Welcome back to Stars of the Week at <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/">CanucksArmy</a>! Every week, we’ll be bringing you our Top Three best and brightest performers on the <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/combinations">Vancouver Canucks</a> that week. Disagree with our picks or have your own stars to nominate? Let us know in the comments below!
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The end of this Vancouver Canucks season has gone from the training sequence in Rocky to The Green Mile very quickly. The momentum to make the playoffs has all but halted after the team has struggled to put together enough consecutive wins in the last few weeks. It was inevitable that the team would take a hit after Elias Pettersson, Filip Chytil, and <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/vancouver-canucks-forwards-elias-pettersson-nils-hoglander-home-will-miss-rest-of-road-trip">Nils Höglander were out of the lineup</a>, even after adding <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/canucks-activate-goaltender-thatcher-demko-ahead-of-date-with-the-devils">Thatcher Demko back into the equation</a>. Thus, it appears as if Vancouver’s season will be ending on April 16th this year. The line between denial and acceptance may just be thinner than initially believed.
The good news amongst all of this is that two of this week’s stars might be set to see some postseason action – just not in the NHL. The Abbotsford Canucks are in the midst of a nine-game winning streak, several of those games won without Artūrs Šilovs, Aatu Räty, Jonathan Lekkerimäki, Nils Åman, and Linus Karlsson on their roster. All of these young, exciting players, including defenceman Victor Mancini, who is still up with Vancouver, are all eligible to play in the Calder Cup playoffs. If you are without an NHL playoff team to watch with enthusiasm and aren’t already in the habit of watching the Canucks’ AHL affiliate, now’s the time.
Regardless of Vancouver’s luck, they’ve visibly had more of a coordinated effort going than they’ve had almost all year while practically having a quarter of their forward group called up from the minors, so it’s not all doom and gloom. They were pushed to a shootout twice this week, coming up with 2 points against the New Jersey Devils and a pity point against the Columbus Blue Jackets, dominated the New York Islanders 5-2, and dropped 3-1 to the Winnipeg Jets in a yawn-inducing Sunday matinee. While it’s still uncertain what the roster might look like come opening night in the fall, now’s a good time to appreciate the Canucks as they stand for what might be the final time. “Appreciate” might be too generous a word. Perhaps “tolerate” is more appropriate.
<blockquote>Aatu Räty</blockquote>
It’s only taken two years to show that Aatu Räty was the central return piece in the January 2023 trade of Bo Horvat – not Anthony Beauvillier, who has played for no less than four NHL teams in the last 16 months, and not the conditional 2023 first-round pick that later became the Detroit Red Wings&#8217; defenceman prospect Axel Sandin Pellikka. After this week, realizing the club received Aatu Räty and Filip Hronek for Bo Horvat? Well, the trade looks like a clean piece of work in retrospect. 
Räty had the kind of week that settles your fears about the Canucks’ future, especially down the middle. Slotting comfortably into a third-line centre spot between Dakota Joshua and Kiefer Sherwood, this line has drummed up quite a bit of chemistry together, especially on the offensive front. Räty had three goals in back-to-back games, and his line factored in on all three – his second of the night against Columbus was assisted by both of his linemates. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
🚨CANUCKS GOAL🚨
AATU RATY TIES IT UP! THIS GAME IS DRUNK! 
🎥: Sportsnet | NHL<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canucks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canucks</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CBJ?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CBJ</a> <a href="https://t.co/Ejb8nI4dAp">pic.twitter.com/Ejb8nI4dAp</a>
&mdash; CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) <a href="https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1905798597477806306?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 29, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Aatu Räty is in the mix at the crease – remember all that criticism this team faced this year about getting to the front of the net – and Joshua gets the puck through traffic for Räty to beat Merzļikins glove-side. Right place, right time.
His famous face-off moves also came into play in his success this week. He went 61.5% in the faceoff circle, winning 32 of his 52 draws – impressively above average.
<a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/stanchies-aatu-raty-pair-goals-isnt-enough-vancouver-canucks-so-loss-columbus-blue-jackets">He certainly looks like he could be NHL-ready sooner rather than later</a>, and it’ll be a joy to watch him if he stays up with the club down the stretch. Especially with the likelihood that Pius Suter may have priced himself out of Vancouver on his next contract, the Canucks may need to secure their centre depth sooner rather than later.
<blockquote>Pius Suter</blockquote>
On the topic of Pius Suter, he had yet another phenomenal week, which might just further his case for his aforementioned departure from Vancouver. He’s already surpassed his career-high in goals and points this year, at 22G 42P thus far, and his current $1,600,000 AAV contract is set to expire this summer. The undrafted bottom-six player who hails from Switzerland is no longer an affordable two-way centre depth option – which is excellent news for him, less so for the Canucks.
