1981–82 Vancouver Canucks season
| 1981–82 Vancouver Canucks | |
|---|---|
Campbell Conference champions | |
| Division | 2nd Smythe |
| Conference | 4th Campbell |
| 1981–82 record | 30–33–17 |
| Home record | 20–8–12 |
| Road record | 10–25–5 |
| Goals for | 290 |
| Goals against | 286 |
| Team information | |
| General manager | Jake Milford |
| Coach | Harry Neale (Oct–Mar) Roger Neilson (Mar–May) |
| Captain | Kevin McCarthy |
| Alternate captains | Stan Smyl Harold Snepsts |
| Arena | Pacific Coliseum |
| Average attendance | 12,858 |
| Minor league affiliate | Dallas Black Hawks (CHL) |
| Team leaders | |
| Goals | Thomas Gradin (37) |
| Assists | Thomas Gradin (49) |
| Points | Thomas Gradin (86) |
| Penalty minutes | Tiger Williams (341) |
| Wins | Richard Brodeur (20) |
| Goals against average | Richard Brodeur (3.35) |
The 1981–82 Vancouver Canucks season was the team's 12th in the NHL. The Vancouver Canucks made their first appearance in the Stanley Cup Final, losing to the New York Islanders four games to none.
Regular season
Final standings
| GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | PTS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edmonton Oilers | 80 | 48 | 17 | 15 | 417 | 295 | 111 |
| Vancouver Canucks | 80 | 30 | 33 | 17 | 290 | 286 | 77 |
| Calgary Flames | 80 | 29 | 34 | 17 | 334 | 345 | 75 |
| Los Angeles Kings | 80 | 24 | 41 | 15 | 314 | 369 | 63 |
| Colorado Rockies | 80 | 18 | 49 | 13 | 241 | 362 | 49 |
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.
Record vs. opponents
Smythe Division record vs. opponents
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Vs. Campbell Conference
Vs. Wales Conference
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Schedule and results
| 1981–82 regular season[3] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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October: 4–5–3 (home: 3–1–1; road: 1–4–2)
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November: 7–5–1 (home: 4–1–1; road: 3–4–0)
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December: 3–7–4 (home: 3–2–4; road: 0–5–0)
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January: 3–7–3 (home: 3–2–3; road: 0–5–0)
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February: 7–3–3 (home: 3–1–2; road: 4–2–1)
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March: 4–6–3 (home: 3–1–1; road: 1–5–2)
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April: 2–0–0 (home: 1–0–0; road: 1–0–0)
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Legend: Win (2 points) Loss (0 points) Tie (1 point) |
Playoffs
| 1982 Stanley Cup playoffs[3] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Smythe Division Semifinals vs. (S3) Calgary Flames – Canucks win 3–0
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Smythe Division Finals vs. (S4) Los Angeles Kings – Canucks win 4–1
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Campbell Conference Finals vs. (N4) Chicago Black Hawks – Canucks win 4–1
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Stanley Cup Finals vs. (P1) New York Islanders – Islanders win 4–0
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Legend: Win Loss |
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 | ||
| Thomas Gradin | 23 | 76 | 37 | 49 | 86 | 32 | 17 | 9 | 10 | 19 | 10 | ||
| Stan Smyl | 12 | 80 | 34 | 44 | 78 | 144 | 17 | 9 | 9 | 18 | 25 | ||
| Ivan Boldirev | 9 | 78 | 33 | 40 | 73 | 45 | 17 | 8 | 3 | 11 | 4 | ||
| Curt Fraser | 24 | 79 | 28 | 39 | 67 | 175 | 17 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 98 | ||
| Ivan Hlinka | 21 | 72 | 23 | 37 | 60 | 16 | 12 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 4 | ||
| Lars Molin | 26 | 72 | 15 | 31 | 46 | 10 | 17 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 7 | ||
| Kevin McCarthy | 25 | 71 | 6 | 39 | 45 | 84 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| Darcy Rota | 18 | 51 | 20 | 20 | 40 | 139 | 17 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 54 | ||
| Tiger Williams | 22 | 77 | 17 | 21 | 38 | 341 | 17 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 116 | ||
| Blair MacDonald | 14 | 59 | 18 | 15 | 33 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Lars Lindgren | 13 | 75 | 5 | 16 | 21 | 74 | 16 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | ||
| Per-Olov Brasar | 16 | 53 | 6 | 12 | 18 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Gary Lupul | 7 | 41 | 10 | 7 | 17 | 26 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 | ||
| Ron Delorme | 19 | 59 | 9 | 8 | 17 | 177 | 15 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 31 | ||
| Doug Halward | 2 | 37 | 4 | 13 | 17 | 40 | 15 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 44 | ||
| Harold Snepsts | 27 | 68 | 3 | 14 | 17 | 153 | 17 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 50 | ||
| Rick Lanz | 4 | 39 | 3 | 11 | 14 | 48 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| Marc Crawford | 28 | 40 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 29 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 11 | ||
| Neil Belland | 15 | 28 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 16 | 17 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 16 | ||
| Anders Eldebrink | 10 | 38 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 21 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | ||
