The Vancouver Giants have had 20 American players suit up for the club in their 19 seasons of play.
One of them is the best defenceman in franchise history and another scored possibly the most memorable Teddy Bear toss goal in Giants’ history.
Before we get started, if you missed my last Top 5 which highlighted the best Giants Import players, you can read it here.
*Note: All lists made are completely subjective.*
5. Brennan Menell
To kick things off we’re going to go to Minnesota with Brennan Menell, a skillful defenceman who played two seasons as a Giant.
Originally brought in as a free agent signing, Menell sits third in franchise history for assists by an American-born player and caught the eyes of NHL clubs during his time in the Lower Mainland.
After putting up 53 points (7G, 46A) in 69 games during the 2015-16 season, he earned an invite to Philadelphia Flyers development camp.
His time in Vancouver wasn’t completely smooth sailing as he requested a trade on two occasions. The first time citing he “lost his passion for the game” but eventually re-joined the club, the second one came the next season but this time the Giants found a trading partner in the Lethbridge Hurricanes where he spent one season before going pro.
Nowadays Menell plies his trade with the Iowa Wild of the AHL as a result of signing an entry-level contract with the Minnesota Wild who he suited up in five games with during 2019-20.
In 126 games with the Giants, he produced 74 points (9G, 65A).
4. Brayden Watts
The only player on this list to not start his WHL career through the Giants’ system, Watts was a key part of the depth during the team’s run to the 2019 WHL Final before ultimately falling victim to the numbers game in a strong returning 20-year-old group ahead of the 2019-20 season.
He was originally acquired from the Moose Jaw Warriors midway through his 17-year-old season and went on to play 157 games with Vancouver with 91 points (32G, 59A) over two and a half seasons.
Watts, who is the first of three California natives (Bakersfield) on this list, had his best season with the Giants in 2018-19, specifically in the playoffs. After scoring 12 goals in 57 regular-season games, he put up seven in 22 playoff games including two in the WHL Final.
As mentioned, he was one of the odd 1999-born players out to start the year. That led to a trade to the Prince Albert Raiders, who Watts had just faced in the league final the previous spring.
As an overage with the Raiders, he had a break-out season scoring at a point-per-game clip with 61 points (29G, 32A) in 61 games.
3. Alec Baer
Coming in at number three is likely the most highly-touted player on this list to start their WHL career.
At the time of his signing, Baer was regarded as the top freshman in Minnesota high school hockey. The excitement didn’t take long to set in with Giants fans when he recorded a goal and assist in six games as a 15-year-old call-up.
Baer went on to play parts of five seasons in Vancouver, skating in 240 games and collecting 105 points (44G, 61A) with his best season coming in 2015-16 when he had 39 points (19G, 20A) in 68 games. He also went on to play for Lethbridge and Kootenay.
Professionally, he has split time between the ECHL and SPHL. He spent the majority of this season with the Evansville Thunderbolts (SPHL) as well as a seven-game loan to the Newfoundland Growlers (ECHL).
2. Tim Kraus
The first of two seventh-round picks (130th overall in 2003) to come out of the bantam draft on this list, Kraus is the best American forward in franchise history.
The Canyon Lake, CA native was another member of the Giants’ two teams to make trips to the Memorial Cup in 2006 and 2007. Kraus played parts of five seasons as a Giant, starting in 2003-04 until he was traded to Regina three games into his overage season.
He holds the franchise record for goals by an American with 60 goals, but no more exciting than his penalty shot goal to send the teddy bears flying in 2006.
After his 244 games with Vancouver where he put up 167 points, he toiled in the minor pro ranks for four seasons before playing his final season of hockey over in Scotland with the Dundee Stars of the EIHL in 2012-13.
1. Jonathan Blum
The native of Long Beach, CA was not only the best American player the franchise had ever seen, but the best defenceman to don the Giants crest.
Blum was also one of the biggest steals to come out of the WHL Bantam Draft, having been selected in the seventh round (134th overall) in 2004. Drafting Americans can always be a risk with the NCAA route being so prominent, but it sure paid off this time around.
In four decorated seasons with Vancouver from 2005-06 to 2008-09, he became the franchise leader in assists (155), won WHL and Memorial Cup championships and was named CHL Defenceman of the Year in 2008-09 to cap off his junior career.
The month after winning the national title, he was drafted in the first round (23rd overall) by the Nashville Predators and wound up playing 110 NHL games between Nashville and Minnesota but spent most of his time in North America in the AHL before ultimately carving out a successful career for himself overseas.
After four seasons in the KHL, which included playing for Team USA at the 2018 Winter Olympics, he made the move to Sweden where he currently plays for Farjestad BK of the SHL.
In 248 games with the Giants, he produced 204 points (49G, 155A).