This week, while elevated to the top line in Elias Pettersson’s absence, Suter has scored 2 goals and 8 points in four games. He’s out there on the power play, he can kill penalties; essentially, Pius Suter has become a reliable all-situations player, and it’s a shame that his career-best year likely won’t get to be extended to the playoffs. 
Pius is certainly set to be paid, and it’s going to be difficult to hold it against him if he chooses to get paid somewhere else.
<blockquote>Jonathan Lekkerimäki</blockquote>
I like this kid. I like him very much. Was there a soul in the Canucks-watching world that didn’t love his fanciful stick flip in his shootout winner against the New Jersey Devils?
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
🚨CANUCKS GOAL🚨
Jonathan Lekkerimäki scores the shootout winner! What a win for the Canucks! 
🎥: Amazon Prime | NHL<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canucks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canucks</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NJDevils?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NJDevils</a> <a href="https://t.co/0w9pZ4VrZw">pic.twitter.com/0w9pZ4VrZw</a>
&mdash; CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) <a href="https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1904359252757753920?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 25, 2025</a></blockquote>
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A game-winning shootout goal in an semiannual Hughesbowl game that resulted in a tantrum from former Canuck Jacob Markström is significant for the young Lekkerimäki’s resume. That’s not even to mention that <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/statsies-jonathan-lekkerimaki-leads-vancouver-canucks-xgf-shootout-win">he led the team in Corsi For and expected goals</a>, and scored his third-ever NHL goal at 5 on 5. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
🚨CANUCKS GOAL🚨
Derek Forbort sets up Jonathan Lekkerimäki in the slot and he buries it! This game is tied! 
🎥: Amazon Prime | NHL<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canucks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canucks</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NJDevils?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NJDevils</a> <a href="https://t.co/ZaAMUDQus7">pic.twitter.com/ZaAMUDQus7</a>
&mdash; CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) <a href="https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1904350032490541167?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 25, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Did I also mention that he scored his first-ever NHL goal on my 23rd birthday against the New York Islanders back in November? He automatically gets a star of the week for being one of the only NHL players to ever get me a birthday gift. 
Lekkerimäki has been up with the parent club for the entirety of March, mostly in the bottom six, and has struggled to consistently break 10 minutes of ice time. Lately he has been given an increasingly longer leash from Rick Tocchet, to a solid outcome. If the team isn’t able to hold onto Brock Boeser, other arrangements for goal-scoring wingers must be in order. 
Let Jonathan Lekkerimäki have his moment, and let him stick flip if there are going to be more results like this. 
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-142078 aligncenter" src="https://publish.canucksarmy.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/3upwmq-300x145.jpg" alt="" width="641" height="310" srcset="https://publish.canucksarmy.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/3upwmq-300x145.jpg 300w, https://publish.canucksarmy.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/3upwmq.jpg 680w" sizes="(max-width: 641px) 100vw, 641px" />
<h1>Honourable Mentions</h1>
<blockquote>Thatcher Demko</blockquote>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
THATCHER DEMKO MAKES A SAVE IN THE SPLITS
🎥: Amazon Prime | NHL<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Canucks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Canucks</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NJDevils?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NJDevils</a> <a href="https://t.co/cEMOw48a8D">pic.twitter.com/cEMOw48a8D</a>
&mdash; CanucksArmy (@CanucksArmy) <a href="https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1904356678050726278?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 25, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Thatcher Demko is reaching unprecedented levels of being so back. Yes, I might have heart palpitations every time he’s gone into the splits or pulled a significant East-West move to make a save since he’s returned. Yes, I think it’s worth it to see him play again. If he ever needs a knee replacement, call me. I’m not using mine for much.
<blockquote>Kiefer Sherwood</blockquote>
Kiefer Sherwood has continued to look the part of a Canucks fan-favourite this week, putting up 29 hits in four games and 6 points, including 2G 1A against the Islanders.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Made a quick poster for Kiefer Sherwood, highkey one of the MVPs for the Vancouver Canucks this season<a href="https://twitter.com/Canucks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Canucks</a> 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/ITg86Y54Ox">pic.twitter.com/ITg86Y54Ox</a>
&mdash; jake ッ (@aristhought) <a href="https://twitter.com/aristhought/status/1905121369798606931?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 27, 2025</a></blockquote>
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Welcome back to Stars of the Week at <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/">CanucksArmy</a>! Every week, we’ll be bringing you our Top Three best and brightest performers on the <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/combinations">Vancouver Canucks</a> that week. Disagree with our picks or have your own stars to nominate? Let us know in the comments below!
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&nbsp;

