# 1995–96 Vancouver Canucks season

The 1995–96 Vancouver Canucks season was the Canucks' 26th season in the National Hockey League (NHL). It marked the year they played their first season in General Motors Place, the year future star Markus Naslund joined the team, and Cliff Ronning's final season with the Canucks.

## Regular season

On March 28, head coach Rick Ley was fired with six games left in the regular season.

### Standings

Pacific Division :
| No. | | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | Colorado Avalanche | 82 | 47 | 25 | 10 | 326 | 240 | 104 |
| 2 | Calgary Flames | 82 | 34 | 37 | 11 | 241 | 240 | 79 |
| 3 | Vancouver Canucks | 82 | 32 | 35 | 15 | 278 | 278 | 79 |
| 4 | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | 82 | 35 | 39 | 8 | 234 | 247 | 78 |
| 5 | Edmonton Oilers | 82 | 30 | 44 | 8 | 240 | 304 | 68 |
| 6 | Los Angeles Kings | 82 | 24 | 40 | 18 | 256 | 302 | 66 |
| 7 | San Jose Sharks | 82 | 20 | 55 | 7 | 252 | 357 | 47 |
Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points Bolded teams qualified for the playoffs.
Western Conference :
| R | | Div | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | p – Detroit Red Wings | CEN | 82 | 62 | 13 | 7 | 325 | 181 | 131 |
| 2 | Colorado Avalanche | PAC | 82 | 47 | 25 | 10 | 326 | 240 | 104 |
| 3 | Chicago Blackhawks | CEN | 82 | 40 | 28 | 14 | 273 | 220 | 94 |
| 4 | Toronto Maple Leafs | CEN | 82 | 34 | 36 | 12 | 247 | 252 | 80 |
| 5 | St. Louis Blues | CEN | 82 | 32 | 34 | 16 | 219 | 248 | 80 |
| 6 | Calgary Flames | PAC | 82 | 34 | 37 | 11 | 241 | 240 | 79 |
| 7 | Vancouver Canucks | PAC | 82 | 32 | 35 | 15 | 278 | 278 | 79 |
| 8 | Winnipeg Jets | CEN | 82 | 36 | 40 | 6 | 275 | 291 | 78 |
| 9 | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | PAC | 82 | 35 | 39 | 8 | 234 | 247 | 78 |
| 10 | Edmonton Oilers | PAC | 82 | 30 | 44 | 8 | 240 | 304 | 68 |
| 11 | Dallas Stars | CEN | 82 | 26 | 42 | 14 | 227 | 280 | 66 |
| 12 | Los Angeles Kings | PAC | 82 | 24 | 40 | 18 | 256 | 302 | 66 |
| 13 | San Jose Sharks | PAC | 82 | 20 | 55 | 7 | 252 | 357 | 47 |
Divisions: CEN – Central, PAC – Pacific
bold – Qualified for playoffs; p – Won Presidents' Trophy

