Canucks Player Grades: Embrace the tank? Sharks a rebuild lesson in 6-3 Vancouver loss

The San Jose Sharks are a fun, vibrant, young hockey team.

The Vancouver Canucks would like to be such a squad. To get there … they’ll have to rebuild.

And it’s hard to have any other conclusion after a 6-3 loss for the Canucks, one in which the young Sharks showed all kinds of fun energy on offence.

They’re a work in progress in their own end, but when you have Macklin Celebrini, you’re getting a long way toward being somewhere.

Celebrini, the hometown kid, was sensational. He had 15 shot attempts on goal. He plays hard everywhere. I’m hearing comparisons with Sidney Crosby in how strong he is on his feet, how next-level he is playing in tight, on the boards.

And he back checks as hard as anyone: Did you notice him getting back on Conor Garland in the first period?

The Canucks just don’t have a player like that right now. Elias Pettersson at his best can be close to that, though never with the same kind of electricity that the North Vancouver superstar brings.

Shots against

The Canucks are bleeding shots on goal against again: This was the third-straight game the opposition hit the net more than 35 times. That’s just not a way to win.

500 games

It’s quite the thing to realize how long Elias Pettersson has been in the NHL. He’s tallied 479 points over his career. That’s a reminder of how solid he’s been — and we must remember this includes his dreadful 2024-25 season.

No Canuck has every tallied more points through their first 500 games than the Canucks’ No. 1 centre.

That’s a double-edged point, isn’t it? Disappointing Henrik Sedin wasn’t played more to that point in his career, but that’s a column for another day. That there are no other candidates in there, Pavel Bure one supposes, is a reminder how weak this team’s overall offensive history has been.

Here are the player grades:

Forwards

Elias Pettersson: C+

Skated well in his first game back. Playing physically, too. But didn’t create much — and the story in this game was Celebrini, who was everywhere as San Jose’s No. 1 centre. He’s a future Crosby, sure, but there shouldn’t be such a contrast with Pettersson’s overall game.

Evander Kane: C+

Playing with pep once again. Someone is going to trade for him. Also, another contrast: As a first-line left winger, he’s no William Eklund.

Kiefer Sherwood: C+

Gets his stick on the puck every night. That never fails. He’s a quality winger that a playoff team will love.

Marco Rossi: C+

Bad luck on third goal against. And then late in the second, DeBrusk had a great forecheck — his only real moment of the night — the put the puck on Rossi’s stick in close but it dribbled off his stick. Did get a goal on a bounce in the third, but overall a tough two-way night for him.

Jake DeBrusk: C

Great forecheck in second at four-on-four to set up Rossi was his only moment on another pretty ugly night.

Brock Boeser: C

Missing power in his stride. How long are they going to keep him in the lineup while he struggles so? Got bumped to a line with Kampf and Garland in the third — it stands out that even playing with the aggressive Garland didn’t lead to much for Boeser.

David Kampf: C

Hard to see why he’s in the lineup when he has no offence and is getting absolutely mushed on the power play.

Drew O’Connor: B+

Another quality night from him. This is surely the best hockey of his career — he’s gotta be a trade chip, right? Right?!?

Conor Garland: B+

A beautiful pass to Linus Karlsson to set up the Canucks’ first goal. Also set up the Rossi goal, too. Best player on the night for Vancouver.

Max Sasson: C

Lost his man on a goalmouth scramble in the second, indicative of how the Canucks are struggling in this man to man system. A couple scoring chances in limited ice time.

Liam Ohgren: C

Very quiet in his home debut.

Linus Karlsson: B

Nice play on the zone entry before his power play goal, too.

Defence

Marcus Pettersson: B-

He was his standard fine self. Not a bright light on a bad night for Vancouver but not a problem either.

Filip Hronek: B-

Tough night for the whole blue-line really, though Hronek and M-Petey were both fine.

Zeev Buium: C

He sure can skate the puck, but he’s a work in progress on defence. Really tough night in crunch time.

Tyler Myers: C

Who was Myers covering on the Chernasheve goal? Tough night for the big blueliner.

Elias Pettersson: C

Some nice moments on the puck but one of many struggling in this system.

Tom Willander: C

Couldn’t handle Reaves on the goal. Not a great night for any Canucks defender.

Goalie

Thatcher Demko: C+

Looked like he was still steaming about the first goal against, which he clearly thought he had frozen, when the second goal went in. Didn’t get any help on the third and fourth goals — but on the whole not a vintage night for Demko.