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
Record vs. opponents
Schedule and results
| 1 || October 6 || Colorado || 2 – 4 || Vancouver || 1–0–0 || 2
| 2 || October 8 || Vancouver || 1 – 1 || Calgary || 1–0–1 || 3
| 3 || October 9 || Edmonton || 2 – 6 || Vancouver || 2–0–1 || 5
| 4 || October 11 || Vancouver || 2 – 2 || Buffalo || 2–0–2 || 6
| 5 || October 14 || Vancouver || 1 – 2 || NY Rangers || 2–1–2 || 6
| 6 || October 15 || Vancouver || 1 – 4 || NY Islanders || 2–2–2 || 6
| 7 || October 17 || Vancouver || 4 – 10 || Montreal || 2–3–2 || 6
| 8 || October 19 || Vancouver || 3 – 6 || Quebec || 2–4–2 || 6
| 9 || October 23 || Hartford || 2 – 2 || Vancouver || 2–4–3 || 7
| 10 || October 25 || Pittsburgh || 6 – 4 || Vancouver || 2–5–3 || 7
| 11 || October 28 || Washington || 0 – 3 || Vancouver || 3–5–3 || 9
| 12 || October 31 || Vancouver || 8 – 4 || Philadelphia || 4–5–3 || 11
| 13 || November 1 || Vancouver || 1 – 3 || Detroit || 4–6–3 || 11
| 14 || November 4 || Vancouver || 4 – 1 || Hartford || 5–6–3 || 13
| 15 || November 5 || Vancouver || 1 – 2 || Boston || 5–7–3 || 13
| 16 || November 8 || Winnipeg || 1 – 5 || Vancouver || 6–7–3 || 15
| 17 || November 11 || Quebec || 5 – 6 || Vancouver || 7–7–3 || 17
| 18 || November 14 || Montreal || 4 – 1 || Vancouver || 7–8–3 || 17
| 19 || November 15 || Vancouver || 7 – 4 || Calgary || 8–8–3 || 19
| 20 || November 19 || Detroit || 3 – 8 || Vancouver || 9–8–3 || 21
| 21 || November 21 || Vancouver || 3 – 8 || Edmonton || 9–9–3 || 21
| 22 || November 22 || Colorado || 5 – 5 || Vancouver || 9–9–4 || 22
| 23 || November 25 || Chicago || 2 – 6 || Vancouver || 10–9–4 || 24
| 24 || November 27 || Vancouver || 6 – 3 || Colorado || 11–9–4 || 26
| 25 || November 28 || Vancouver || 2 – 3 || Los Angeles || 11–10–4 || 26
| 26 || December 2 || Minnesota || 0 – 5 || Vancouver || 12–10–4 || 28
| 27 || December 4 || Vancouver || 3 – 7 || Edmonton || 12–11–4 || 28
| 28 || December 5 || Edmonton || 3 – 3 || Vancouver || 12–11–5 || 29
| 29 || December 9 || NY Islanders || 3 – 4 || Vancouver || 13–11–5 || 31
| 30 || December 12 || Vancouver || 5 – 7 || Los Angeles || 13–12–5 || 31
| 31 || December 13 || Calgary || 7 – 6 || Vancouver || 13–13–5 || 31
| 32 || December 16 || Toronto || 6 – 6 || Vancouver || 13–13–6 || 32
| 33 || December 18 || Vancouver || 1 – 3 || Colorado || 13–14–6 || 32
| 34 || December 19 || Vancouver || 0 – 5 || St. Louis || 13–15–6 || 32
| 35 || December 22 || Minnesota || 4 – 4 || Vancouver || 13–15–7 || 33
| 36 || December 23 || Vancouver || 1 – 6 || Edmonton || 13–16–7 || 33
| 37 || December 26 || Los Angeles || 2 – 2 || Vancouver || 13–16–8 || 34
| 38 || December 29 || Boston || 5 – 3 || Vancouver || 13–17–8 || 34
| 39 || December 31 || Edmonton || 1 – 3 || Vancouver || 14–17–8 || 36
| 40 || January 2 || Vancouver || 2 – 5 || Washington || 14–18–8 || 36
| 41 || January 4 || Vancouver || 1 – 4 || NY Islanders || 14–19–8 || 36
| 42 || January 7 || Vancouver || 1 – 4 || NY Rangers || 14–20–8 || 36
| 43 || January 9 || Vancouver || 3 – 4 || Pittsburgh || 14–21–8 || 36
| 44 || January 10 || Vancouver || 2 – 3 || Chicago || 14–22–8 || 36
| 45 || January 13 || Calgary || 1 – 5 || Vancouver || 15–22–8 || 38
| 46 || January 15 || Los Angeles || 3 – 3 || Vancouver || 15–22–9 || 39
| 47 || January 17 || Pittsburgh || 3 – 3 || Vancouver || 15–22–10 || 40
| 48 || January 19 || St. Louis || 5 – 4 || Vancouver || 15–23–10 || 40
| 49 || January 22 || Edmonton || 4 – 3 || Vancouver || 15–24–10 || 40
| 50 || January 24 || Los Angeles || 5 – 5 || Vancouver || 15–24–11 || 41
