2016–17 Vancouver Canucks season

The 2016–17 Vancouver Canucks season was the 47th season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on May 22, 1970. For the third consecutive season, they opened the season with a match against the Calgary Flames. The team finished with the lowest-scoring season in franchise history, scoring just 182 goals. The day after the Canucks' season-ending game, head coach Willie Desjardins was fired, along with assistant coaches Doug Lidster and Perry Pearn. The Canucks overall missed the playoffs for the second consecutive year.

Off-season The Canucks made their first off-season move while the 2016 Stanley Cup playoffs were still in action, sending centre Jared McCann and second and fourth round picks to the Florida Panthers in exchange for defenceman Erik Gudbranson and a fifth-round pick. On June 27, two days after the 2016 NHL entry draft, the Canucks placed winger Chris Higgins on unconditional waivers and subsequently bought out the final year of his contract.

Training camp Vancouver's 2016 training camp was held in Whistler, British Columbia, on September 22–26, 2016.

Regular season

During the team bye week in February, many Canucks players experienced mumps symptoms, with some being diagnosed with the disease. Compounded with ongoing injuries to other players at the time, the Canucks played their following game with 11 regulars out of the lineup, where they lost to the San Jose Sharks 4–1.

Preceding the 2017 NHL trade deadline, the Canucks traded long-time forward Alex Burrows to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for prospect Jonathan Dahlen on February 27, 2017. The following night, they traded another long-time forward, Jannik Hansen, to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for Nikolay Goldobin and a conditional fourth-round pick at the 2017 NHL entry draft.

The Canucks finished their season with 69 points and had the second-best odds for the draft lottery of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.

Standings

Schedule and results

Pre-season Pre-season game log: 3–2–2 (Home: 2–1–1; Road: 1–1–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Recap 1 September 27 Vancouver 2–3 San Jose OT Garteig 14,865 0–0–1 Recap 2 September 28 Edmonton 3–5 Vancouver Demko 17,058 1–0–1 Recap 3 September 30 Vancouver 1–2 Calgary Bachman 19,102 1–1–1 Recap 4 October 2 San Jose 3–2 Vancouver OT Miller 17,301 1–1–2 Recap 5 October 3 Arizona 4–2 Vancouver Markstrom 16,869 1–2–2 Recap 6 October 6 Calgary 0–4 Vancouver Miller 17,960 2–2–2 Recap 7 October 8 Vancouver 3–2 Edmonton Markstrom 18,500 3–2–2 Recap

