While some publications insist on doing weekly power rankings of NHL teams, we thought it would be even more abstract and pointless to do a weekly power ranking of the players on the Canucks. And yes, we understand that Sunday is technically the start of the week, but no one thinks that way. Here’s how each Canuck fared against the Panthers, Lightning, Hurricanes and Stars.

It’s easy to revert back to that old adage of ‘what have you done for me lately?’ In the Canucks’ case, that actually paints a more appealing picture than is deserved. The team’s most recent contest, a 6-0 shellacking of a strong Dallas Stars team, isn’t very indicative of how the four game road trip actually went, as it came on the heels of three tough losses. Let’s see how the team’s players compared to last week’s rankings. 

25. Brendan Gaunce (15) ↡

It seems like a big fall, but it’s not really Gaunce’s fault. After two big goals last week, the forward got hurt after six minutes of ice time in Florida. He looked primed for a decent game in that one too, having already registered two shots in his limited time.

24. Alex Biega (19) ↔

Only got into one game (against Carolina) this week, and played well, earning an assist and posting a positive Relative Corsi (which is incredible considering it was around 38 percent. Shows you how thoroughly the Canucks got dominated against the ‘Canes). Biega is hustling out there but it appears as though he isn’t in the Canucks’ plans, even when he plays well. He’s an unrestricted free agent and at this point it would be in both parties’ best interest if he walked.

23. Sam Gagner (18) ↡

Gagner was sent home to Vancouver after a sprained ankle in Florida. He played 12 uninspiring minutes against the Panthers. At just over $3 million for the next two years, his is definitely not the worst contract on the team, but it already doesn’t look great.

22. Anders Nilsson (NR)

We’re not sure why Travis Green thought it was necessary to throw his backup into a game against the best team in the league when he hadn’t played in 18 days. It was a tough situation for Nilsson, and hopefully he rebounds when he gets a chance against either the Panthers or Sharks on this upcoming back-to-back.

21. Nic Dowd (22) ↔

Played well in Dallas, but everyone did. He’s currently centering Jake Virtanen and Reid Boucher on the team’s fourth line, but it remains to be seen if he can be an effective catalyst for the two youngsters.

20. Ben Hutton (21) ↔

There was much controversy after Hutton only got five minutes of ice time against Carolina. Green was going with seven d-men at the time and Hutton appeared to be the odd man out. The young defencemen’s career is truly at a crossroads, and while portions of the fan base and media believe in him, it appears the coach doesn’t. He had a good night against the Stars, but the team needs a more consistent effort from Hutton.

19. Derrick Pouliot (20) ↔

Hutton and Pouliot have often been talked about in the same breath this year, because their fates have been so intertwined. After being scratched twice this week, Pouliot bounced back in Dallas with an assist and the third-most ice time on the team. Another up-and-down week for the former first-round pick.

18. Jake Virtanen (17) ↔

Jake has taken a lot of heat this season, but has any Canuck ever done more with less than Virtanen did with just over 11 minutes of ice time against Dallas? Two points, including a display of just how fast he is.

https://twitter.com/NHL/status/962805578241314817

17. Loui Eriksson (14) ↔

The line of Eriksson-Sutter-Archibald shut down the Stars’ incredible top line effectively. That’s all well and good, but Eriksson was once the main piece in a trade for Tyler Seguin. The latter had six goals in the five games previous to playing the Canucks. Eriksson has eight goals this entire year.

16. Markus Granlund (12) ↔

Granlund scored the team’s only goal against Florida and was promptly hit by the injury bug the very next game. It looks as if the forward’s season is over, which is a shame, as he was playing effectively of late. 

15. Erik Gudbranson (16) ↟

Erik Gudbranson, top pairing defenceman? He looked the part versus Dallas, against all odds. He also scored in that game, so bare down. Here comes the apocalypse. 

14. Michael Del Zotto (13) ↔

Had the lone goal against Dallas. Other than that, DZ mostly held water. One wonders how much, if anything, the Canucks will be able to sell him for at the deadline next year.

13. Reid Boucher (NR)

Boucher drew in for Gagner and was effective, scoring two goals in the game against Tampa and posting solid underlying numbers in the other two contests he got into.

12. Darren Archibald (NR)

Are the Canucks going to be saved by a 28-year-old AHL journeyman? No. But ‘Archie was the team’s best player against Carolina and has brought some much needed physicality on the forecheck to Vancouver.

11. Brandon Sutter (11) ↔

10. Daniel Sedin (10) ↔

9. Henrik Sedin (9) ↔

8. Thomas Vanek (8) ↔

The veterans stay put. Each is doing what’s expected of them at this point in the season.

7. Troy Stecher (5) ↡

Though it’s hard to bury Stech, as he’s been one of the team’s better players all year, it must be said that he was victimized against Carolina a few times. His minus-4 rating tells that story. As does the fact that Green considerably lowered his minutes in the following game against Dallas and took him off the top pairing.

6. Chris Tanev (4) ↡

Another stint in sickbay for the Canucks’ backbone. He’s likely out another 10 days.

5. Sven Baertschi (7) ↔

Two points, but just one game in which he posted a positive Corsi Relative.

4. Alex Edler (3) ↟

Three points for the team’s minute-muncher, who’s playing his best hockey down the stretch.

3. Bo Horvat (2) ↔

2. Brock Boeser (1) ↔

Boeser missed the Carolina disaster with a hurt hand that, if it were seriously injured, would have ended any relevancy in this Canucks’ season.

1. Jacob Markstrom (6) ↟

There are differing opinions about what Markstrom said after the game against Carolina, in which he appeared to call out his teammates. Whatever it was, it worked. The next game, Marky posted his first shutout and it’s hard to think there are many Canucks doubting him at this point. 

Follow @ncaddell on Twitter