| 51 || January 27 || Buffalo || 3 – 4 || Vancouver || 16–24–11 || 43
| 52 || January 30 || Philadelphia || 2 – 4 || Vancouver || 17–24–11 || 45
| 53 || February 2 || NY Rangers || 4 – 3 || Vancouver || 17–25–11 || 45
| 54 || February 3 || Toronto || 1 – 3 || Vancouver || 18–25–11 || 47
| 55 || February 6 || Vancouver || 4 – 5 || Los Angeles || 18–26–11 || 47
| 56 || February 10 || Vancouver || 4 – 1 || Toronto || 19–26–11 || 49
| 57 || February 11 || Vancouver || 4 – 4 || Detroit || 19–26–12 || 50
| 58 || February 13 || Vancouver || 3 – 2 || St. Louis || 20–26–12 || 52
| 59 || February 15 || Vancouver || 4 – 1 || Chicago || 21–26–12 || 54
| 60 || February 17 || Boston || 3 – 6 || Vancouver || 22–26–12 || 56
| 61 || February 20 || Hartford || 2 – 4 || Vancouver || 23–26–12 || 58
| 62 || February 23 || Calgary || 2 – 2 || Vancouver || 23–26–13 || 59
| 63 || February 25 || Vancouver || 4 – 11 || Calgary || 23–27–13 || 59
| 64 || February 26 || Vancouver || 4 – 3 || Colorado || 24–27–13 || 61
| 65 || February 28 || Philadelphia || 3 – 3 || Vancouver || 24–27–14 || 62
| 66 || March 3 || Vancouver || 2 – 3 || Colorado || 24–28–14 || 62
| 67 || March 6 || Vancouver || 1 – 3 || Minnesota || 24–29–14 || 62
| 68 || March 7 || Vancouver || 2 – 5 || Winnipeg || 24–30–14 || 62
| 69 || March 10 || Buffalo || 7 – 4 || Vancouver || 24–31–14 || 62
| 70 || March 11 || Vancouver || 3 – 6 || Calgary || 24–32–14 || 62
| 71 || March 13 || Vancouver || 3 – 5 || Edmonton || 24–33–14 || 62
| 72 || March 17 || Vancouver || 6 – 6 || Washington || 24–33–15 || 63
| 73 || March 18 || Vancouver || 4 – 2 || Montreal || 25–33–15 || 65
| 74 || March 20 || Vancouver || 3 – 3 || Quebec || 25–33–16 || 66
| 75 || March 24 || Colorado || 4 – 5 || Vancouver || 26–33–16 || 68
| 76 || March 27 || Calgary || 2 – 7 || Vancouver || 27–33–16 || 70
| 77 || March 28 || Winnipeg || 0 – 5 || Vancouver || 28–33–16 || 72
| 78 || March 31 || Colorado || 4 – 4 || Vancouver || 28–33–17 || 73
| 79 || April 3 || Vancouver || 6 – 0 || Los Angeles || 29–33–17 || 75
| 80 || April 4 || Los Angeles || 4 – 7 || Vancouver || 30–33–17 || 77
Legend:
Playoffs
| 1 || April 7 || Calgary || 3 – 5 || Vancouver || || Vancouver leads 1–0
| 2 || April 8 || Calgary || 1 – 2 || Vancouver || OT || Vancouver leads 2–0
| 3 || April 10 || Vancouver || 3 – 1 || Calgary || || Vancouver wins 3–0
| 1 || April 15 || Los Angeles || 2 – 3 || Vancouver || || Vancouver leads 1–0
| 2 || April 16 || Los Angeles || 3 – 2 || Vancouver || OT || Series tied 1–1
| 3 || April 18 || Vancouver || 4 – 3 || Los Angeles || OT || Vancouver leads 2–1
| 4 || April 19 || Vancouver || 5 – 4 || Los Angeles || || Vancouver leads 3–1
| 5 || April 21 || Los Angeles || 2 – 5 || Vancouver || || Vancouver wins 4–1
| 1 || April 27 || Vancouver || 2 – 1 || Chicago || OT || Vancouver leads 1–0
| 2 || April 29 || Vancouver || 1 – 4 || Chicago || || Series tied 1–1
| 3 || May 1 || Chicago || 3 – 4 || Vancouver || || Vancouver leads 2–1
| 4 || May 4 || Chicago || 3 – 5 || Vancouver || || Vancouver leads 3–1
| 5 || May 6 || Vancouver || 6 – 2 || Chicago || || Vancouver wins 4–1
| 1 || May 8 || Vancouver || 5 – 6 || New York || OT || New York leads 1–0
| 2 || May 11 || Vancouver || 4 – 6 || New York || || New York leads 2–0
| 3 || May 13 || New York || 3 – 0 || Vancouver || || New York leads 3–0
| 4 || May 16 || New York || 3 – 1 || Vancouver || || New York wins 4–0
Legend:
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 GAARick 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, 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