Regular season 2016–17 game log October: 4–4–1 (Home: 4–3–0; Road: 0–1–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 15 Calgary 1–2 Vancouver SO Miller 18,865 1–0–0 2 Recap 2 October 16 Carolina 3–4 Vancouver OT Markstrom 17,832 2–0–0 4 Recap 3 October 18 St. Louis 1–2 Vancouver OT Markstrom 17,568 3–0–0 6 Recap 4 October 20 Buffalo 1–2 Vancouver Markstrom 17,809 4–0–0 8 Recap 5 October 22 Vancouver 3–4 Los Angeles SO Markstrom 18,230 4–0–1 9 Recap 6 October 23 Vancouver 2–4 Anaheim Miller 17,174 4–1–1 9 Recap 7 October 25 Ottawa 3–0 Vancouver Miller 18,471 4–2–1 9 Recap 8 October 28 Edmonton 2–0 Vancouver Miller 18,865 4–3–1 9 Recap 9 October 29 Washington 5–2 Vancouver Markstrom 18,338 4–4–1 9 Recap November: 6–7–1 (Home: 3–1–1; Road: 3–6–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 10 November 2 Vancouver 0–3 Montreal Miller 21,288 4–5–1 9 Recap 11 November 3 Vancouver 0–1 Ottawa Markstrom 13,260 4–6–1 9 Recap 12 November 5 Vancouver 3–6 Toronto Miller 19,480 4–7–1 9 Recap 13 November 7 Vancouver 2–4 NY Islanders Miller 12,514 4–8–1 9 Recap 14 November 8 Vancouver 5–3 NY Rangers Markstrom 18,006 5–8–1 11 Recap 15 November 10 Vancouver 1–3 Detroit Miller 20,027 5–9–1 11 Recap 16 November 13 Dallas 4–5 Vancouver OT Miller 18,470 6–9–1 13 Recap 17 November 15 NY Rangers 7–2 Vancouver Markstrom 17,814 6–10–1 13 Recap 18 November 17 Arizona 2–3 Vancouver OT Markstrom 18,027 7–10–1 15 Recap 19 November 19 Chicago 4–3 Vancouver OT Markstrom 18,865 7–10–2 16 Recap 20 November 23 Vancouver 4–1 Arizona Miller 11,256 8–10–2 18 Recap 21 November 25 Vancouver 1–2 Dallas Miller 18,532 8–11–2 18 Recap 22 November 26 Vancouver 3–2 Colorado SO Markstrom 15,511 9–11–2 20 Recap 23 November 29 Minnesota 4–5 Vancouver Miller 17,917 10–11–2 22 Recap December: 7–7–1 (Home: 5–2–1; Road: 2–5–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 24 December 1 Anaheim 3–1 Vancouver Miller 17,627 10–12–2 22 Recap 25 December 3 Toronto 2–3 Vancouver SO Miller 18,865 11–12–2 24 Recap 26 December 6 Vancouver 2–3 New Jersey Markstrom 13,126 11–13–2 24 Recap 27 December 8 Vancouver 5–1 Tampa Bay Miller 19,092 12–13–2 26 Recap 28 December 10 Vancouver 2–4 Florida Markstrom 17,585 12–14–2 26 Recap 29 December 11 Vancouver 0–3 Washington Markstrom 18,506 12–15–2 26 Recap 30 December 13 Vancouver 6–8 Carolina Markstrom 11,721 12–16–2 26 Recap 31 December 16 Tampa Bay 2–4 Vancouver Miller 18,685 13–16–2 28 Recap 32 December 18 Columbus 4–3 Vancouver OT Miller 18,113 13–16–3 29 Recap 33 December 20 Winnipeg 1–4 Vancouver Markstrom 18,865 14–16–3 31 Recap 34 December 22 Winnipeg 4–1 Vancouver Miller 18,865 14–17–3 31 Recap 35 December 23 Vancouver 1–4 Calgary Markstrom 18,840 14–18–3 31 Recap 36 December 28 Los Angeles 1–2 Vancouver Miller 18,865 15–18–3 33 Recap 37 December 30 Anaheim 2–3 Vancouver OT Miller 18,214 16–18–3 35 Recap 38 December 31 Vancouver 3–2 Edmonton SO Markstrom 18,347 17–18–3 37 Recap January: 6–3–3 (Home: 5–0–1; Road: 1–3–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 39 January 2 Colorado 2–3 Vancouver Miller 18,865 18–18–3 39 Recap 40 January 4 Arizona 0–3 Vancouver Miller 18,215 19–18–3 41 Recap 41 January 6 Calgary 2–4 Vancouver Miller 18,865 20–18–3 43 Recap 42 January 7 Vancouver 1–3 Calgary Markstrom 18,685 20–19–3 43 Recap 43 January 10 Vancouver 1–2 Nashville OT Miller 17,113 20–19–4 44 Recap 44 January 12 Vancouver 4–5 Philadelphia SO Miller 19,757 20–19–5 45 Recap 45 January 15 New Jersey 2–1 Vancouver OT Markstrom 18,865 20–19–6 46 Recap 46 January 17 Nashville 0–1 Vancouver Miller 18,312 21–19–6 48 Recap 47 January 20 Florida 1–2 Vancouver Miller 18,865 22–19–6 50 Recap 48 January 22 Vancouver 2–4 Chicago Miller 21,689 22–20–6 50 Recap 49 January 25 Vancouver 3–2 Colorado Markstrom 12,819 23–20–6 52 Recap 50 January 26 Vancouver 0–3 Arizona Miller 11,203 23–21–6 52 Recap January 27–29 All-Star Break in Los Angeles February: 3–8–1 (Home: 1–4–1; Road: 2–4–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 51 February 2 San Jose 4–1 Vancouver Miller 18,865 23–22–6 52 Recap 52 February 4 Minnesota 6–3 Vancouver Miller 18,212 23–23–6 52 Recap 53 February 7 Vancouver 2–4 Nashville Markstrom 17,113 23–24–6 52 Recap 54 February 9 Vancouver 3–0 Columbus Miller 13,979 24–24–6 54 Recap 55 February 11 Vancouver 3–4 Boston Miller 17,565 24–25–6 54 Recap 56 February 12 Vancouver 4–2 Buffalo Markstrom 18,876 25–25–6 56 Recap 57 February 14 Vancouver 0–4 Pittsburgh Miller 18,653 25–26–6 56 Recap 58 February 16 Vancouver 3–4 St. Louis Markstrom 19,291 25–27–6 56 Recap 59 February 18 Calgary 1–2 Vancouver OT Miller 18,865 26–27–6 58 Recap 60 February 19 Philadelphia 3–2 Vancouver Miller 18,865 26–28–6 58 Recap 61 February 25 San Jose 4–1 Vancouver Miller 18,139 26–29–6 58 Recap 62 February 28 Detroit 3–2 Vancouver OT Miller 18,865 26–29–7 59 Recap March: 4–9–2 (Home: 0–5–2; Road: 4–4–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 63 March 2 Vancouver 1–3 San Jose Miller 17,488 26–30–7 59 Recap 64 March 4 Vancouver 4–3 Los Angeles Miller 18,230 27–30–7 61 Recap 65 March 5 Vancouver 2–1 Anaheim Bachman 14,523 28–30–7 63 Recap 66 March 7 Montreal 2–1 Vancouver OT Miller 18,865 28–30–8 64 Recap 67 March 9 NY Islanders 4–3 Vancouver OT Miller 18,406 28–30–9 65 Recap 68 March 11 Pittsburgh 3–0 Vancouver Miller 18,865 28–31–9 65 Recap 69 March 13 Boston 6–3 Vancouver Miller 18,865 28–32–9 65 Recap 70 March 16 Dallas 4–2 Vancouver Miller 18,865 28–33–9 65 Recap 71 March 18 Vancouver 0–2 Edmonton Bachman 18,347 28–34–9 65 Recap 72 March 21 Vancouver 5–4 Chicago OT Miller 21,607 29–34–9 67 Recap 73 March 23 Vancouver 1–4 St. Louis Miller 19,356 29–35–9 67 Recap 74 March 25 Vancouver 4–2 Minnesota Bachman 19,184 30–35–9 69 Recap 75 March 26 Vancouver 1–2 Winnipeg Miller 15,294 30–36–9 69 Recap 76 March 28 Anaheim 4–1 Vancouver Miller 18,262 30–37–9 69 Recap 77 March 31 Los Angeles 2–0 Vancouver Miller 18,865 30–38–9 69 Recap April: 0–5–0 (Home: 0–2–0; Road: 0–3–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 78 April 2 San Jose 3–1 Vancouver Miller 18,295 30–39–9 69 Recap 79 April 4 Vancouver 1–3 San Jose Bachman 17,459 30–40–9 69 Recap 80 April 6 Vancouver 3–4 Arizona Miller 11,959 30–41–9 69 Recap 81 April 8 Edmonton 3–2 Vancouver Miller 18,865 30–42–9 69 Recap 82 April 9 Vancouver 2–5 Edmonton Bachman 18,347 30–43–9 69 RecapLegend:

Detailed records

Western Conference Central Division Opponent Home Away Total Pts. Goals scored Goals allowed Chicago Blackhawks 0–0–1 1–1–0 1–1–1 3 10 12 Colorado Avalanche 1–0–0 2–0–0 3–0–0 6 8 6 Dallas Stars 1–1–0 0–1–0 1–2–0 2 8 10 Minnesota Wild 1–1–0 1–0–0 2–1–0 4 11 12 Nashville Predators 1–0–0 0–1–1 1–1–1 3 4 6 St. Louis Blues 1–0–0 0–2–0 1–2–0 2 6 9 Winnipeg Jets 1–1–0 0–1–0 1–2–0 2 6 7 Total 6–3–1 4–6–1 10–9–2 22 54 62 Pacific Division Opponent Home Away Total Pts. Goals scored Goals allowed Anaheim Ducks 1–2–0 1–1–0 2–3–0 4 9 14 Arizona Coyotes 2–0–0 1–2–0 3–2–0 6 13 10 Calgary Flames 3–0–0 0–2–0 3–2–0 6 9 11 Edmonton Oilers 0–2–0 1–2–0 1–4–0 2 6 14 Los Angeles Kings 1–1–0 1–0–1 2–1–1 5 9 9 San Jose Sharks 0–3–0 0–2–0 0–5–0 0 5 17 Vancouver Canucks – – – – – – Total 7–8–0 4–9–1 11–17–1 23 51 75

