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Letter grades for each Canucks player a quarter of the way through the season
Photo credit: © Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Nov 22, 2025, 15:10 ESTUpdated: Nov 22, 2025, 16:47 EST
Earlier this week the Vancouver Canucks reached the quarter-mark of their 2025-26 National Hockey League schedule. That means it’s time for our first CanucksArmy report cards of the new season. Letter grades are based solely on performance shown through the first six weeks of the season and are not relative to expectations for individual players. These are simply a reflection of how well (or poorly) players have performed.
FORWARDS (minimum of 10 games played):
Elias Pettersson: B
Pettersson’s start should probably be broken into two halves. He wouldn’t have graded well in the first 10 games, but more recently he has rediscovered the form that has allowed him to be a solid point producer. Given the role he’s been tasked with and the match-ups he’s faced, Pettersson has performed admirably. Of course, when he makes the money he makes, more will always be expected. But he’s showing signs of getting back to the player he was earlier in his career.
Pettersson’s start should probably be broken into two halves. He wouldn’t have graded well in the first 10 games, but more recently he has rediscovered the form that has allowed him to be a solid point producer. Given the role he’s been tasked with and the match-ups he’s faced, Pettersson has performed admirably. Of course, when he makes the money he makes, more will always be expected. But he’s showing signs of getting back to the player he was earlier in his career.
Brock Boeser: B
With eight goals already, Boeser is on a mid-30 goal pace. Considering he missed a pair of games for personal reasons and left another after just one shift, he’s been highly productive with almost all of his goals coming at 5-on-5 and with a variety of centres. He’s also demonstrated deft playmaking to set up others for goals.
With eight goals already, Boeser is on a mid-30 goal pace. Considering he missed a pair of games for personal reasons and left another after just one shift, he’s been highly productive with almost all of his goals coming at 5-on-5 and with a variety of centres. He’s also demonstrated deft playmaking to set up others for goals.
Kiefer Sherwood: A
How can you not give Sherwood top marks? He leads the team in goals and hits and has shown that last season was no fluke. He uses his speed effectively, has a deceptive shot and has been a goal-scoring buzzsaw. The man is going to earn a huge raise.
How can you not give Sherwood top marks? He leads the team in goals and hits and has shown that last season was no fluke. He uses his speed effectively, has a deceptive shot and has been a goal-scoring buzzsaw. The man is going to earn a huge raise.
Conor Garland: B
Garland continues to give the Canucks everything he has. He’s consistent in both effort and productivity. He led the team in scoring for much of the first quarter of the season before being beset by a couple of injuries. If everyone on the Canucks played as hard as Garland, the team would surely have a few more victories.
Garland continues to give the Canucks everything he has. He’s consistent in both effort and productivity. He led the team in scoring for much of the first quarter of the season before being beset by a couple of injuries. If everyone on the Canucks played as hard as Garland, the team would surely have a few more victories.
Evander Kane: C
Surely more was expected from the veteran winger. He’s shown some solid playmaking, it must be noted, but with just three goals (and two came in the same game), he hasn’t managed to make much of a mark offensively. He hasn’t been overly physical and hasn’t proven to be any kind of forechecking menace. He plays a lot but without much of a bottom line.
Surely more was expected from the veteran winger. He’s shown some solid playmaking, it must be noted, but with just three goals (and two came in the same game), he hasn’t managed to make much of a mark offensively. He hasn’t been overly physical and hasn’t proven to be any kind of forechecking menace. He plays a lot but without much of a bottom line.
Jake DeBrusk: C+
Once again, it took a while for DeBrusk to get out of the starting blocks. But once he gets cooking, look out. Seven of his eight goals have come on the power play where he continues to show a willingness to go to the dirty areas of the ice and has been rewarded for it. That’s the good news. The flip side, however, is that he has just one 5-on-5 goal with December approaching.
Once again, it took a while for DeBrusk to get out of the starting blocks. But once he gets cooking, look out. Seven of his eight goals have come on the power play where he continues to show a willingness to go to the dirty areas of the ice and has been rewarded for it. That’s the good news. The flip side, however, is that he has just one 5-on-5 goal with December approaching.
Drew O’Connor: C+
After a sluggish start, O’Connor has found his groove in the past 10 games. It remains to be seen if he can score at the rate he has over the past couple of weeks. But he is using his size and speed effectively and has earned an uptick in ice time and opportunities.
