The 1971–72

Vancouver Canucks The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference, and play their home games at Rogers Arena. Bruce B ...

season was the Canucks' second season in the NHL. They finished 7th, last, in the East Division.

Hal Laycoe Harold Richardson Laycoe (June 23, 1922 — April 29, 1998) was a Canadian ice hockey defenceman and coach. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the New York Rangers, Montreal Canadiens, and Boston Bruins between 1945 and 1956. Afte ...

, the team's first head coach, was fired after the season concluded and replaced by

Vic Stasiuk Victor John Stasiuk (born May 23, 1929) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger and a former NHL head coach. Biography Stasiuk played junior hockey in his native Lethbridge, Alberta before signing with the Chicago Black Hawks. He ...

Regular season

The Canucks opened the season at home against the

Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs (officially the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and often referred to as the Leafs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Div ...

on October 8, 1971. They lost the game 3–2, though

Jocelyn Guevremont Jocelyn Marcel Guèvremont (born March 1, 1951) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played nine seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He began his career as a distinguished junior ice hockey player, named to the On ...

, the team's first draft choice in the

1971 NHL Amateur Draft The 1971 NHL Amateur Draft was the ninth NHL Entry Draft. It was held on June 10, 1971, at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Quebec. The last active player in the NHL from this draft class was Larry Robinson, who retired after the 1991– ...

, scored his first goal. In their game against the

Minnesota North Stars The Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, Minnesota, and the team's colors for ...

on October 20, the Canucks were

shutout In team sports, a shutout ( US) or clean sheet ( UK) is a game in which one team prevents the other from scoring any points. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball. Shutouts are usuall ...

for the first time, losing 7–0. One week later the Canucks played the Maple Leafs and drew them 0–0, the first time the team had a shutout of their own;

Dunc Wilson Duncan Shepherd Wilson (born March 22, 1948) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender who spent ten seasons in the National Hockey League between 1969 and 1979, with the Philadelphia Flyers, Vancouver Canucks, Toronto Maple Leafs, ...

was in net for the Canucks, while

Bernie Parent Bernard Marcel Parent (born April 3, 1945) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender who played 13 National Hockey League (NHL) seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers, Boston Bruins, and Toronto Maple Leafs, and also spent one seaso ...

was in for the Maple Leafs. During his tour of Canada,

Soviet Premier The Premier of the Soviet Union (russian: Глава Правительства СССР) was the head of government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). The office had four different names throughout its existence: Chairman of the ...

Alexei Kosygin Alexei Nikolayevich Kosygin ( rus, Алексе́й Никола́евич Косы́гин, p=ɐlʲɪkˈsʲej nʲɪkɐˈla(j)ɪvʲɪtɕ kɐˈsɨɡʲɪn; – 18 December 1980) was a Soviet statesman during the Cold War. He served as the Premi ...

and his entourage watched the Canucks play the

Montreal Canadiens The Montreal CanadiensEven in English, the French spelling is always used instead of ''Canadians''. The French spelling of ''Montréal'' is also sometimes used in the English media. (french: link=no, Les Canadiens de Montréal), officially ...

on October 22. They stayed for the first two periods and saw Montreal score four goals en route to winning the game 6–0.

Frank Mahovlich Francis William Mahovlich CM (born January 10, 1938) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and a former Liberal Senator in the Canadian Senate. He played on six Stanley Cup-winning teams and is an inductee of the Hockey Hall of Fa ...

recorded a

hat trick A hat is a head covering which is worn for various reasons, including protection against weather conditions, ceremonial reasons such as university graduation, religious reasons, safety, or as a fashion accessory. Hats which incorporate mecha ...

for the Canadiens, while

Ken Dryden Kenneth Wayne Dryden (born August 8, 1947) is a Canadian politician, lawyer, businessman, author, and former National Hockey League (NHL) goaltender. He is an Officer of the Order of Canada and a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. He was a Liber ...

earned the shutout. With the season concluded,

was fired as head coach of the team. He was appointed vice-president of player development and scouting, and

was named the new coach.

