There's an obvious choice for Vancouver Canucks unsung hero that nobody's talking about
The Vancouver Canucks’ unsung hero award is always a fun topic of discussion late in the season.
To win the Fred J. Hume Trophy, you need to have made a significant contribution to the team’s success while also flying under the radar. But does any Canucks player ever really fly under the radar in Vancouver?
Some do more than others.
Conor Garland has had an excellent season, but that certainly hasn’t gone unnoticed. Role players like Pius Suter and Kiefer Sherwood have made big contributions on forward, as has Derek Forbort on defence.
The Canucks would be lost without Kevin Lankinen this season, but the starting goalie has been acknowledged for his fine play with a spot on Finland’s team at the 4 Nations and a new $22.5-million contract.
You know who hasn’t received a lot of praise during his six seasons in Vancouver? Tyler Myers.
The 6-foot-8 defenceman was a whipping boy among fans for a large part of his time with the Canucks. A big reason for that was his contract, and it was always going to be difficult for him to live up to his $6-million salary.
Myers played a lot of minutes on some poor teams, and his play suffered because of it. He was prone to loud mistakes and didn’t contribute much offensively under Travis Green or Bruce Boudreau.
But under Rick Tocchet, he’s flourished.
Myers scored 29 points last season — the most he’s had as a Canuck. He also finished third among Canucks blueliners in average ice time. But Myers didn’t get the headlines. Carson Soucy and Nikita Zadorov probably got more love. And Dakota Joshua was voted unsung hero.
This season may be Myers’ most impressive year of all in Vancouver, and he is absolutely their unsung hero. And if he were to win, he’d be just the second Canucks defenceman to take home the award since 2007.
With the offence drying up all around him and the defence in shambles at various points, the 35-year-old has been a steadying force on the Canucks blue line.
And just like that, Tyler Myers makes it 2-0 for the Canucks ✌️ pic.twitter.com/NOxDiHkVxZ
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 16, 2025
Myers has 22 points in 67 games, which is well ahead of every other defenceman not named Quinn Hughes or Filip Hronek. In terms of even-strength points (20), Myers is actually tied with Hronek (19), albeit in 17 more games.
But most important for Myers is that the defensive gaffes are now few and far between, and he’s logging top-four minutes (20:48).
Not bad for a $3-million defenceman.
People were chanting Myers’ name at Rogers Arena earlier this month, so there’s evidence the mood has shifted among the fan base. And the unsung hero award is decided by a fan vote.
Wouldn’t it be something to see Canucks fans pick a player that used to receive so much blame?
Canucks unsung hero award winners (since 2005)
- 2023-24: Dakota Joshua
- 2022-23: Dakota Joshua
- 2021-22: Luke Schenn
- 2020-21: Tyler Motte
- 2019-20: J.T. Miller
- 2018-19: Antoine Roussel
- 2017-18: Derek Dorsett
- 2016-17: Markus Granlund
- 2015-16: Jannik Hansen
- 2014-15: Derek Dorsett
- 2013-14: Eddie Lack
- 2012-13: Jannik Hansen
- 2011-12: Chris Higgins
- 2010-11: Jannik Hansen
- 2009-10: Mason Raymond
- 2008-09: Steve Bernier
- 2007-08: Alexandre Burrows
- 2006-07: Kevin Bieksa
- 2005-06: Jarkko Ruutu
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