After a sluggish start, O’Connor has found his groove in the past 10 games. It remains to be seen if he can score at the rate he has over the past couple of weeks. But he is using his size and speed effectively and has earned an uptick in ice time and opportunities.
Aatu Räty: B
Quietly, Raty has gone about his business holding his own in a third line role and winning far more face-offs that he has lost. Ideally, you’d like a little more offence from him, and maybe that will come in time. But he’s responsible defensively and has a positive goal differential on a team that has bled goals at an alarming rate.
Quietly, Raty has gone about his business holding his own in a third line role and winning far more face-offs that he has lost. Ideally, you’d like a little more offence from him, and maybe that will come in time. But he’s responsible defensively and has a positive goal differential on a team that has bled goals at an alarming rate.
Linus Karlsson: C+
In limited minutes, Karlsson has started to look like he belongs at this level. He’s scoring at a 30-point pace which isn’t bad for a guy averaging 9:57 of ice time per game. He wins most of his board battles and uses his length effectively in the defensive zone.
In limited minutes, Karlsson has started to look like he belongs at this level. He’s scoring at a 30-point pace which isn’t bad for a guy averaging 9:57 of ice time per game. He wins most of his board battles and uses his length effectively in the defensive zone.
Max Sasson: C
The Canucks need Sasson’s speed. And his four goals in 19 games is a reasonable total for a depth piece. But as a centre, he has set up just one goal and far more is needed in that regard. He’s been okay, but only okay.
The Canucks need Sasson’s speed. And his four goals in 19 games is a reasonable total for a depth piece. But as a centre, he has set up just one goal and far more is needed in that regard. He’s been okay, but only okay.
Arshdeep Bains: D
The team’s second line left winger to start the season, Bains has been in a free fall ever since. He has been a healthy scratch the past four games. In between, he just hasn’t been able to make anything happen with no goals and just three assists in 18 games. Defensively, he’s generally been fine, but that’s clearly not enough to maintain a regular spot in an NHL lineup.
The team’s second line left winger to start the season, Bains has been in a free fall ever since. He has been a healthy scratch the past four games. In between, he just hasn’t been able to make anything happen with no goals and just three assists in 18 games. Defensively, he’s generally been fine, but that’s clearly not enough to maintain a regular spot in an NHL lineup.
DEFENCE (minimum of eight games played):
Quinn Hughes: B+
He’s getting closer to his old self, but the first month of the season he just seemed off slightly from the ridiculous heights we’re accustomed to seeing him reach. His point total is exceptional, but his one goal stands out for the wrong reasons. He hasn’t tilted the ice the way he has in past seasons. He’s been good on many nights. But like the team itself, he’s had a few too many nights when he’s been forced to defend more than he’d like.
He’s getting closer to his old self, but the first month of the season he just seemed off slightly from the ridiculous heights we’re accustomed to seeing him reach. His point total is exceptional, but his one goal stands out for the wrong reasons. He hasn’t tilted the ice the way he has in past seasons. He’s been good on many nights. But like the team itself, he’s had a few too many nights when he’s been forced to defend more than he’d like.
Filip Hronek: B+
Hronek earns a high grade for his play to start the season. He’s on pace for a 45-point season, is carrying a +9 goal differential at 5-on-5 and has been asked to shoulder an increased work load in the five games Hughes has been out of the line-up. The only knock is his role in penalty kill that is 32nd and last in the NHL at 68.1%.
Hronek earns a high grade for his play to start the season. He’s on pace for a 45-point season, is carrying a +9 goal differential at 5-on-5 and has been asked to shoulder an increased work load in the five games Hughes has been out of the line-up. The only knock is his role in penalty kill that is 32nd and last in the NHL at 68.1%.
Marcus Pettersson: C-
It’s been a struggle on many nights for Pettersson. His rush defence has been suspect. His work on the penalty kill has been a problem. He’s among the league-leaders in minor penalties taken. He just hasn’t been able to find any sort of solid footing this season. This isn’t the player the Canucks were expecting when they traded for him and immediately committed significant dollars and term on a lucrative extension.