Standings

Divisional standings

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

, - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 1 , , October 8 , ,

Toronto Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the ancho ...

, , 3–2 , , Vancouver , , 0–1–0 , , 0 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 2 , , October 10 , ,

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

, , 4–2 , , Vancouver , , 0–2–0 , , 0 , - style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" , 3 , , October 12 , ,

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...

, , 2–3 , , Vancouver , , 1–2–0 , , 2 , - style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" , 4 , , October 15 , , Vancouver , , 9–6 , ,

California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...

, , 2–2–0 , , 4 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 5 , , October 16 , ,

Pittsburgh Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Wester ...

, , 2–1 , , Vancouver , , 2–3–0 , , 4 , - style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" , 6 , , October 19 , , Vancouver , , 3–1 , ,

St. Louis St. Louis () is the second-largest city in Missouri, United States. It sits near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri Rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a population of 301,578, while the bi-state metropolitan area, which e ...

, , 3–3–0 , , 6 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 7 , , October 20 , , Vancouver , , 0–7 , ,

Minnesota Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...

, , 3–4–0 , , 6 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 8 , , October 22 , ,

Montreal Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-most populous city in Canada and List of towns in Quebec, most populous city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian ...

, , 6–0 , , Vancouver , , 3–5–0 , , 6 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 9 , , October 24 , ,

Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...

, , 4–3 , , Vancouver , , 3–6–0 , , 6 , - style="text-align:center; background:#ffb;" , 10 , , October 27 , , Vancouver , , 0–0 , ,

, , 3–6–1 , , 7 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 11 , , October 28 , , Vancouver , , 2–3 , , Philadelphia , , 3–7–1 , , 7 , - style="text-align:center; background:#ffb;" , 12 , , October 30 , , Buffalo , , 4–4 , , Vancouver , , 3–7–2 , , 8 , - style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" , 13 , , October 31 , ,

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

, , 2–6 , , Vancouver , , 4–7–2 , , 10 , - , - style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" , 14 , , November 5 , , Pittsburgh , , 2–4 , , Vancouver , , 5–7–2 , , 12 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 15 , , November 6 , ,