## Schedule and results
### Regular season

1995–96 regular season :
October: 4–4–2 (home: 1–2–1; road: 3–2–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
1LOctober 9, 19953–5Detroit Red Wings (1995–96)0–1–0Recap
2TOctober 12, 19957–7 OT@ Los Angeles Kings (1995–96)0–1–1Recap
3WOctober 14, 19957–6@ San Jose Sharks (1995–96)1–1–1Recap
4TOctober 15, 19953–3 OTLos Angeles Kings (1995–96)1–1–2Recap
5WOctober 18, 19955–1@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–96)2–1–2Recap
6LOctober 21, 19954–6@ Edmonton Oilers (1995–96)2–2–2Recap
7LOctober 24, 19952–5@ New York Rangers (1995–96)2–3–2Recap
8WOctober 25, 19954–2@ New Jersey Devils (1995–96)3–3–2Recap
9LOctober 28, 19951–4Winnipeg Jets (1995–96)3–4–2Recap
10WOctober 30, 19954–3San Jose Sharks (1995–96)4–4–2Recap :
November: 2–7–5 (home: 0–2–3; road: 2–5–2)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
11TNovember 1, 19953–3 OTEdmonton Oilers (1995–96)4–4–3Recap
12TNovember 3, 19954–4 OTToronto Maple Leafs (1995–96)4–4–4Recap
13TNovember 4, 19954–4 OT@ Calgary Flames (1995–96)4–4–5Recap
14WNovember 7, 19955–2@ New York Islanders (1995–96)5–4–5Recap
15LNovember 9, 19952–5@ Chicago Blackhawks (1995–96)5–5–5Recap
16LNovember 11, 19954–8Colorado Avalanche (1995–96)5–6–5Recap
17LNovember 12, 19952–4Montreal Canadiens (1995–96)5–7–5Recap
18TNovember 16, 19952–2 OT@ Florida Panthers (1995–96)5–7–6Recap
19LNovember 18, 19954–5 OT@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1995–96)5–8–6Recap
20LNovember 19, 19952–3 OT@ Philadelphia Flyers (1995–96)5–9–6Recap
21LNovember 22, 19953–4@ Dallas Stars (1995–96)5–10–6Recap
22WNovember 23, 19953–2@ St. Louis Blues (1995–96)6–10–6Recap
23LNovember 25, 19952–7@ San Jose Sharks (1995–96)6–11–6Recap
24TNovember 29, 19952–2 OTChicago Blackhawks (1995–96)6–11–7Recap :
December: 6–4–3 (home: 3–4–1; road: 3–0–2)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
25WDecember 1, 19957–2San Jose Sharks (1995–96)7–11–7Recap
26WDecember 5, 19956–2Edmonton Oilers (1995–96)8–11–7Recap
27LDecember 8, 19953–6St. Louis Blues (1995–96)8–12–7Recap
28WDecember 9, 19954–3@ Calgary Flames (1995–96)9–12–7Recap
29TDecember 13, 19952–2 OT@ Edmonton Oilers (1995–96)9–12–8Recap
30WDecember 17, 19954–1Ottawa Senators (1995–96)10–12–8Recap
31WDecember 18, 19954–2@ Colorado Avalanche (1995–96)11–12–8Recap
32TDecember 20, 19952–2 OT@ Los Angeles Kings (1995–96)11–12–9Recap
33WDecember 22, 19956–2@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–96)12–12–9Recap
34LDecember 23, 19950–1Detroit Red Wings (1995–96)12–13–9Recap
35LDecember 26, 19952–4Calgary Flames (1995–96)12–14–9Recap
36LDecember 28, 19952–3New York Rangers (1995–96)12–15–9Recap
37TDecember 31, 19955–5 OTPhiladelphia Flyers (1995–96)12–15–10Recap :
January: 5–5–2 (home: 3–3–0; road: 2–2–2)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
38WJanuary 3, 19967–2Florida Panthers (1995–96)13–15–10Recap
39WJanuary 6, 19969–2Tampa Bay Lightning (1995–96)14–15–10Recap
40LJanuary 8, 19965–8@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96)14–16–10Recap
41TJanuary 10, 19962–2 OT@ Montreal Canadiens (1995–96)14–16–11Recap
