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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After an overtime loss in Minnesota to close out a stretch on the road, the Canucks made it back to Rogers Arena in one piece, mostly. My apologies and well wishes to Filip Hronek, who will be <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/vancouver-canucks-filip-hronek-out-eight-weeks-after-procedure-lower-body-injury">out for an estimated eight weeks</a> after lower-body surgery.
You would like to think the team would be back in black in their sleek skate jerseys at home. They were, and then they weren’t. They staged a five-goal 5-2 comeback win after a disappointing first period against the Columbus Blue Jackets, only to fall 4-2 against the Tampa Bay Lightning with an empty-net goal serving as salt in the wound.
A mixed bag of results has been their weekly standard this season, but they’ve still been putting out respectable efforts in the absence of Hronek, J.T. Miller, and Thatcher Demko. Let’s take a look.
<h3>Pius Suter </h3>
The winter is getting colder by the day, but Pius Suter is still on a hot streak. We can thank the country of Switzerland and maybe even the hockey Gods for that.
Suter has excelled while elevated to a second-line centre role, with dynamic duo Dakota Joshua and Conor Garland on his wings. On the secondary power play and primary penalty kill, and playing more minutes than he ever has in his five-year NHL career, he’s not shying away from the increased responsibility. He put up two goals – sure, one was an empty netter – against the Columbus Blue Jackets, and the sole assist on Quinn Hughes’ backhand goal against Tampa.
It’s not just fleeting flashiness either. Suter has nearly topped the cards in terms of overall performance twice this week.
<blockquote class="bluesky-embed" data-bluesky-uri="at://did:plc:yhovbu5zkl6qxr2lz7znals5/app.bsky.feed.post/3lcoypspjql2c" data-bluesky-cid="bafyreiaztjuxndhxgo4gyjxrb47hztxae7romwhjqypzzfjjrehhd62fnq">
#NHL GameScore Impact Card for Vancouver Canucks on 2024-12-06#Canucks
&mdash; <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:yhovbu5zkl6qxr2lz7znals5?ref_src=embed">HockeyStatCards (@hockeystatcards.com)</a> <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:yhovbu5zkl6qxr2lz7znals5/post/3lcoypspjql2c?ref_src=embed">2024-12-07T05:47:42.864793&#43;00:00</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://embed.bsky.app/static/embed.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="bluesky-embed" data-bluesky-uri="at://did:plc:yhovbu5zkl6qxr2lz7znals5/app.bsky.feed.post/3lcter2y3xf2g" data-bluesky-cid="bafyreihqxoc3omg7m7otk26savwki2mgoc4ywswxs5msri5b6j6ael2zcy">
#NHL GameScore Impact Card for Vancouver Canucks on 2024-12-08#Canucks
&mdash; <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:yhovbu5zkl6qxr2lz7znals5?ref_src=embed">HockeyStatCards (@hockeystatcards.com)</a> <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:yhovbu5zkl6qxr2lz7znals5/post/3lcter2y3xf2g?ref_src=embed">2024-12-08T23:33:48.939193&#43;00:00</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://embed.bsky.app/static/embed.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Although deployed liberally in a tough loss against the Bolts, Suter <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/statsies-aatu-raty-over-80-xgf-vancouver-canucks-loss-lightning">still led Vancouver in Corsi For (CF%) at 66.67</a>. This shows that Suter isn’t just ‘special teams’ special, but can also lead the charge across scenarios, even if the team struggles to capitalize and pull out a win. 
Few of us predicted Pius Suter to have a breakout performance at 28, but it’s a welcome surprise. After going undrafted and joining the NHL ranks at 24, he could teach us a thing or two about patience.
<h3>Kevin Lankinen</h3>
It’s a comfort knowing that, even after Thatcher Demko’s imminent return, this team has such a solid backup that overplaying Demko isn’t a concern. Demko is a tried-and-true starter, but Lankinen is shaping up to be a tandem-ready goaltender, whether in Vancouver or wherever his next contract could take him.
