On today’s episode of Canucks Conversation, David Quadrelli and Harman Dayal discussed which Vancouver Canucks players might have the longevity to reach the 1,000-game milestone. This follows defenceman Tyler Myers hitting that mark in the Canucks’ game against Philadelphia on Saturday.
“It feels like J.T. Miller is going to be the next one. He just played his 800th game at the start of this season, so he’ll probably be the next player to hit it. But beyond that, which Canucks will get there?” Quads asked.
“Quinn Hughes and Elias Pettersson stand out as having a really high probability for that,” Harm responded. “Hughes especially because he’s so rare in terms of what he can do as a defenceman. Pretty durable, doesn’t take a lot of contact, and the way he skates and avoids hits as a smaller defenceman… He’s also not dishing out a lot of hits, so I think he’s the type of player who’s going to age really well and be effective deep into his 30s. I don’t want to call anyone close to a lock because I don’t want to jinx anything, but he has a strong chance.”
Hughes, now entering his sixth full season with the Canucks, has 370 games played over five years with the club. He turned 25 on October 14th. Pettersson, meanwhile, has 412 games to his name across six full seasons and turns 26 on November 12th.
“For Pettersson, when he’s at his best, he’s a franchise-type player,” Harm continued. “He’s struggled so far this season, but a centreman of his calibre is so rare to find. Even last year during his ‘down year’, he was still top 10 among all centres in scoring. So, you can have your concerns about his contract, but he’s going to be in this league for a long time.”
After discussing the strong candidates, the conversation moved to players who are less certain to reach 1,000 games.
“Brock Boeser has missed some time and has had shortened seasons, but he did play his first full NHL season at 20,” Quads pointed out. “Historically, that gives you an advantage. A guy that comes to mind is Alex Burrows, who didn’t play his first full NHL season until he was 25 years old. He finished his career with 913 games played, and that wasn’t for a lack of availability. Boeser is one I’m discussing because he started his career young, but he’s faced some injuries, so I lean toward yes, but I’m hesitant. It’s worth mentioning that he’s evolved his game to be a more well-rounded player. He won’t be cooked as soon as he’s unable to score goals and put up points.”
“I think he can get there,” Harm added. “He’s almost at 500 games now, and assuming he averages around 70 games per season, he’d need to play until about 33 or 34, which is doable. It’s not a guarantee; when some guys hit 31 or 32, their foot speed takes a hit, and Brock especially isn’t the most fleet of foot, so that’s a concern. But because he’s evolved his game and is no longer just a one-dimensional scorer, he’s a smart enough player that can adapt and still be effective through his early thirties.”
The only other defenceman noted alongside Hughes was Filip Hronek, who will be 27 on November 2nd and has 395 games played since entering the league in 2018.
“Hronek is 26 years old with nearly 400 games under his belt,” said Harm. “There’s a shortage of quality right-handed defencemen in the NHL. If a team has blueline issues, it’s usually on the right side, so Hronek is always going to be valuable. Beyond this contract, he can play another two or three years, as long as he can stay healthy.”
Jake DeBrusk, one of the newest Canucks, was also mentioned as a player with a shot at sticking around long enough to reach 1,000 games. He’s 28 years old and has played 470 games so far.
“He’s the least likely,” Harm said. “If he plays 70 games per season, he’d need another eight years to get there. That’s a coin flip. I’d be less confident in him reaching 1,000 compared to Hronek and Boeser, but he’s a versatile player. If later in his career he loses his hands or isn’t as dynamic offensively, could he evolve into a bottom-six checking guy, using his pace, killing penalties, and playing heavy along the walls? I could see it.”
You can watch the full segment below:
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