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1971–72 Vancouver Canucks season

1971–72 Vancouver Canucks
Division7th East
1971–72 record20–50–8
Home record14–20–5
Road record6–30–3
Goals for203
Goals against297
Team information
General managerBud Poile
CoachHal Laycoe
CaptainOrland Kurtenbach
Alternate captainsAndre Boudrias
Dale Tallon
Gary Doak
Wayne Maki
ArenaPacific Coliseum
Average attendance15,284
Team leaders
GoalsAndre Boudrias (27)
AssistsJocelyn Guevremont (38)
PointsAndre Boudrias, Orland Kurtenbach (61)
Penalty minutesJohn Schella (166)
WinsDunc Wilson (16)
Goals against averageDunc Wilson (3.61)

The 1971–72 Vancouver Canucks season was the Canucks' second season in the NHL. They finished 7th, last, in the East Division. Hal Laycoe, the team's first head coach, was fired after the season concluded and replaced by Vic Stasiuk.

Regular season

The Canucks opened the season at home against the Toronto Maple Leafs on October 8, 1971. They lost the game 3–2, though Jocelyn Guevremont, the team's first draft choice in the 1971 NHL amateur draft, scored his first goal.[1] In their game against the Minnesota North Stars on October 20, the Canucks were shutout for the first time, losing 7–0.[2] 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 was in net for the Canucks, while Bernie Parent was in for the Maple Leafs.[2]

During his tour of Canada, Soviet Premier Alexei Kosygin and his entourage watched the Canucks play the Montreal Canadiens on October 22.[3] They stayed for the first two periods and saw Montreal score four goals en route to winning the game 6–0.[4] Frank Mahovlich recorded a hat trick for the Canadiens, while Ken Dryden earned the shutout.[2]

With the season concluded, Hal Laycoe was fired as head coach of the team. He was appointed vice-president of player development and scouting, and Vic Stasiuk was named the new coach.[5]

Standings

Divisional standings

East Division[6]
GP W L T GF GA DIFF Pts
1 Boston Bruins 78 54 13 11 330 204 +126 119
2 New York Rangers 78 48 17 13 317 192 +125 109
3 Montreal Canadiens 78 46 16 16 307 205 +102 108
4 Toronto Maple Leafs 78 33 31 14 209 208 +1 80
5 Detroit Red Wings 78 33 35 10 261 262 −1 76
6 Buffalo Sabres 78 16 43 19 203 289 −86 51
7 Vancouver Canucks 78 20 50 8 203 297 −94 48