42WJanuary 13, 19965–2@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96)15–16–11Recap
43WJanuary 15, 19966–0@ Boston Bruins (1995–96)16–16–11Recap
44LJanuary 16, 19960–3@ Hartford Whalers (1995–96)16–17–11Recap
45LJanuary 22, 19964–6Dallas Stars (1995–96)16–18–11Recap
46LJanuary 24, 19961–2 OTMighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–96)16–19–11Recap
47TJanuary 25, 19962–2 OT@ Colorado Avalanche (1995–96)16–19–12Recap
48WJanuary 27, 19966–3New York Islanders (1995–96)17–19–12Recap
49LJanuary 30, 19962–3 OTNew Jersey Devils (1995–96)17–20–12Recap :
February: 7–4–3 (home: 3–3–2; road: 4–1–1)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
50TFebruary 1, 19962–2 OT@ St. Louis Blues (1995–96)17–20–13Recap
51WFebruary 2, 19965–4@ Dallas Stars (1995–96)18–20–13Recap
52WFebruary 4, 19964–2@ Winnipeg Jets (1995–96)19–20–13Recap
53LFebruary 7, 19963–5Hartford Whalers (1995–96)19–21–13Recap
54WFebruary 9, 19963–2 OT@ Edmonton Oilers (1995–96)20–21–13Recap
55TFebruary 10, 19964–4 OTWashington Capitals (1995–96)20–21–14Recap
56WFebruary 13, 19965–4Winnipeg Jets (1995–96)21–21–14Recap
57WFebruary 15, 19965–3Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–96)22–21–14Recap
58LFebruary 17, 19961–4Boston Bruins (1995–96)22–22–14Recap
59LFebruary 19, 19963–4@ Detroit Red Wings (1995–96)22–23–14Recap
60WFebruary 21, 19965–3@ Winnipeg Jets (1995–96)23–23–14Recap
61WFebruary 23, 19963–1San Jose Sharks (1995–96)24–23–14Recap
62LFebruary 27, 19964–7Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96)24–24–14Recap
63TFebruary 29, 19962–2 OTSt. Louis Blues (1995–96)24–24–15Recap :
March: 6–8–0 (home: 4–4–0; road: 2–4–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
64WMarch 2, 19963–2@ Detroit Red Wings (1995–96)25–24–15Recap
65WMarch 3, 19963–0@ Buffalo Sabres (1995–96)26–24–15Recap
66WMarch 6, 19965–2Buffalo Sabres (1995–96)27–24–15Recap
67LMarch 9, 19965–7Colorado Avalanche (1995–96)27–25–15Recap
68LMarch 12, 19960–9@ Washington Capitals (1995–96)27–26–15Recap
69LMarch 14, 19961–5@ Chicago Blackhawks (1995–96)27–27–15Recap
70LMarch 15, 19960–2@ Ottawa Senators (1995–96)27–28–15Recap
71LMarch 17, 19962–4@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96)27–29–15Recap
72LMarch 19, 19963–4Colorado Avalanche (1995–96)27–30–15Recap
73WMarch 22, 19965–2Dallas Stars (1995–96)28–30–15Recap
74LMarch 23, 19960–4Calgary Flames (1995–96)28–31–15Recap
75WMarch 25, 19964–1Los Angeles Kings (1995–96)29–31–15Recap
76LMarch 27, 19962–6Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96)29–32–15Recap
77WMarch 29, 19964–2Chicago Blackhawks (1995–96)30–32–15Recap :
April: 2–3–0 (home: 1–1–0; road: 1–2–0)
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordRecap
78LApril 1, 19962–6Edmonton Oilers (1995–96)30–33–15Recap
79LApril 3, 19963–4@ Calgary Flames (1995–96)30–34–15Recap
80WApril 6, 19964–2@ Los Angeles Kings (1995–96)31–34–15Recap
81LApril 8, 19960–2@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–96)31–35–15Recap
82WApril 13, 19965–0Calgary Flames (1995–96)32–35–15Recap :
Legend:
  Win (2 points)
  Loss (0 points)
  Tie (1 point) :