The end of this Vancouver Canucks season has gone from the training sequence in Rocky to The Green Mile very quickly. The momentum to make the playoffs has all but halted after the team has struggled to put together enough consecutive wins in the last few weeks. It was inevitable that the team would take a hit after Elias Pettersson, Filip Chytil, and <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/vancouver-canucks-forwards-elias-pettersson-nils-hoglander-home-will-miss-rest-of-road-trip">Nils Höglander were out of the lineup</a>, even after adding <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/canucks-activate-goaltender-thatcher-demko-ahead-of-date-with-the-devils">Thatcher Demko back into the equation</a>. Thus, it appears as if Vancouver’s season will be ending on April 16th this year. The line between denial and acceptance may just be thinner than initially believed.

The good news amongst all of this is that two of this week’s stars might be set to see some postseason action – just not in the NHL. The Abbotsford Canucks are in the midst of a nine-game winning streak, several of those games won without Artūrs Šilovs, Aatu Räty, Jonathan Lekkerimäki, Nils Åman, and Linus Karlsson on their roster. All of these young, exciting players, including defenceman Victor Mancini, who is still up with Vancouver, are all eligible to play in the Calder Cup playoffs. If you are without an NHL playoff team to watch with enthusiasm and aren’t already in the habit of watching the Canucks’ AHL affiliate, now’s the time.

Regardless of Vancouver’s luck, they’ve visibly had more of a coordinated effort going than they’ve had almost all year while practically having a quarter of their forward group called up from the minors, so it’s not all doom and gloom. They were pushed to a shootout twice this week, coming up with 2 points against the New Jersey Devils and a pity point against the Columbus Blue Jackets, dominated the New York Islanders 5-2, and dropped 3-1 to the Winnipeg Jets in a yawn-inducing Sunday matinee. While it’s still uncertain what the roster might look like come opening night in the fall, now’s a good time to appreciate the Canucks as they stand for what might be the final time. “Appreciate” might be too generous a word. Perhaps “tolerate” is more appropriate.
<blockquote>Aatu Räty</blockquote>
It’s only taken two years to show that Aatu Räty was the central return piece in the January 2023 trade of Bo Horvat – not Anthony Beauvillier, who has played for no less than four NHL teams in the last 16 months, and not the conditional 2023 first-round pick that later became the Detroit Red Wings' defenceman prospect Axel Sandin Pellikka. After this week, realizing the club received Aatu Räty and Filip Hronek for Bo Horvat? Well, the trade looks like a clean piece of work in retrospect. 

