There are many different ways to evaluate a player's impact on their NHL team. One could look at basic stats like points, shots, and wins, while others elect to use analytics like expected goals, high-danger chances created, and PDO. Ultimately, thanks to the amount of data being collected, fans now have a greater understanding of how the game is played and what on-ice strategies work best.
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One metric that has been created to understand a players value is WAR or Wins Above Replacement. This metric attempts to determine how many additional wins a team will get with a specific player in the lineup compared to replacement-level player at his same position. While WAR is mostly used in baseball, it has started making it's way to hockey, with some sites already creating a formula that works for the NHL.
Mar 18, 2025; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes (43) and forward Elias Pettersson (40) and forward Brock Boeser (6) and forward Jonathan Lekkerimaki (23) celebrate Boeser’s goal against the Winnipeg Jets n the first period at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
Evolving-Hockey is one of the few sites that records WAR for NHL teams. The site also provides a goals above replacement metric and Standing Points Above Replacement. Using their data, here is a look at which players led the Vancouver Canucks In WAR during the 2024-25 season.
Forwards
Elias Pettersson: 2 (Tied 55th among forwards)
Pius Suter: 1.6 (Tied 86th among forwards)
Conor Garland: 1.5 (Tied 94th among forwards)
Kiefer Sherwood: 1.5 (Tied 94th among forwards)
Nils Höglander: 1.4 (Tied 106th among forwards)
Jake DeBrusk: 1.2 (Tied 114th among forwards)
Defensemen
Quinn Hughes: 2.8 (6th among defensemen)
Marcus Pettersson: 1.6 (Tied for 31st among defensemen)
Filip Hronek: 1 (Tied for 75th among defensemen)
Derek Forbort: 0.4 (Tied for 135th among defensemen)
Tyler Myers: 0.2 (Tied for 158th among defensemen)
Goaltenders
Kevin Lankinen: 2.4 (22nd among goaltenders)
Thatcher Demko: 0.9 (41st among goaltenders)
To simplify, the low numbers, especially among the forward group give a clear picture as to why the Canucks missed the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Teams like the Winnipeg Jets, Tampa Bay Lightning, Edmonton Oilers and Washington Capitals all have multiple players in the top 50, while Vancouver's top player was Pettersson, who ranked tied for 55th. If Vancouver has a bounce-back season next year, they will likely have multiple forwards in the top 50, as they did in 2023-24.
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