Vancouver Canucks’ 3 Stars of October

Boeser is being paid to lead the Canucks offensively and in the dressing room, and lately he’s done just that. Beyond the scoresheet, he’s also been a strong voice off the ice, speaking the truth about where they are as a team. Since his brutally honest postgame comments after the 5-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings, where the Canucks were held to zero shots in the second period, every game has been close and competitive. In fact, there was even a dramatic comeback, snapping the 10-game losing streak.

“I feel like I’m truthful on how it was going and what needs to happen to get out of it,” Boeser said. “And I think we’ve been a lot better playing a lot better hockey as of late, and more and more of the hockey that we know how to play. But, you know, we still have those little mistakes. It’s costing us. But definitely have our attitudes have been a lot better” (from ‘Canucks: Brock Boeser is speaking truth more than ever and that’s on purpose,’ The Province, 10/30/26).

While public call-outs in the media can sometimes create internal friction, Boeser’s haven’t done so.

“I think for him, and just us all in general … it’s got to be us in the room,” DeBrusk said. “It’s our group. Whatever comments or the way you feel or whatever, like it’s open. We have to go through it together. So sometimes there’s tough conversations, sometimes there’s tough things that are being said, where people (outside the team) take it completely different than what it’s intended. But inside the room, we know what’s going on. So as long as we’re together, I think then it’s a safe space for anyone to speak.”

All in all, Boeser has shown captain-like leadership over the last month, on and off the ice, well deserving of the third star of October.

2. Jonathan Lekkerimaki

Heading into the season, all eyes were on Jonathan Lekkerimaki and whether he would take the next step in his development. He was also coming off major shoulder surgery, throwing even more uncertainty into the mix. But fast forward 16 games and the 2022 first-rounder has answered those questions with a bang. He currently leads the team in goals with six and is only three points back of the scoring leader, Elias Pettersson, who paces everyone with 16.

Lekkerimaki hasn’t been streaky either; his longest point drought so far has only been two games. Overall, he has six goals and 13 points in 16 games, which puts him on pace for 32 goals and 69 points. He is starting to look like the top-six sniper that the Canucks envisioned when they drafted him 15th overall, lasering pucks past goaltenders like they weren’t there.

Lekkerimaki was at his best against the Anaheim Ducks on Oct. 27, when he sniped his fifth and sixth goals of the season past Lukas Dostal. They looked like carbon copies of each other: Lekkerimaki setting up at the top of the left faceoff circle, cradling the puck and snapping it up and over the glove. Dostal didn’t have a chance, as he held his glove in defeat as the puck zipped by him. He also drew the penalty in overtime that led to Filip Hronek’s game-winner, and assisted on that goal, for his first three-point night.

Since his draft year, everyone has marvelled at Lekkerimaki’s shot and how it would lead to him becoming a 30-goal scorer one day. Whether that happens this season remains to be seen, but his six goals were enough to earn him the second star of the month.

1. Elias Pettersson

This was the best anyone could have asked for come Nov. 1: Elias Pettersson being named first star of October. Every season since he notched his first 100-point campaign, he has been under the microscope and failed to deliver on the promise he made in the offseason of being better than the season before. Thankfully for him and everyone following the team, he has finally made good on that promise – at least so far.

Heading into November, Pettersson leads the Canucks in several categories, including assists (12), points (16), power-play goals (four), faceoff wins (152), and takeaways (six). He’s also surprisingly third in hits with 36 and leads all forwards in blocked shots with 21. Those stats should put him in the conversation for the Selke Trophy early on and probably even bounce-back player of the season. While he’s not on pace for triple digits, he is back to being a top-line producer, on pace for 84 points and his first 80-plus point season since 2023-24.

Beyond the numbers, Pettersson has also simply looked more confident in his skills, both offensively and defensively. He’s trying things in the offensive zone that were just unheard of over the last few seasons. The best example came against the San Jose Sharks, when he lost the puck and regained it through sheer effort and skill, deking through a couple of Sharks before throwing it on goal for Drew O’Connor to put it by Yaroslav Askarov. I think it’s safe to say he’s a star player in the NHL again, something everyone has been waiting for for what seems like a lifetime.

What’s Next for the Canucks?

Just looking at the standings, October wasn’t fun for fans. But for a rebuilding team, wins and losses aren’t as important; it’s the process and how players are progressing. Looking at Boeser, Lekkerimaki and Pettersson’s point totals for the month – all hitting double digits – there is a lot to be optimistic about heading into November. We’ll see what the next 30 days bring as the Canucks will play 13 games, mostly away from Rogers Arena.