### Playoffs

1996 Stanley Cup playoffs :
Western Conference Quarterfinals vs. (2) Colorado Avalanche – Avalanche win 4–2
GameDateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceSeriesRecap
1April 16Vancouver2 – 5ColoradoMcLean16,0610 – 1Recap
2April 18Vancouver5 – 4ColoradoHirsch16,0611 – 1Recap
3April 20Colorado4 – 0VancouverHirsch18,4221 – 2Recap
4April 22Colorado3 – 4VancouverHirsch18,4222 – 2Recap
5April 25Vancouver4 – 5ColoradoOTHirsch16,0612 – 3Recap
6April 27Colorado3 – 2VancouverHirsch18,4222 – 4Recap :
Legend:
  Win
  Loss :

## Player statistics
### Scoring

* Position abbreviations: C = Centre; D = Defence; G = Goaltender; LW = Left wing; RW = Right wing
* † = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Canucks only.
* ‡ = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Canucks only.
| No. | Player | Pos | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| No. | Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM |
| 89 | Alexander Mogilny | RW | 79 | 55 | 52 | 107 | 14 | 16 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 9 | −1 | 8 |
| 16 | Trevor Linden | C | 82 | 33 | 47 | 80 | 6 | 42 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 8 | −1 | 6 |
| 7 | Cliff Ronning | C | 79 | 22 | 45 | 67 | 16 | 42 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
| 9 | Russ Courtnall | RW | 81 | 26 | 39 | 65 | 25 | 40 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −4 | 2 |
| 23 | Martin Gelinas | LW | 81 | 30 | 26 | 56 | 8 | 59 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 12 |
| 21 | Jyrki Lumme | D | 80 | 17 | 37 | 54 | −9 | 50 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −1 | 2 |
| 28 | Roman Oksiuta‡ | RW | 56 | 16 | 23 | 39 | 2 | 42 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 10 | Esa Tikkanen† | LW | 38 | 13 | 24 | 37 | 6 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 5 | −3 | 2 |
| 3 | Bret Hedican | D | 77 | 6 | 23 | 29 | 8 | 83 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −2 | 10 |
| 44 | Dave Babych | D | 53 | 3 | 21 | 24 | −5 | 38 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 27 | Leif Rohlin | D | 56 | 6 | 16 | 22 | 0 | 32 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 0 |
| 17 | Mike Ridley | C | 37 | 6 | 15 | 21 | −3 | 29 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −3 | 2 |
| 42 | Josef Beranek | LW | 61 | 6 | 14 | 20 | −11 | 60 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | Adrian Aucoin | D | 49 | 4 | 14 | 18 | 8 | 34 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −5 | 2 |
| 22 | Jeff Brown‡ | D | 28 | 1 | 16 | 17 | 6 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 96 | Pavel Bure | LW | 15 | 6 | 7 | 13 | −2 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 24 | Scott Walker | D | 63 | 4 | 8 | 12 | −7 | 137 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 5 | Dana Murzyn | D | 69 | 2 | 10 | 12 | 9 | 130 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 |
| 29 | Gino Odjick | LW | 55 | 3 | 4 | 7 | −16 | 181 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| 15 | Jim Dowd† | C | 38 | 1 | 6 | 7 | −8 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 0 |
| 25 | Jim Sandlak | RW | 33 | 4 | 2 | 6 | −3 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 36 | Brian Loney | RW | 12 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 26 | Mike Sillinger† | RW | 12 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −5 | 2 |
| 14 | Jesse Belanger† | C | 9 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 22 | Markus Naslund† | LW | 10 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −2 | 8 |
| 19 | Tim Hunter | RW | 60 | 2 | 0 | 2 | −8 | 122 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 34 | Jassen Cullimore | D | 27 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 21 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 31 | Corey Hirsch | G | 41 | 0 | 2 | 2 | | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 2 |
| 32 | Dean Malkoc | D | 41 | 0 | 2 | 2 | −10 | 136 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1 | Kirk McLean | G | 45 | 0 | 2 | 2 | | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | 0 |
| 14 | Larry Courville | LW | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2 | Frantisek Kucera† | D | 24 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −3 | 0 |
| 14 | Lonny Bohonos | RW | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 28 | Joe Kocur† | RW | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −3 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | Alek Stojanov‡ | RW | 58 | 0 | 1 | 1 | −12 | 123 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 20 | Evgeny Namestnikov | D | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

