2. Harold Snepsts (1974-1984 and 1988-1990)...perhaps the most popular Canuck of all time, he was also one of the most recognizable as he resisted wearing a helmet for all 17 of his NHL seasons. Played more games (781) than any other Canuck defenceman and remains in third place in all-time penalty minutes (1,446).
3. Thomas Gradin (1978-1986)...Often described as "elegance on ice", Gradin was one of the finest skaters ever to don a Canuck uniform. Diminutive (5'10", 170 lbs) by today's standards, Gradin used his guile and agility to score 197 goals and 353 assists for 550 points, good for third spot in all-time team scoring.
4. Pavel Bure (1991-1998)...Unquestionably the most exciting and explosive Canuck ever, Bure twice hit the 60-goal plateau and had 51 goals in another season. He led all NHL players with 16 playoff goals in 1994, helping power the Canucks to the Stanley Cup final. Not surprisingly, he was voted "Most Exciting Player" on five occasions and won the Molson Cup four times.
5. Tony Tanti (1982-1990)...The first Canuck to score 45 goals (1983-84), Tanti registered a team record 10 hat tricks during his eight seasons in Vancouver. He also holds club marks for power play goals (102) and game-winning goals (29). He remains in fifth place in all-time Canuck scoring with 250-220-470 in 531 games.
6. Trevor Linden (1988-1998)...Canucks' first draft pick in 1988, Linden went on to score 569 points in 10 seasons here. He captured the Molson Cup and team scoring title twice each and was Canucks' team captain for seven years. He won the NHL's King Clancy Award in 1996-97 for "humanitarian contributions to the community".
7. Orland Kurtenbach (1970-1974)...Canucks' first team captain and winner of the club's MVP (Cyclone Taylor) Trophy for three straight seasons. With tremendous leadership qualities for a fledgling expansion team, "Kurt" was a gritty competitor who was widely regarded as one of the top fighters in the NHL. He remains in 34th spot in team scoring with 163 points.
8. Kirk McLean (1987-1998)...McLean played more games (516), recorded more shutouts (20) and wins (211) than any other goalie in Canuck history. A three-time winner of the Molson Cup, McLean's four shutouts helped propel the Canucks all the way to the Stanley Cup finals in 1994.
9. Richard Brodeur (1980-1988)...Obtained from the Islanders in 1980 for the simple exchange of 5th draft picks, Brodeur went on to fashion a sparkling career with the Canucks. It was highlighted, without doubt, by his playoff performance of 1982 when he backstopped the team in a Cinderella-like journey to the Stanley Cup finals. He captured the coveted Molson Cup four times.
10. Gary Smith (1973-1976)...Though he played only three seasons for Vancouver, Smith raised Canuck netminding to a whole new level. With a six-shutout performance in 1974-75, he was hugely instumental in Canucks' first-place finish in the Smythe Division and then helped guide them to second spot the following season.
11. Don Lever (1972-1980)...Canucks' 1st round draft pick in 1972, Lever went on to play 593 games for Vancouver and remains in 6th place in all-time team scoring with 186 goals, 221 assists and 407 points. He was team captain for two seasons and was voted MVP in 1975-76.
12. Andre Boudrias (1970-1976)...When St. Louis sold Andre Boudrias to the Canucks on June 10, 1970, little did they know that the little centre (nicknamed Superpest) would go on to lead Vancouver in scoring in four of the next five seasons. To this day, Boudrias holds the club record for assists in a season (62 in '74-75) and remains in 7th place all-time with 388 points.
13. Dennis Kearns (1971-1981)...This smooth-skating, playmaking defenceman was a mainstay on the Canucks blueline for 10 seasons and remains tied for the scoring lead among Vancouver rearguards with former Canuck Jyrki Lumme, each with 321 points. His 55 assists in 1976-77 remains a single season record for defencemen.
14. Jyrki Lumme (1989-1998)...Obtained via trade with Montreal, this creative Finn immediately brought improvement to the Canucks defence corps. He was a four-time winner of the Babe Pratt Trophy as Canucks most outstanding defenceman and remains tied for first place in all-time team scoring among blueliners with Dennis Kearns, each with 321 points.
15. Darcy Rota (1979-1984)...The Canucks landed this BC-born sniper via a blockbuster trade with Atlanta. With his hustling style, he immediately became a fan favourite and went on to set a record for most goals by a left winger (42) in 1982-83, earning the team's Most Exciting Player Award. Rota remains in 18th place in Canuck scoring with 120 goals, 116 assists and 236 points.
