten total minutes in the game. While entirely unexpected, it felt fitting that he made his grand return to the scoresheet in a game that can only be described as embarrassing. The Canucks’ hero at rock bottom: known offensive powerhouse Nils Höglander.

This goal was overdue, although Höglander has looked better as of late in all areas. Against Edmonton on Saturday night, he had a phenomenal look early in the first period and overall looked solid despite some Nils-typical minor lapses in judgment. His return to taking those shots when he has them and making choices he might not have just a few months ago might be reflective of some of his confidence slowly returning. He’s overall been more noticeable in a positive way, rather than only noticeable in the “Why on Earth would you do that” way, which I believe may be called ‘improvement.’ Whether it’s his increasing desperation to produce, or the general air of desperation hanging around the Canucks like a cloud aura right now, it’s working.

Keep up the hard work, Höglander. We see you, and we hear you. You’ll start hitting the back of the net eventually. Probably. 
<h1>Filip Hronek</h1>
This might be a softball pick to some, but you have to celebrate the wins where you can.

Hronek rejoined the team in Winnipeg, and his first two games back were not exactly a warm welcome from his teammates' efforts. His numbers at a glance upon his return, therefore, look a bit lopsided, but he has looked decent so far, especially coming back from surgery. He got the Canucks their first shot on goal against the Kings and would mark another two early on. Unfortunately, this failed to account for the fact that the Kings shot and actually scored three times in that frame. That dulls the shine of having the top pairing back, huh? However, Hronek picked up the secondary assist on Quinn Hughes’ lone goal in the second period and <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/statsies-another-on-ice-tragedy-for-vancouver-canucks-los-angeles-kings">led the team in Corsi For at 64.71 CF%</a>, reflecting the 5v5 role he’s jumped right back into. Leading the whole team in this dominant area? Worrying for the rest of the team, yes, but good news for him. Everything’s coming up, Filip!

There was no easing in for Hronek. He’s been thrown right back into the fire. And boy, is there a lot of fire right now.

https://twitter.com/painacotta/status/1855481536050819245

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3 Canucks Stars of the Week: Nils Höglander puts up a solid performance during a disastrous week

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