Feb 25, 2016
Vancouver: Too much reliance on the Sedins
TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button assigns his letter grades for the Vancouver Canucks at the three-quarter mark of the NHL season.
By Craig Button
The Canucks lead the league in one-goal losses, which illustrates a significant problem for their team. The Vancouver offence ranks at the bottom of the league and is reliant on ‘two’ few (Henrik and Daniel) to provide the bulk of the scoring. This has to change for the Canucks to become a contender. They earn a D+ for their ability to stay in games. Unfortunately, they can’t find their way to the right side of the score.
Below are the Canucks’ individual player grades.
Three factors were considered in assigning grades: performance, results and expectations, as framed by age, previous performance and cap hit/contract average annual value (AAV). Skaters must have appeared in a minimum of 25 games and goalies, 15, to be graded.
Spotlight Players Grade: The Sedins are full value for their A+ grades. Where would the Canucks be without the twins? At the bottom of the league as the Sedins continue to show they are extremely capable offensive players. Vancouver management knows they need to add more skill to their forward group. If they can manage that while the Sedans remain proficient, the fortunes of the Canucks will be greatly enhanced.
Editor’s Note: Follow TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button at @CraigJButton and join the discussion on his 3/4 mark Report Cards.
Grading System
A Excellent
B Very Good
C Satisfactory
D Poor
F Failing
Listed are the grades for player performance in the first quarter (1st Qtr) and the season so far (2015-16).
Canucks' grades by player
| Goalies | 1st Qtr | 3rd Qtr | AAV | W | L | OT | Sv% |
| Jacob Markstrom | Inc. | C+ | $1.6 m | 9 | 7 | 4 | .917 |
| Ryan Miller | C- | C | $6.0 m | 13 | 17 | 8 | .917 |
| Defencemen | 1st Qtr | 3rd Qtr | AAV | GP | G | P | +/- |
| Ben Hutton | B- | B | $896 k | 52 | 1 | 16 | 17 |
| Christopher Tanev | B- | B- | $4.5 m | 55 | 4 | 11 | 15 |
| Alexander Edler | B | C- | $5.0 m | 52 | 6 | 14 | 20 |
| Dan Hamhuis | C | C- | $4.5 m | 35 | 0 | 5 | 5 |
| Alex Biega | Inc. | D+ | $600 k | 31 | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Matt Bartkowski | B- | D | $1.8 m | 58 | 3 | 9 | 12 |
| Luca Sbisa | C+ | D | $3.6 m | 32 | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Yannick Weber | D | F | $1.5 m | 36 | 0 | 5 | 5 |
| Forwards | 1st Qtr | 3rd Qtr | AAV | GP | G | P | +/- |
| Daniel Sedin | A | A+ | $7.0 m | 59 | 22 | 52 | 16 |
| Henrik Sedin | A- | A+ | $7.0 m | 53 | 10 | 46 | 11 |
| Jannik Hansen | B | B+ | $2.5 m | 55 | 19 | 32 | 19 |
| Sven Baertschi | C- | C | $900 k | 51 | 12 | 21 | -5 |
| Jared McCann | B+ | C | $894 k | 50 | 7 | 13 | -4 |
| Adam Cracknell | C | C | $575 k | 43 | 5 | 10 | 1 |
| Derek Dorsett | C | C- | $2.7 m | 57 | 3 | 10 | -12 |
| Jake Virtanen | C | D+ | $894 k | 34 | 4 | 7 | 0 |
| Bo Horvat | C- | D | $894 k | 59 | 10 | 26 | -30 |
| Linden Vey | D | $1.0 m | 23 | 2 | 9 | -7 | |
| Radim Vrbata | C | D- | $5.0 m | 57 | 12 | 24 | -32 |
| Alexandre Burrows | C | D- | $4.5 m | 57 | 7 | 16 | -12 |
| Brandon Prust | C+ | F | $2.5 m | 35 | 1 | 7 | -3 |
| Chris Higgins | C | F | $2.5 m | 25 | 2 | 3 | -12 |
| Brandon Sutter | B- | Inc. | $3.3 m | 20 | 5 | 9 | 3 |