Record vs. opponents


Schedule and results

1971–72 Game log
October: 4–7–2 (home: 2–5–1; road: 2–2–1)
# Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts
1 October 8 Toronto 3–2 Vancouver 0–1–0 0
2 October 10 Los Angeles 4–2 Vancouver 0–2–0 0
3 October 12 Philadelphia 2–3 Vancouver 1–2–0 2
4 October 15 Vancouver 9–6 California 2–2–0 4
5 October 16 Pittsburgh 2–1 Vancouver 2–3–0 4
6 October 19 Vancouver 3–1 St. Louis 3–3–0 6
7 October 20 Vancouver 0–7 Minnesota 3–4–0 6
8 October 22 Montreal 6–0 Vancouver 3–5–0 6
9 October 24 Boston 4–3 Vancouver 3–6–0 6
10 October 27 Vancouver 0–0 Toronto 3–6–1 7
11 October 28 Vancouver 2–3 Philadelphia 3–7–1 7
12 October 30 Buffalo 4–4 Vancouver 3–7–2 8
13 October 31 Chicago 2–6 Vancouver 4–7–2 10
November: 3–7–2 (home: 3–2–1; road: 0–5–1)
# Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts
14 November 5 Pittsburgh 2–4 Vancouver 5–7–2 12
15 November 6 New York 3–1 Vancouver 5–8–2 12
16 November 10 Vancouver 1–3 Pittsburgh 5–9–2 12
17 November 11 Vancouver 3–4 Philadelphia 5–10–2 12
18 November 13 Vancouver 2–2 Toronto 5–10–3 13
19 November 14 Vancouver 1–6 New York 5–11–3 13
20 November 17 Vancouver 0–3 Chicago 5–12–3 13
21 November 18 Vancouver 0–5 Boston 5–13–3 13
22 November 21 Detroit 2–2 Vancouver 5–13–4 14
23 November 23 Minnesota 2–1 Vancouver 5–14–4 14
24 November 27 Buffalo 2–5 Vancouver 6–14–4 16
25 November 30 Chicago 2–4 Vancouver 7–14–4 18
December: 2–8–0 (home: 2–3–0; road: 0–5–0)
# Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts
26 December 4 Vancouver 0–7 Montreal 7–15–4 18
27 December 5 Vancouver 3–6 New York 7–16–4 18
28 December 7 St. Louis 1–2 Vancouver 8–16–4 20
29 December 11 Boston 6–2 Vancouver 8–17–4 20
30 December 14 Detroit 4–3 Vancouver 8–18–4 20
31 December 17 Monreal 6–2 Vancouver 8–19–4 20
32 December 19 Vancouver 1–5 Buffalo 8–20–4 20
33 December 22 Vancouver 0–3 Detroit 8–21–4 20
34 December 26 California 2–6 Vancouver 9–21–4 22
35 December 29 Vancouver 1–3 Los Angeles 9–22–4 22
January: 5–6–1 (home: 3–2–1; road: 2–4–0)
# Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts
36 January 2 Los Angeles 6–3 Vancouver 9–23–4 22
37 January 5 Vancouver 4–6 Montreal 9–24–4 22
38 January 8 Vancouver 5–1 Minnesota 10–24–4 24
39 January 11 Minnesota 2–2 Vancouver 10–24–5 25
40 January 14 Vancouver 3–5 California 10–25–5 25
41 January 15 California 3–4 Vancouver 11–25–5 27
42 January 19 Vancouver 6–1 Pittsburgh 12–25–5 29
43 January 20 Vancouver 0–1 Buffalo 12–26–5 29
44 January 22 New York 2–5 Vancouver 13–26–5 31
45 January 27 Vancouver 0–4 Chicago 13–27–5 31
46 January 29 Toronto 2–5 Vancouver 14–27–5 33
47 January 30 California 2–0 Vancouver 14–28–5 33
February: 2–12–1 (home: 1–5–0; road: 1–7–1)
# Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts
48 February 2 Vancouver 5–1 California 15–28–5 35
49 February 4 Chicago 6–2 Vancouver 15–29–5 35
50 February 6 Montreal 4–2 Vancouver 15–30–5 35
51 February 8 Philadelphia 3–1 Vancouver 15–31–5 35
52 February 10 Vancouver 1–9 Boston 15–32–5 35
53 February 12 Vancouver 4–5 St. Louis 15–33–5 35
54 February 13 Vancouver 4–6 Pittsburgh 15–34–5 35
55 February 15 New York 5–1 Vancouver 15–35–5 35
56 February 18 St. Louis 2–5 Vancouver 16–35–5 37
57 February 19 Vancouver 3–5 Los Angeles 16–36–5 37
58 February 22 Boston 4–3 Vancouver 16–37–5 37
59 February 24 Vancouver 0–2 Detroit 16–38–5 37
60 February 26 Vancouver 1–7 Toronto 16–39–5 37
61 February 27 Vancouver 3–3 Chicago 16–39–6 38
62 February 29 Vancouver 2–8 Detroit 16–40–6 38
March: 3–10–2 (home: 2–3–1; road: 1–7–1)
# Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts
63 March 2 Vancouver 3–7 Boston 16–41–6 38
64 March 4 Vancouver 0–5 Montreal 16–42–6 38
65 March 5 Vancouver 1–6 New York 16–43–6 38
66 March 8 Philadelphia 6–5 Vancouver 16–44–6 38
67 March 10 Buffalo 2–3 Vancouver 17–44–6 40
68 March 14 Pittsburgh 7–4 Vancouver 17–45–6 40
69 March 16 Vancouver 2–6 Minnesota 17–46–6 40
70 March 17 Vancouver 6–2 Buffalo 18–46–6 42
71 March 19 St. Louis 3–3 Vancouver 18–46–7 43
72 March 21 Detroit 7–5 Vancouver 18–47–7 43
73 March 24 Toronto 3–5 Vancouver 19–47–7 45
74 March 26 Vancouver 1–4 Philadelphia 19–48–7 45
75 March 28 Vancouver 1–2 St. Louis 19–49–7 45
76 March 29 Vancouver 2–4 Los Angeles 19–50–7 45
77 March 31 Los Angeles 4–4 Vancouver 19–50–8 46
April: 1–0–0 (home: 1–0–0; road: 0–0–0)
# Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts
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