| Tony Currie† | – | 12 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | ||
| Colin Campbell | 5 | 47 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 131 | 16 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 89 | ||
| Jerry Butler | – | 25 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 15 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| Moe Lemay | – | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| Jim Nill† | 8 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 16 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 67 | ||
| Jiri Bubla | 29 | 23 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 16 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| Richard Brodeur | 35 | 52 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Joe McDonnell | 3 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 12 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| Gerry Minor* | – | 13 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 17 | ||
| Andy Schliebener | 6 | 22 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Rick Heinz† | 31 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| Garth Butcher | – | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Glen Hanlon* | 1 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
†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 | ||
| Rick Heinz† | 31 | 3 | 180 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 3.00 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| Richard Brodeur | 35 | 52 | 3010 | 20 | 18 | 12 | 168 | 2 | 3.35 | 17 | 1089 | 11 | 6 | 49 | 0 | 2.70 | ||
| Glen Hanlon* | 1 | 28 | 1610 | 8 | 14 | 5 | 106 | 1 | 3.95 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
Awards and records
Trophies and awards
- Cyclone Taylor Award (Canucks MVP): Richard Brodeur
- Cyrus H. McLean Trophy (Canucks Leading Scorer): Thomas Gradin
- Babe Pratt Trophy (Canucks Outstanding Defenceman): Harold Snespts
- Fred J. Hume Award (Canucks Unsung Hero): Lars Lindgren
- Most Exciting Player Award: Thomas Gradin
- Molson Cup (Most Three-Star selections): Richard Brodeur
Records achieved in the season
Note: Only records that stand as of 2007–08 are listed
Canucks team records
- Fewest losses at home: (8) – repeated in 1994–95
- Most ties at home: (12) – repeated in 1977–78
- Longest road losing streak: 12 games, November 28, 1981 – February 7, 1982
Canucks individual records
- Most points, rookie: Ivan Hlinka (60) – repeated in 1991–92 (Pavel Bure)
- Most goals, one game: Rosaire Paiement (4) – repeated eleven times
Records achieved in the playoffs
Canucks team records
- Most penalty minutes, one series: 285, 1982 Campbell Conference Finals versus Chicago Black Hawks
- Shortest overtime: 1:23,[4] April 18, 1982, versus Los Angeles Kings (Colin Campbell)
- Most penalty minutes, one game: 106, April 29, 1982, versus Chicago Black Hawks
- Most penalty minutes, one game by opponent: 90, May 6, 1982, versus Chicago Black Hawks
- Most penalty minutes, one game by both teams: 188, April 29, 1982, versus Chicago Black Hawks
- Fewest shots on goal, one game: 16, April 19, 1982, versus Los Angeles Kings
- Most goals against, one game: 4, May 11, 1982, versus New York Islanders (repeated 5 times)
- Most shots on goal by opponent, one period: 19, April 29, 1982, versus Chicago Black Hawks (repeated in 1994)
- Fastest goal to start game: 0:08, April 7, 1982, versus Calgary Flames (Stan Smyl)
- Fastest goal to start period: 0:08, April 7, 1982, versus Calgary Flames (Stan Smyl)
Canucks individual records
- Most penalty minutes, one year: Tiger Williams (116)
- Longest assist streak: Lars Mollin (5)
- Most penalty minutes, one series: Tiger Williams versus Chicago Black Hawks (51)
- Fastest two goals in one period, opposition: Mike Bossy, New York Islanders, May 16, 1982 (3:00 in 2nd period)
Transactions
The Canucks were involved in the following transactions during the 1981–82 season.
Trades
| July 15, 1981 | To Vancouver Canucks Compensation for signing Ivan Hlinka and Jiri Bubla |
To Winnipeg Jets Brent Ashton 4th round pick (Tom Martin) in 1982 NHL entry draft |
| March 9, 1982 | To Vancouver Canucks Tony Currie Jim Nill Rick Heinz 4th round pick (Shawn Kilroy) in 1982 NHL entry draft |
To St. Louis Blues Glen Hanlon |
Draft picks
Vancouver's picks at the 1981 NHL entry draft.[5] The draft was held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 | Garth Butcher (D) | Canada | Regina Pats (WHL) |
| 3 | 51 | Jean-Marc Lanthier (RW) | Canada | Sorel Black Hawks (QMJHL) |
| 4 | 73 | Wendell Young (G) | Canada | Kitchener Rangers (OHL) |
| 5 | 105 | Moe Lemay (F) | Canada | Ottawa 67's (OHL) |
| 6 | 115 | Stu Kulak | Canada | Victoria Cougars (WHL) |
| 7 | 136 | Bruce Holloway (D) | Canada | Regina Pats (WHL) |
| 8 | 157 | Petri Skriko (F) | Finland | SaiPa (Finland) |
| 9 | 178 | Frank Caprice (G) | Canada | London Knights (OHL) |
| 10 | 199 | Rejean Vignola (F) | Canada | Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL) |
See also
References
- ^ Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 152. ISBN 9781894801225.
- ^ "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
- ^ a b "1981-82 Vancouver Canucks Schedule". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
- ^ "Kings All-Time Playoff History". Retrieved May 3, 2010.
- ^ Slate, Ralph (2007). "1981 NHL Entry Draft". HockeyDB.com. Archived from the original on April 24, 2008. Retrieved April 27, 2008.