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

, , 3–1 , , Vancouver , , 5–8–2 , , 12 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 16 , , November 10 , , Vancouver , , 1–3 , , Pittsburgh , , 5–9–2 , , 12 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 17 , , November 11 , , Vancouver , , 3–4 , , Philadelphia , , 5–10–2 , , 12 , - style="text-align:center; background:#ffb;" , 18 , , November 13 , , Vancouver , , 2–2 , , Toronto , , 5–10–3 , , 13 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 19 , , November 14 , , Vancouver , , 1–6 , , New York , , 5–11–3 , , 13 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 20 , , November 17 , , Vancouver , , 0–3 , , Chicago , , 5–12–3 , , 13 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 21 , , November 18 , , Vancouver , , 0–5 , , Boston , , 5–13–3 , , 13 , - style="text-align:center; background:#ffb;" , 22 , , November 21 , , Detroit , , 2–2 , , Vancouver , , 5–13–4 , , 14 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 23 , , November 23 , , Minnesota , , 2–1 , , Vancouver , , 5–14–4 , , 14 , - style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" , 24 , , November 27 , , Buffalo , , 2–5 , , Vancouver , , 6–14–4 , , 16 , - style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" , 25 , , November 30 , , Chicago , , 2–4 , , Vancouver , , 7–14–4 , , 18 , - , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 26 , , December 4 , , Vancouver , , 0–7 , , Montreal , , 7–15–4 , , 18 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 27 , , December 5 , , Vancouver , , 3–6 , , New York , , 7–16–4 , , 18 , - style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" , 28 , , December 7 , , St. Louis , , 1–2 , , Vancouver , , 8–16–4 , , 20 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 29 , , December 11 , , Boston , , 6–2 , , Vancouver , , 8–17–4 , , 20 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 30 , , December 14 , , Detroit , , 4–3 , , Vancouver , , 8–18–4 , , 20 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 31 , , December 17 , , Monreal , , 6–2 , , Vancouver , , 8–19–4 , , 20 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 32 , , December 19 , , Vancouver , , 1–5 , , Buffalo , , 8–20–4 , , 20 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 33 , , December 22 , , Vancouver , , 0–3 , , Detroit , , 8–21–4 , , 20 , - style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" , 34 , , December 26 , , California , , 2–6 , , Vancouver , , 9–21–4 , , 22 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 35 , , December 29 , , Vancouver , , 1–3 , , Los Angeles , , 9–22–4 , , 22 , - , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 36 , , January 2 , , Los Angeles , , 6–3 , , Vancouver , , 9–23–4 , , 22 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 37 , , January 5 , , Vancouver , , 4–6 , , Montreal , , 9–24–4 , , 22 , - style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" , 38 , , January 8 , , Vancouver , , 5–1 , , Minnesota , , 10–24–4 , , 24 , - style="text-align:center; background:#ffb;" , 39 , , January 11 , , Minnesota , , 2–2 , , Vancouver , , 10–24–5 , , 25 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 40 , , January 14 , , Vancouver , , 3–5 , , California , , 10–25–5 , , 25 , - style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" , 41 , , January 15 , , California , , 3–4 , , Vancouver , , 11–25–5 , , 27 , - style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" , 42 , , January 19 , , Vancouver , , 6–1 , , Pittsburgh , , 12–25–5 , , 29 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 43 , , January 20 , , Vancouver , , 0–1 , , Buffalo , , 12–26–5 , , 29 , - style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" , 44 , , January 22 , , New York , , 2–5 , , Vancouver , , 13–26–5, , 31 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 45 , , January 27 , , Vancouver , , 0–4 , , Chicago , , 13–27–5 , , 31 , - style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" , 46 , , January 29 , , Toronto , , 2–5 , , Vancouver , , 14–27–5 , , 33 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 47 , , January 30 , , California , , 2–0 , , Vancouver , , 14–28–5 , , 33 , - , - style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" , 48 , , February 2 , , Vancouver , , 5–1 , , California , , 15–28–5 , , 35 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 49 , , February 4 , , Chicago , , 6–2 , , Vancouver , , 15–29–5 , , 35 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 50 , , February 6 , , Montreal , , 4–2 , , Vancouver , , 15–30–5 , , 35 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 51 , , February 8 , , Philadelphia , , 3–1 , , Vancouver , , 15–31–5 , , 35 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 52 , , February 10 , , Vancouver , , 1–9 , , Boston , , 15–32–5 , , 35 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 53 , , February 12 , , Vancouver , , 4–5 , , St. Louis , , 15–33–5 , , 35 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 54 , , February 13 , , Vancouver , , 4–6 , , Pittsburgh , , 15–34–5 , , 35 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 55 , , February 15 , , New York , , 5–1 , , Vancouver , , 15–35–5 , , 35 , - style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" , 56 , , February 18 , , St. Louis , , 2–5 , , Vancouver , , 16–35–5 , , 37 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 57 , , February 19 , , Vancouver , , 3–5 , , Los Angeles , , 16–36–5 , , 37 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 58 , , February 22 , , Boston , , 4–3 , , Vancouver , , 16–37–5 , , 37 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 59 , , February 24 , , Vancouver , , 0–2 , , Detroit , , 16–38–5 , , 37 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 60 , , February 26 , , Vancouver , , 1–7 , , Toronto , , 16–39–5 , , 37 , - style="text-align:center; background:#ffb;" , 61 , , February 27 , , Vancouver , , 3–3 , , Chicago , , 16–39–6 , , 38 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 62 , , February 29 , , Vancouver , , 2–8 , , Detroit , , 16–40–6 , , 38 , - , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 63 , , March 2 , , Vancouver , , 3–7 , , Boston , , 16–41–6 , , 38 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 64 , , March 4 , , Vancouver , , 0–5 , , Montreal , , 16–42–6 , , 38 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 65 , , March 5 , , Vancouver , , 1–6 , , New York , , 16–43–6 , , 38 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 66 , , March 8 , , Philadelphia , , 6–5 , , Vancouver , , 16–44–6 , , 38 , - style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" , 67 , , March 10 , , Buffalo , , 2–3 , , Vancouver , , 17–44–6 , , 40 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 68 , , March 14 , , Pittsburgh , , 7–4 , , Vancouver , , 17–45–6 , , 40 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 69 , , March 16 , , Vancouver , , 2–6 , , Minnesota , , 17–46–6 , , 40 , - style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" , 70 , , March 17 , , Vancouver , , 6–2 , , Buffalo , , 18–46–6 , , 42 , - style="text-align:center; background:#ffb;" , 71 , , March 19 , , St. Louis , , 3–3 , , Vancouver , , 18–46–7 , , 43 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 72 , , March 21 , , Detroit , , 7–5 , , Vancouver , , 18–47–7 , , 43 , - style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" , 73 , , March 24 , , Toronto , , 3–5 , , Vancouver , , 19–47–7 , , 45 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 74 , , March 26 , , Vancouver , , 1–4 , , Philadelphia , , 19–48–7 , , 45 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 75 , , March 28 , , Vancouver , , 1–2 , , St. Louis , , 19–49–7 , , 45 , - style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;" , 76 , , March 29 , , Vancouver , , 2–4 , , Los Angeles , , 19–50–7 , , 45 , - style="text-align:center; background:#ffb;" , 77 , , March 31 , , Los Angeles , , 4–4 , , Vancouver , , 19–50–8 , , 46 , - , - style="text-align:center; background:#bfb;" , 78 , , April 2 , , Minnesota , , 1–4 , , Vancouver , , 20–50–8 , , 48 , -