After earning second star of the week twice against both the Blue Jackets and Lightning, it’s still obvious that the infantry in front of the net is also to blame for pucks squeaking by, and it is not the fault of the cavalry in the crease. Even while going 1-1-1, Lankinen saved a total of 85 over 93 total shots, allowing eight goals in three games for a .914 SV%. The team still lost two of his three starts. Maybe someone should get him and Josh Allen into a support group (if you’re a Bills fan and a Canucks fan, you had a difficult Sunday. No, I don’t want to get into it. It’s too soon). I hope they’re not going to do this to Demko as soon as he’s back, or else there are going to have to be some conversations amongst friends in that room. 
<h3>Carson Soucy</h3>
Maybe you’re surprised to see him here, but I’m surprised to be putting him here. We’re in this together.
It is no secret that Soucy has been struggling this year, with abysmally low overall Corsi and, underlying numbers aside, visibly struggling and present for far, far too many goals against. The pairing of him and Tyler Myers was nearing unplayable. They weren’t a shutdown pairing by any means, and if they were, the only thing they were shutting down was their own chances. Separating them from each other has been an answer – not the answer to all of the Canucks defence issues, but it’s significantly improved both of their games.
Against Minnesota on Tuesday, Soucy seems to have responded well when reunited with Noah Juulsen. Almost too well. It was alarming. Looking at the impact card, it’s as if Juulsen and Soucy completely flipped with Quinn Hughes and Tyler Myers. Welcome to the Twilight Zone. 
<blockquote class="bluesky-embed" data-bluesky-uri="at://did:plc:yhovbu5zkl6qxr2lz7znals5/app.bsky.feed.post/3lchafpl7d32i" data-bluesky-cid="bafyreialyl6hldmrocwujrsshnmk4d5c3ff6am3ylab5ikcfp27zqc5skm">
#NHL GameScore Impact Card for Vancouver Canucks on 2024-12-03:#Canucks
&mdash; <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:yhovbu5zkl6qxr2lz7znals5?ref_src=embed">HockeyStatCards (@hockeystatcards.com)</a> <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:yhovbu5zkl6qxr2lz7znals5/post/3lchafpl7d32i?ref_src=embed">2024-12-04T03:43:56.056559&#43;00:00</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://embed.bsky.app/static/embed.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
This wasn’t a one-off game, either. Soucy has been quietly steady for the rest of the week, showing more confidence in handling and especially protecting the puck. Sure, he may be working himself back up to consistently average numbers, but at this point average is good.
The way that I see it, a stand-out is defined not just by isolated performance but by a concentrated effort to change. Growth and improvement rather than stagnation is a good sign and should be justly recognized – though without getting too ahead of ourselves. Carson Soucy has moved leaps and bounds this week after a rough performance so far, and he deserves a tip of the hat for it. Who knows, it may not happen again this season.  
<h3>Honorable Mentions</h3>
Thatcher Demko
Thatcher Demko gets a mention simply for dressing for a game for the first time since the spring. Simply seeing him on the bench could bring a tear to your eye. He’ll certainly be earning a proper star of the week before we know it. 
Tyler Myers
Maybe this is the bump he’s received from playing on the first pairing with Quinn Hughes, but Tyler Myers has had a much-improved week. He stepped out against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday particularly strong, especially in the back half of the game. Tyler Myers was backchecking effectively? It’s a holiday miracle. He also picked up an assist on Kiefer Sherwood’s game-tying effort before things went downhill. Overall, It’s been a solid effort from the Chaos Giraffe. Let’s just try and keep that chaos focused to our benefit. 
Quinn Hughes
Here’s the obligatory weekly Quinn Hughes three stars of the week mention. Enough said.
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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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After an overtime loss in Minnesota to close out a stretch on the road, the Canucks made it back to Rogers Arena in one piece, mostly. My apologies and well wishes to Filip Hronek, who will be <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/vancouver-canucks-filip-hronek-out-eight-weeks-after-procedure-lower-body-injury">out for an estimated eight weeks</a> after lower-body surgery.