16. Patrik Sundstrom (1982-1987)...A pure skater and excellent playmaking centre, Sundstrom performed at nearly a point-a-game pace during his five seasons in Vancouver. In 1983-84, he scored a goal and six assists during a 9-5 Canuck rout in Pittsburgh, and finished with 91 points to establish a single game record for most points and the highest total ever by a Vancouver centre. Both marks still stand.
17. Greg Adams (1987-1995)...The Canucks virtually stole this productive winger from New Jersey in 1987 and the Nelson, BC native went on to fashion a sparkling eight-year career with Vancouver. He enjoyed three 30+-goal seasons and was a driving force in Canucks' march to the '94 finals with two overtime winners. He's 9th in all-time scoring with 369 points.
18. Dave (Tiger) Williams (1979-1984)...Known much better for his aggressive style, Williams showed he had a touch around the net, too, as he connected for a team-leading 35 goals in 1980-81. That performance earned him a trip to the All-Star Game that season and the Canucks' Most Exciting Player Award. He was the NHL's all-time leader in penalty minutes (3,966), serving 1,324 of them with Vancouver.
19. Garth Butcher (1981-1991)...Canucks selected this hard-nosed defenceman in the first round of the 1981 Entry Draft. He went on to play 610 games for the Canucks. His steady play earned him the club's Unsung Hero Award in 1986-87. Five times he surpassed the 200-minute mark in penalties enroute to an all-time team record 1,668 minutes.
20. Doug Lidster (1983-1993)...This Kamloops native came to the Canucks via the U.S. college route and quickly established himself as one of the finest playmaking defencemen ever to don a Vancouver uniform. In 1986-87, he scored 12-51-63 to set a record for most points in a season by a Canuck defenceman, a mark which still stands. He scored 309 points in 666 Canuck games.
21. Glen Hanlon (1977-1982)...Selected in the third round of the 1977 Amateur Draft, Hanlon played the first five of his 14 NHL seasons with Vancouver. He recorded five shutouts, won 43 games and twice captured the Molson Cup during his 137 game Canuck career. He retired as a player in 1990-91 and was assistant coach of the Canucks between 1994-95 and 1998-99.
22. Geoff Courtnall (1991-1995)...Acquired by Vancouver via a seven-player trade with St. Louis (March 5/91). He scored 31 goals and 77 points in 1992-93 and followed that up with 70 points in '93-94. Canucks all-time leader in overtime goals with five in regular season and another in the '94 playoffs. With 246 points, he remains in 17th place in all-time Canuck scoring.
23. Cliff Ronning (1991-1996)...Canucks obtained this Burnaby-born centre in the same blockbuster deal in which they acquired Geoff Courtnall. A fan favourite because of his amazing agility and buzzsaw style, Ronning hit for 22+ goals four times and topped out at 85 points in 1992-93 when he was voted Canucks Unsung Hero.
24. Petri Skriko (1984-1991)...Selected in the 7th round (157th overall) in the 1981 Entry Draft, Skriko turned out to be a classic "sleeper", exceeding everyone's expectations. The fleet Finnish forward hit the 30-goal mark four straight seasons ('85-'88), dazzling opponents with his nifty moves. His performance included four hat tricks plus a four-goal game.
25. Larry Ashley (1981-1995)...In his field of athletic training, Larry Ashley was such an innovator and trendsetter during 14 seasons as medical trainer with the Canucks that his peers voted him president of the NHL Trainers' Association. Ashley died in the fall of '95 following a valiant battle with cancer.
26. Pat Quinn (1970 -72; 1987- 1998)...Defenceman Pat Quinn played for the expansion Canucks from 1970 to 1972, then returned to Vancouver as president and GM in 1987. He coached the Canucks from 1990 to 1994, guiding them to two Smythe Division titles and a berth in the '94 Cup finals.
27. The Griffiths Family (1974 - 1997)...The Griffiths family is synonymous with NHL hockey in Vancouver. Frank Griffiths Sr. purchased the team in 1974 and was, along with wife Emily, its keen owner until his death 20 years later. He was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1993. His son Arthur served as the team's vice-chairman and alternate governor for eight seasons.
28. Gino Odjick (1990 - 1998...Loved by his legion of fans who chanted GI-NO, GI-NO, Gino Odjick was equally feared by his many opponents who found themselves on the receiving end of his thunderous fists. In 444 games, Odjick amassed 1,946 penalty minutes, a club record.
29. Jack McIlhargey (1976 - 1980; 1985 - present)...But for 4 years in the early '80s, Jack McIlhargey has been in the Canuck organization since 1977, first as a tough defenceman and later as coach of Vancouver's farm clubs and, most recently, as assistant coach of the NHL Canucks.