Räty had the kind of week that settles your fears about the Canucks’ future, especially down the middle. Slotting comfortably into a third-line centre spot between Dakota Joshua and Kiefer Sherwood, this line has drummed up quite a bit of chemistry together, especially on the offensive front. Räty had three goals in back-to-back games, and his line factored in on all three – his second of the night against Columbus was assisted by both of his linemates. 

https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1905798597477806306

Aatu Räty is in the mix at the crease – remember all that criticism this team faced this year about getting to the front of the net – and Joshua gets the puck through traffic for Räty to beat Merzļikins glove-side. Right place, right time.

His famous face-off moves also came into play in his success this week. He went 61.5% in the faceoff circle, winning 32 of his 52 draws – impressively above average.

<a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/stanchies-aatu-raty-pair-goals-isnt-enough-vancouver-canucks-so-loss-columbus-blue-jackets">He certainly looks like he could be NHL-ready sooner rather than later</a>, and it’ll be a joy to watch him if he stays up with the club down the stretch. Especially with the likelihood that Pius Suter may have priced himself out of Vancouver on his next contract, the Canucks may need to secure their centre depth sooner rather than later.
<blockquote>Pius Suter</blockquote>
On the topic of Pius Suter, he had yet another phenomenal week, which might just further his case for his aforementioned departure from Vancouver. He’s already surpassed his career-high in goals and points this year, at 22G 42P thus far, and his current $1,600,000 AAV contract is set to expire this summer. The undrafted bottom-six player who hails from Switzerland is no longer an affordable two-way centre depth option – which is excellent news for him, less so for the Canucks.

This week, while elevated to the top line in Elias Pettersson’s absence, Suter has scored 2 goals and 8 points in four games. He’s out there on the power play, he can kill penalties; essentially, Pius Suter has become a reliable all-situations player, and it’s a shame that his career-best year likely won’t get to be extended to the playoffs. 

Pius is certainly set to be paid, and it’s going to be difficult to hold it against him if he chooses to get paid somewhere else.
<blockquote>Jonathan Lekkerimäki</blockquote>
I like this kid. I like him very much. Was there a soul in the Canucks-watching world that didn’t love his fanciful stick flip in his shootout winner against the New Jersey Devils?

https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1904359252757753920

A game-winning shootout goal in an semiannual Hughesbowl game that resulted in a tantrum from former Canuck Jacob Markström is significant for the young Lekkerimäki’s resume. That’s not even to mention that <a href="https://canucksarmy.com/news/statsies-jonathan-lekkerimaki-leads-vancouver-canucks-xgf-shootout-win">he led the team in Corsi For and expected goals</a>, and scored his third-ever NHL goal at 5 on 5. 

https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1904350032490541167

Did I also mention that he scored his first-ever NHL goal on my 23rd birthday against the New York Islanders back in November? He automatically gets a star of the week for being one of the only NHL players to ever get me a birthday gift. 

Lekkerimäki has been up with the parent club for the entirety of March, mostly in the bottom six, and has struggled to consistently break 10 minutes of ice time. Lately he has been given an increasingly longer leash from Rick Tocchet, to a solid outcome. If the team isn’t able to hold onto Brock Boeser, other arrangements for goal-scoring wingers must be in order. 

Let Jonathan Lekkerimäki have his moment, and let him stick flip if there are going to be more results like this. 

<img class=" wp-image-142078 aligncenter" src="https://publish.canucksarmy.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/03/3upwmq-300x145.jpg" alt="" width="641" height="310" />
<h1>Honourable Mentions</h1>
<blockquote>Thatcher Demko</blockquote>
https://twitter.com/CanucksArmy/status/1904356678050726278

Thatcher Demko is reaching unprecedented levels of being so back. Yes, I might have heart palpitations every time he’s gone into the splits or pulled a significant East-West move to make a save since he’s returned. Yes, I think it’s worth it to see him play again. If he ever needs a knee replacement, call me. I’m not using mine for much.
<blockquote>Kiefer Sherwood</blockquote>
Kiefer Sherwood has continued to look the part of a Canucks fan-favourite this week, putting up 29 hits in four games and 6 points, including 2G 1A against the Islanders.

https://twitter.com/aristhought/status/1905121369798606931

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