Canucks announce 2018-19 team awards

The Canucks handed out their annual team awards Tuesday night during their regular season finale at Rogers Arena.

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER & 3 STARS AWARD

Not surprisingly, Jacob Markstrom was named Most Valuable Player, while also winning the 3 Stars Award.

Since December 6, Markstrom has posted a record of 20-13-6, which includes posting a .921 save percentage. The 29-year-old is tied for 10th in the NHL in wins (28), and third in shots against (1,863) and total saves (1,700). His 28 victories is a new career-high.

UNSUNG HERO

Antoine Roussel was a spark plug for the Canucks this season, doing whatever he could to help the team win, including getting under opponents skin with regularity. For all his efforts, Roussel was voted the Unsung Hero.
Roussel scored a penalty shot goal in his first game of the season, his Canucks debut, then set career-highs for assists and points while leading the Canucks in penalty minutes with 118, all despite missing the last 10 games with a season-ending knee injury.

MOST EXCITING PLAYER

There was never any doubt. Elias Pettersson began the year scoring his first NHL goal, in his first NHL game, on his first NHL shot. He followed that up with two goals the following game and had 10 in his first 10 games. Petey's unbelievable rookie season saw him surpass Pavel Bure and Ivan Hlinka for most points in a rookie season in Canucks franchise history; The 20-year-old not only leads his team but all rookies in goals (27), points (65), assists (38), power-play goals (9), power-play points (21), game-winning goals (7), and points per game (0.96).
Pettersson, who was a first time NHL All-Star, brought fans out of their seats every time he touched the puck. And he'll only get better as he matures. Look out.

BEST DEFENCEMAN

Alex Edler, the longest standing current Canucks player, had a record season as he recently moved into first place for most goals scored by a defenceman in franchise history. Edler leads Canucks defenceman in all-time points (365), power-play points (168), and shots (1,797). He ranks second all-time among Vancouver blueliners in assists (271) and power-play goals (45).
Edler is one goal off his career-high for goals in a season and has set a new mark for overtime game-winners with two.