You would like to think the team would be back in black in their sleek skate jerseys at home. They were, and then they weren’t. They staged a five-goal 5-2 comeback win after a disappointing first period against the Columbus Blue Jackets, only to fall 4-2 against the Tampa Bay Lightning with an empty-net goal serving as salt in the wound.

A mixed bag of results has been their weekly standard this season, but they’ve still been putting out respectable efforts in the absence of Hronek, J.T. Miller, and Thatcher Demko. Let’s take a look.
<h3>Pius Suter </h3>
The winter is getting colder by the day, but Pius Suter is still on a hot streak. We can thank the country of Switzerland and maybe even the hockey Gods for that.

Suter has excelled while elevated to a second-line centre role, with dynamic duo Dakota Joshua and Conor Garland on his wings. On the secondary power play and primary penalty kill, and playing more minutes than he ever has in his five-year NHL career, he’s not shying away from the increased responsibility. He put up two goals – sure, one was an empty netter – against the Columbus Blue Jackets, and the sole assist on Quinn Hughes’ backhand goal against Tampa.

It’s not just fleeting flashiness either. Suter has nearly topped the cards in terms of overall performance twice this week.

https://bsky.app/profile/hockeystatcards.com/post/3lcoypspjql2c

https://bsky.app/profile/hockeystatcards.com/post/3lcter2y3xf2g

Although deployed liberally in a tough loss against the Bolts, Suter <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/statsies-aatu-raty-over-80-xgf-vancouver-canucks-loss-lightning">still led Vancouver in Corsi For (CF%) at 66.67</a>. This shows that Suter isn’t just ‘special teams’ special, but can also lead the charge across scenarios, even if the team struggles to capitalize and pull out a win. 

Few of us predicted Pius Suter to have a breakout performance at 28, but it’s a welcome surprise. After going undrafted and joining the NHL ranks at 24, he could teach us a thing or two about patience.
<h3>Kevin Lankinen</h3>
It’s a comfort knowing that, even after Thatcher Demko’s imminent return, this team has such a solid backup that overplaying Demko isn’t a concern. Demko is a tried-and-true starter, but Lankinen is shaping up to be a tandem-ready goaltender, whether in Vancouver or wherever his next contract could take him.

After earning second star of the week twice against both the Blue Jackets and Lightning, it’s still obvious that the infantry in front of the net is also to blame for pucks squeaking by, and it is not the fault of the cavalry in the crease. Even while going 1-1-1, Lankinen saved a total of 85 over 93 total shots, allowing eight goals in three games for a .914 SV%. The team still lost two of his three starts. Maybe someone should get him and Josh Allen into a support group (if you’re a Bills fan and a Canucks fan, you had a difficult Sunday. No, I don’t want to get into it. It’s too soon). I hope they’re not going to do this to Demko as soon as he’s back, or else there are going to have to be some conversations amongst friends in that room. 
<h3>Carson Soucy</h3>
Maybe you’re surprised to see him here, but I’m surprised to be putting him here. We’re in this together.

It is no secret that Soucy has been struggling this year, with abysmally low overall Corsi and, underlying numbers aside, visibly struggling and present for far, far too many goals against. The pairing of him and Tyler Myers was nearing unplayable. They weren’t a shutdown pairing by any means, and if they were, the only thing they were shutting down was their own chances. Separating them from each other has been an answer – not the answer to all of the Canucks defence issues, but it’s significantly improved both of their games.

Against Minnesota on Tuesday, Soucy seems to have responded well when reunited with Noah Juulsen. Almost too well. It was alarming. Looking at the impact card, it’s as if Juulsen and Soucy completely flipped with Quinn Hughes and Tyler Myers. Welcome to the Twilight Zone. 

https://bsky.app/profile/hockeystatcards.com/post/3lchafpl7d32i

This wasn’t a one-off game, either. Soucy has been quietly steady for the rest of the week, showing more confidence in handling and especially protecting the puck. Sure, he may be working himself back up to consistently average numbers, but at this point average is good.

The way that I see it, a stand-out is defined not just by isolated performance but by a concentrated effort to change. Growth and improvement rather than stagnation is a good sign and should be justly recognized – though without getting too ahead of ourselves. Carson Soucy has moved leaps and bounds this week after a rough performance so far, and he deserves a tip of the hat for it. Who knows, it may not happen again this season.  
<h3>Honorable Mentions</h3>
Thatcher Demko

Thatcher Demko gets a mention simply for dressing for a game for the first time since the spring. Simply seeing him on the bench could bring a tear to your eye. He’ll certainly be earning a proper star of the week before we know it. 

Tyler Myers

Maybe this is the bump he’s received from playing on the first pairing with Quinn Hughes, but Tyler Myers has had a much-improved week. He stepped out against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday particularly strong, especially in the back half of the game. Tyler Myers was backchecking effectively? It’s a holiday miracle. He also picked up an assist on Kiefer Sherwood’s game-tying effort before things went downhill. Overall, It’s been a solid effort from the Chaos Giraffe. Let’s just try and keep that chaos focused to our benefit. 

Quinn Hughes

Here’s the obligatory weekly Quinn Hughes three stars of the week mention. Enough said.

Sponsored by bet365
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