The 2024–25 Canucks And The Football Positions That Suit Them Best

The 2024 Grey Cup is fast approaching, with this year’s championship coming to the city of Vancouver. To help celebrate, I took a look at which Vancouver Canucks players would best fit the various positions on a football team based on their on-ice performances.

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Brock Boeser

Tied as the Canucks’ current leading goalscorer with six on the season so far, Boeser could compete as one of Vancouver’s top wide receivers. He’s an integral part of the offence — a trait that he shares with wide receivers who, at times, are responsible for the bulk of scoring in a football game. Much like how a wide receiver may need to catch any type of throw to get a touchdown, Boeser can receive passes from his teammates and launch them into the net.

Conor Garland

Hard-working, gritty, and energetic Conor Garland would make a great running back for a Vancouver Canucks football team. When the puck finds its way onto his stick, he protects it skillfully, bringing it deeper into the offensive zone to help his team get more scoring chances. The forward’s agility and ability to propel past the opposition allows him to push through walls of players to score for his team — just like a running back.

Dakota Joshua

With a solid stance, heavy hits, and an eagerness to protect his teammates, Dakota Joshua would be a great offensive lineman. Since offensive linemen mainly look to keep the offence going by getting the opposition out of the way or protecting the quarterback, Joshua’s tendency to make a big hit suits the role. With that being said, he’s got more of a scoring knack than most offensive linemen typically would, as he had a career-high of 18 goals last season.

Elias Pettersson

Coming off his best performance of the season in a 7–2 loss to Edmonton on November 9th, Elias Pettersson’s success came at a time when the team looked tired. In football, a variety of players in different positions can have a great game while their team falters, and the position of a kicker is no exception. Pettersson’s keen aim would also make him a great kicker.

Filip Hronek

Often relied upon to let the Canucks’ version of a quarterback roam around freely, Filip Hronek could slot in on the team as a safety. He could also try playing as a linebacker, albeit without the size, though he could be in the middle specifically to help predict plays (as he often needs to do in his current role).

Jake DeBrusk

Jake DeBrusk’s penchant for scoring goals would make him a good wide receiver alongside Boeser. Having seen his scoring pace pick up on the team’s California road trip, where he scored a goal on each stop, DeBrusk could wreak havoc on opposing teams’ linebackers with sneaky plays like this.

J.T. Miller

A powerful presence on both sides of the ice, J.T. Miller’s offensive flair and physical presence make him a prime tight end. He can put up a high number of points while shutting down the opposition with a big hit or check, both of which are key elements to a good tight end.

Kiefer Sherwood

Like Joshua, Kiefer Sherwood could make an impressive offensive lineman for the Canucks’ football team. With a league-leading 82 hits on the season, he contributes to shutting down the opposition’s defence by crushing them into the boards. However, he’s also currently operating at a 0.5 points per game rate, making himself a contributor to all sides of the ice. The element that differentiates him from being a tight end is his defensively-minded style of play, as he can be found blocking opponents more so than scoring.

Nils Höglander

With an unshakeable stride, a never-ending motor, and a knack for even-strength scoring, Nils Höglander would slot in perfectly as a tight end. His stocky frame makes for great puck — or football — protection, and he can be relied upon for a lower-stakes checking role to provide some physicality.

Quinn Hughes

It’s not rare to call a highly-skilled, offensively-minded defenceman a “quarterback,” especially when they’re put on the power play. Canucks captain Quinn Hughes is no exception. On both even-strength and power play minutes, Hughes can be seen controlling the play with his effortless skating and keen wit. Of all of these Canucks’ football positions, Hughes’ is the easiest to determine.

Tyler Myers

With his long stature and reach, Tyler Myers could make a decent cornerback. While he may not be the fastest player on the team, he’s more than capable of catching up to opponents with his lengthened stride. Generally speaking, Myers could probably slot into any position on defence, but his suffocating presence (that may occasionally lead to a penalty or two) makes for a good fit as a cornerback.