It’s been a struggle on many nights for Pettersson. His rush defence has been suspect. His work on the penalty kill has been a problem. He’s among the league-leaders in minor penalties taken. He just hasn’t been able to find any sort of solid footing this season. This isn’t the player the Canucks were expecting when they traded for him and immediately committed significant dollars and term on a lucrative extension.
Tyler Myers: C
Much like his defensive partner Pettersson, Myers has had a challenging start to the season. With a change in coaching staff and a new face handing the defence, Myers seems to be struggling to adapt. As he nears his 36th birthday, it’s fair to wonder if he can get his game back on track. He’s been on the ice for too many goals against, has had trouble reading and reacting to plays in the defensive zone.
Much like his defensive partner Pettersson, Myers has had a challenging start to the season. With a change in coaching staff and a new face handing the defence, Myers seems to be struggling to adapt. As he nears his 36th birthday, it’s fair to wonder if he can get his game back on track. He’s been on the ice for too many goals against, has had trouble reading and reacting to plays in the defensive zone.
Elias Pettersson: C
He’s young and he’ll get better. But the NHL is a tough place to learn on the job and DPetey just hasn’t looked as poised or confident as he did when he broke into the league midway through last season. Maybe it’s the new defensive system. Maybe it’s simply a sophomore slump. Maybe it’s a combination of the two. Whatever the case, it’s been an okay start to his first full season in the big league. Nothing more.
He’s young and he’ll get better. But the NHL is a tough place to learn on the job and DPetey just hasn’t looked as poised or confident as he did when he broke into the league midway through last season. Maybe it’s the new defensive system. Maybe it’s simply a sophomore slump. Maybe it’s a combination of the two. Whatever the case, it’s been an okay start to his first full season in the big league. Nothing more.
Tom Willander: C+
The mere fact that the 2023 first rounder is included in this exercise is a success in itself. Willander didn’t exactly shine in training camp or the preseason, but earned his first NHL call-up and has shown a baseline of the skillset that makes him an exciting prospect. Certainly, there have been bumps along the way and maybe too much is being asked of him too soon. But his skating looks NHL ready and now he just needs experience to round out the rest of his game.
The mere fact that the 2023 first rounder is included in this exercise is a success in itself. Willander didn’t exactly shine in training camp or the preseason, but earned his first NHL call-up and has shown a baseline of the skillset that makes him an exciting prospect. Certainly, there have been bumps along the way and maybe too much is being asked of him too soon. But his skating looks NHL ready and now he just needs experience to round out the rest of his game.
Pierre-Olivier Joseph: C-
Not a lot was expected of the depth signing and really not much has been delivered. Even with a spate of injuries, he’s appeared in just nine games and seems to have already been passed on the depth chart by younger, more promising players. His puck skills haven’t been sharp and he’s not physical. He just hasn’t brought a lot to the mix in his limited activity.
Not a lot was expected of the depth signing and really not much has been delivered. Even with a spate of injuries, he’s appeared in just nine games and seems to have already been passed on the depth chart by younger, more promising players. His puck skills haven’t been sharp and he’s not physical. He just hasn’t brought a lot to the mix in his limited activity.
GOALTENDING (minimum of 2 games):
Thatcher Demko: B-
How do you accurately grade Demko? When he’s played, he’s looked good. But availability is a huge part of the equation – especially given his lengthy injury history. And here is sidelined yet again. And so it’s impossible to give him a higher grade because this team needs him to be healthy and his body just won’t allow him to handle the rigours of the position with any regularity or dependability.
How do you accurately grade Demko? When he’s played, he’s looked good. But availability is a huge part of the equation – especially given his lengthy injury history. And here is sidelined yet again. And so it’s impossible to give him a higher grade because this team needs him to be healthy and his body just won’t allow him to handle the rigours of the position with any regularity or dependability.
Kevin Lankinen: C+
Lankinen has had his moments, but ultimately has delivered just four wins in 11 starts with individual statistics that aren’t terribly flattering. He’s being asked to play behind a defence that has been in shambles for much of the season. So that is taken into account. But more is needed from the team’s 1B especially in the absence of his running mate.
Lankinen has had his moments, but ultimately has delivered just four wins in 11 starts with individual statistics that aren’t terribly flattering. He’s being asked to play behind a defence that has been in shambles for much of the season. So that is taken into account. But more is needed from the team’s 1B especially in the absence of his running mate.
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