Player statistics

Skaters

''Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes'' ^†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Vancouver. Stats reflect time with the Canucks only. Denotes player traded by Vancouver midway through the season. Stats reflect time with Canucks only.

Goaltenders

''Note: GP = Games played; Min = Minutes; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average''

Awards and records

Trophies and awards

Cyclone Taylor Award The Cyclone Taylor Award is the award given each year to the most valuable player on the Vancouver Canucks (a National Hockey League team). It is named after Cyclone Taylor, a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who led the Vancouver ...

(Canucks MVP): Orland Kurtenbach *

Cyrus H. McLean Trophy The Cyrus H. McLean Trophy is an award given to the annual leading point-scorer of the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL). It is one of six annual team awards that are presented on the last home game of the regular season. It ...

(Canucks Leading Scorer): Andre Boudrias, Orland Kurtenbach * Fred J. Hume Award (Canucks Unsung Hero): Ron Ward * Most Exciting Player: Andre Boudrias

Records achieved in the season

Canucks team records

*Fewest points overall: (48) – repeated in 1994–95 *Fewest road points: (15) – repeated in 1972–73 *Fewest wins overall: (20) – (18 in shortened 1994–95 season) *Most losses overall: (50) *Most road losses: (30) *Fewest ties overall: (8) – repeated in 1970–71, 1986–87, 1988–89 *Most shutouts against: (12)

Transactions

The Canucks were involved in the following transactions during the 1971–72 season.

Trades

Draft picks

Vancouver's picks at the

, held at the

Queen Elizabeth Hotel Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth (french: Fairmont Le Reine Élizabeth) is a historic grand hotel in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. With 950 rooms and 21 floors it is the largest hotel in the province of Quebec, and the second largest Fairmont hotel in ...

Notes

References

*Player stats: 2006–07 Vancouver Canucks Media Guide – 1970–71 stats, pg. 150. *Game log: 2006–07 Vancouver Canucks Media Guide – 1970–71 stats, pg. 150. *Team standings: 2007–08 NHL Official Guide & Record Book, pg. 150. *Team records: 2006–07 Vancouver Canucks Media Guide – Canucks all time team & individual records, pp. 225–237 *