1971–72 Vancouver Canucks season

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.

1971–72 Vancouver Canucks
Division	7th East
1971–72 record	20–50–8
Home record	14–20–5
Road record	6–30–3
Goals for	203
Goals against	297
Team information
General manager	Bud Poile
Coach	Hal Laycoe
Captain	Orland Kurtenbach
Alternate captains	Andre Boudrias Dale Tallon Gary Doak Wayne Maki
Arena	Pacific Coliseum
Average attendance	15,284
Team leaders
Goals	Andre Boudrias (27)
Assists	Jocelyn Guevremont (38)
Points	Andre Boudrias, Orland Kurtenbach (61)
Penalty minutes	John Schella (166)
Wins	Dunc Wilson (16)
Goals against average	Dunc Wilson (3.61)
← 1970–71 1972–73 →

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]

• v
• t
• e

		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

Vs. East Division 1971–72 NHL Records ^[7] Team BOS BUF DET MTL NYR TOR VAN Total Boston — 3–1–2 5–1 2–3–1 5–1 4–1–1 6–0 25–7–4 Buffalo 1–3–2 — 0–4–2 1–4–1 0–6 1–5 2–3–1 5–25–6 Detroit 1–5 4–0–2 — 3–3 1–4–1 3–3 5–0–1 17–15–4 Montreal 3–2–1 4–1–1 3–3 — 1–3–2 4–1–1 6–0 21–10–5 New York 1–5 6–0 4–1–1 3–1–2 — 2–2–2 5–1 21–10–5 Toronto 1–4–1 5–1 3–3 1–4–1 2–2–2 — 2–2–2 14–16–6 Vancouver 0–6 3–2–1 0–5–1 0–6 1–5 2–2–2 — 6–26–4

Vs. West Division 1971–72 NHL Records Team CAL CHI LAK MIN PHI PIT STL Total Boston 4–2 4–1–1 4–1–1 5–0–1 6–0 2–1–3 4–1–1 29–6–7 Buffalo 0–3–3 2–3–1 2–3–1 2–2–2 2–2–2 2–1–3 1–4–1 11–18–13 Detroit 2–2–2 0–5–1 3–2–1 2–4 3–2–1 4–2 2–3–1 16–20–6 Montreal 3–0–3 2–1–3 5–0–1 4–1–1 3–2–1 4–1–1 4–1–1 25–6–11 New York 4–1–1 2–1–3 6–0 1–3–2 6–0 3–1–2 5–1 27–7–8 Toronto 3–2–1 0–4–2 4–1–1 2–2–2 2–2–2 4–2 4–2 19–15–8 Vancouver 4–2 2–3–1 0–5–1 2–3–1 1–5 2–4 3–2–1 14–24–4

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

• Cyclone Taylor Award (Canucks MVP): Orland Kurtenbach
• Cyrus H. McLean Trophy (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.^[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)

Notes

1. Boyd 1973, p. 72
2. 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

See also

• 1971–72 NHL season