LATEST | Multiple Canucks leading the way as award favourites
Tonight, November 28th, marks the quarter mark of the 2023-24 National Hockey League season and a few Vancouver Canucks are leading the way when it comes to awards at the end of the season.
Matt Larkin of Daily Faceoff took a each of the awards that will be handed out at the end of the year and highlighted a trio of Canucks - Quinn Hughes, Thatcher Demko, Rick Tocchet.
For Quinn Hughes, Larkin has him as the leading candidate for the Hart Trophy as the NHL's MVP and Norris Trophy as best defenceman.
Early frontrunner: Quinn Hughes, Canucks
He's on pace for 123 points. He's leading the NHL in assists. He's logging close to 25 minutes a night. He's tilting the play at 5-on-5, with the Canucks outscoring opponents 25-12 while he's on the ice. Hughes has been as dominant as any player in the league, and he's doing it as a defenseman. Cale Makar, by the way, has been just as good � more on him later � but arguably no player has meant more to his team's success than Hughes."
Early frontrunner: Quinn Hughes, Canucks
No surprise here given I've tabbed him as the current MVP frontrunner. Could he become the first defenseman since Chris Pronger in 1999-00 to win the Norris and the Hart in the same season?"
Thatcher Demko was mentioned as the favourite for the Vezina Trophy as the league's best goaltenders. Demko has been fantastic so far this season and has played a key role in helping the Canucks be in the position they are as of Tuesday.
Early frontrunner: Thatcher Demko, Canucks
The Vezina voters, a.k.a. the active NHL GMs, often have a bias toward win totals, and Demko checks that box, tied for second in the league with 10. But they haven't been cheap wins. Demko has been a force for the Canucks, posting a 2.18 goals-against average and .925 save percentage while ranking among the league leaders in goals saved above average per 60 at 5-on-5. The Canucks have improved defensively under Rick Tocchet, but Demko is still seeing a pretty difficult workload, ranking in the top half of the league in expected goals against per 60 at 5-on-5."
Finally, Larkin mentions Rick Tocchet has the leading candidate for the Jack Adams Award as the league's best coach.
Tocchet, who was hired early in 2023 as a replacement for Bruce Boudreau, has been instrumental on the Canucks' success this season, setting a high standard and holding his players accountable when they don't play well. His communication with the players is key to ensuring that they stick to the system and do the right things night in, night out.
Early frontrunner: Rick Tocchet, Canucks
The Canucks have been a different team since Tocchet took over last winter, more committed to two-way play than they have been in years while not sacrificing offense in the process. The Jack Adams often goes to a turnaround coach who takes a team from outside to inside the playoff picture, and Tocchet fits the bill."
Which Canuck do you think has a best chance at winning an award in June? Let us know what you think in the poll below!
| POLL | ||
Which Canuck mentioned do you think has the best chance at winning an award in June? | ||
| Quinn Hughes | 372 | 62.7 % |
| Thatcher Demko | 75 | 12.6 % |
| Rick Tocchet | 97 | 16.4 % |
| See Results | 49 | 8.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