    Regular season   Playoffs
Player # GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
Andre Boudrias 7 78 27 34 61 26 --
Orland Kurtenbach 25 78 24 37 61 48
Jocelyn Guevremont 2 75 13 38 51 44
Wayne Maki 11 76 22 25 47 43
Dale Tallon 9 69 17 27 44 78
Dave Balon 21 59 19 19 38 21
Wayne Connelly 8 53 14 20 34 12
Rosaire Paiement 15 69 10 19 29 117
Dennis Kearns 6 73 3 26 29 59
Bobby Schmautz 14 60 12 13 25 82
Ted Taylor 16 69 9 13 22 88
Richard Lemieux 42 7 9 16 4
John Schella 5 77 2 13 15 166
Murray Hall 23 32 6 6 12 6
Mike Corrigan* 19 3 4 7 27
Gregg Boddy 40 2 5 7 45
Barry Wilkins 4 45 2 5 7 65
Ron Ward 17 71 2 4 6 4
Bobby Lalonde 27 1 5 6 2
Pat Quinn 3 57 2 3 5 53
Ron Stewart* 12 42 3 1 4 10
Dan Johnson* 11 1 3 4 0
Fred Speck 10 18 1 2 3 0
Poul Popiel 18 38 1 1 2 36
Gary Doak* 5 0 1 1 23
Ed Dyck 12 0 0 0 0
George Gardner 30 24 0 0 0 0
Dunc Wilson 1 53 0 0 0 15

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

    Regular season   Playoffs
Player # GP Min W L T GA SO GAA GP Min W L GA SO GAA
Dunc Wilson 1 53 3870 16 30 3 173 1 3.61
Ed Dyck 12 573 1 6 2 35 0 3.66
George Gardner 30 24 1237 3 14 3 86 0 4.17

Awards and records

Trophies and awards

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.[8]

Trades

June 8, 1971 To Vancouver Canucks
Gary Bredin
John Cunniff
To Detroit Red Wings
Irv Spencer
Bob Dillabough
September 14, 1971 To Vancouver Canucks
Rey Comeau
To Montreal Canadiens
Cash
November 16, 1971 To Vancouver Canucks
Ron Stewart
Wayne Connelly
Dave Balon
To New York Rangers
Gary Doak
Jim Wiste
November 21, 1971 To Vancouver Canucks
Cash
To Detroit Red Wings
Bob Cook
March 5, 1972 To Vancouver Canucks
Cash
To New York Rangers
Ron Stewart
March 6, 1972 To Vancouver Canucks
Jim Niekamp
To Detroit Red Wings
Ralph Stewart

Draft picks

Vancouver's picks at the 1971 NHL amateur draft, held at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal.

Round # Player Nationality College/junior/club team (league)
1 3 Jocelyn Guevremont (D)  Canada Montreal Junior Canadiens (OHA)
2 17 Bobby Lalonde (C)  Canada Montreal Junior Canadiens (OHA)
3 39 Richard Lemieux (C)  Canada Montreal Junior Canadiens (OHA)
5 59 Mike McNiven (RW)  Canada Halifax Juniors
6 73 Tim Steeves (D)  Canada PEI Islanders (Junior)
7 87 Bill Green  United States Notre Dame (NCAA)
8 101 Norm Cherrey  Canada Wisconsin (NCAA)
8 102 Bob Murphy  Canada Cornwall Royals (QMJHL)

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Boyd 1973, p. 72
  2. ^ a b c Boyd 1973, p. 73
  3. ^ Boyd 1973, pp. 97–98
  4. ^ Boyd 1973, pp. 99–100
  5. ^ Boyd 1973, p. 88
  6. ^ "1971–1972 Division Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". National Hockey League.
  7. ^ "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  8. ^ Vancouver Canucks (2006). 2006–07 Vancouver Canucks Media Guide. Vancouver: Hemlock Printers Ltd. p. 264.

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
  • Boyd, Denny (1973), The Vancouver Canucks Story, Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson, ISBN 0-07-077631-8