Eastern Conference Atlantic Division Opponent Home Away Total Pts. Goals scored Goals allowed Boston Bruins 0–1–0 0–1–0 0–2–0 0 5 10 Buffalo Sabres 1–0–0 1–0–0 2–0–0 4 6 3 Detroit Red Wings 0–0–1 0–1–0 0–1–1 1 3 6 Florida Panthers 1–0–0 0–1–0 1–1–0 2 4 5 Montreal Canadiens 0–0–1 0–1–0 0–1–1 1 1 5 Ottawa Senators 0–1–0 0–1–0 0–2–0 0 0 4 Tampa Bay Lightning 1–0–0 1–0–0 2–0–0 4 9 3 Toronto Maple Leafs 1–0–0 0–1–0 1–1–0 2 5 8 Total 4–2–2 2–6–0 6–8–2 14 34 44 Metropolitan Division Opponent Home Away Total Pts. Goals scored Goals allowed Carolina Hurricanes 1–0–0 0–1–0 1–1–0 2 10 11 Columbus Blue Jackets 0–0–1 1–0–0 1–0–1 3 6 4 New Jersey Devils 0–0–1 0–1–0 0–1–1 1 3 5 New York Islanders 0–0–1 0–1–0 0–1–1 1 5 8 New York Rangers 0–1–0 1–0–0 1–1–0 2 7 10 Philadelphia Flyers 0–1–0 0–0–1 0–1–1 1 6 7 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–1–0 0–1–0 0–2–0 0 0 7 Washington Capitals 0–1–0 0–1–0 0–2–0 0 2 8 Total 1–4–3 2–5–1 3–9–4 10 39 60

Player statistics Final stats

Skaters

Regular season Player 81 20 32 52 −7 27 82 15 35 50 −27 28 82 15 29 44 −16 32 68 18 17 35 −6 8 81 17 17 34 −20 12 69 19 13 32 −19 14 65 11 13 24 −9 8 71 3 21 24 −16 25 68 6 15 21 −20 36 ‡ 55 9 11 20 −3 53 71 5 14 19 −22 31 ‡ 28 6 7 13 2 27 82 2 11 13 −1 40 53 2 8 10 3 14 55 5 4 9 0 12 68 4 5 9 −12 29 66 2 7 9 −7 64 58 4 4 8 −4 6 † 27 5 2 7 −7 6 30 1 5 6 −14 18 26 1 5 6 −8 4 9 4 1 5 0 0 57 0 5 5 −2 33 14 1 3 4 −6 33 † 12 3 0 3 1 0 36 0 3 3 −4 18 14 0 2 2 −3 4 3 0 1 1 1 0 10 0 1 1 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 −1 0 1 0 0 0 −1 0 3 0 0 0 −1 0 5 0 0 0 −2 0 † 10 0 0 0 −1 9 13 0 0 0 −2 21 Totals 82 178 292 470 −233 638

Goaltenders Regular season Player 26 23 1416:58 10 11 3 62 2.63 692 .910 0 0 0 2 54 54 3211:51 18 29 6 150 2.80 1737 .914 3 0 1 22 5 5 295:11 2 3 0 13 2.64 162 .920 0 0 0 0 Totals 82 4924:59 30 43 9 225 2.74 2,591 0.913 3 0 1 24 †Acquired by Canucks mid-season. Stats reflect time with Canucks only. ‡Acquired by another team mid-season. Stats reflect time with Canucks only.

Awards and honours

Awards

Regular season Player Award Awarded NHL All-Star Game selection January 10, 2017

Milestones