### Goaltending

| No. | Player | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| No. | Player | GP | W | L | T | SA | GA | GAA | SV% | SO | TOI | GP | W | L | SA | GA | GAA | SV% | SO | TOI |
| 31 | Corey Hirsch | 41 | 17 | 14 | 6 | 1173 | 114 | 2.93 | .903 | 1 | 2338 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 166 | 21 | 3.73 | .873 | 0 | 338 |
| 1 | Kirk McLean | 45 | 15 | 21 | 9 | 1292 | 156 | 3.54 | .879 | 2 | 2645 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 3 | 8.62 | .750 | 0 | 21 |

## Awards and records
### Awards

| Type | Award/honour | Recipient |
| League (annual) | NHL All-Rookie Team | Corey Hirsch (Goaltender) |
| League (annual) | NHL Second All-Star team | Alexander Mogilny (Right Wing |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Pavel Bure |
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Alexander Mogilny |
| Team | Babe Pratt Trophy | Jyrki Lumme |
| Team | Cyclone Taylor Trophy | Trevor Linden |
| Team | Cyrus H. McLean Trophy | Alexander Mogilny |
| Team | Fred J. Hume Award | Martin Gelinas |
| Team | Molson Cup | Trevor Linden |
| Team | Most Exciting Player Award | Alexander Mogilny |

### Milestones

| Milestone | Player | Date |
| First game | Dean Malkoc | October 9, 1995 |
| First game | Leif Rohlin | October 9, 1995 |
| First game | Lonny Bohonos | November 11, 1995 |
| First game | Brian Loney | November 29, 1995 |
| First game | Larry Courville | December 13, 1995 |
| 1,000th game played | Dave Babych | February 7, 1996 |

## Transactions
### Trades

| July 8, 1995 | To Vancouver CanucksAlexander Mogilny 5th round pick in 1995 (Todd Norman) | To Buffalo SabresMichael Peca Mike Wilson 1st round pick in 1995 (Jay McKee) |
| July 8, 1995 | To Vancouver CanucksMike Ridley | To Toronto Maple LeafsSergio Momesso |
| November 23, 1995 | To Vancouver CanucksEsa Tikkanen | To New Jersey Devils2nd round pick in 1996 (Wesley Mason) |
| December 19, 1995 | To Vancouver CanucksJim Dowd Frantisek Kucera 2nd round pick in 1997 (Ryan Bonni) | To Hartford WhalersJeff Brown 3rd round pick in 1998 (Paul Manning) |
| March 15, 1996 | To Vancouver CanucksMike Sillinger | To Mighty Ducks of AnaheimRoman Oksiuta |
| March 20, 1996 | To Vancouver CanucksJesse Belanger | To Florida Panthers3rd round pick in 1996 (Oleg Kvasha) Future considerations |
| March 20, 1996 | To Vancouver CanucksJoe Kocur | To New York RangersKay Whitmore |
| March 20, 1996 | To Vancouver CanucksMarkus Naslund | To Pittsburgh PenguinsAlek Stojanov |

## Draft picks

Vancouver's picks at the 1995 NHL entry draft in Edmonton, Alberta.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | NHL team | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 2 | 40 | Chris McAllister (D) | Canada | Vancouver Canucks | Saskatoon Blades (WHL) |
| 3 | 61 | Larry Courville (LW) | Canada | Vancouver Canucks (from Chicago via Hartford) | Oshawa Generals (OHL) |
| 3 | 66 | Peter Schaefer (LW) | Canada | Vancouver Canucks | Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) |
| 4 | 92 | Lloyd Shaw (D) | Canada | Vancouver Canucks | Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) |
| 5 | 120 | Todd Norman (LW) | Canada | Vancouver Canucks (from Buffalo) | Guelph Storm (OHL) |
| 6 | 144 | Brent Sopel (D) | Canada | Vancouver Canucks | Swift Current Broncos (WHL) |
| 7 | 170 | Stu Boedker (C) | Canada | Vancouver Canucks | Colorado College (WCHA) |
| 8 | 196 | Tyler Willis (RW) | Canada | Vancouver Canucks | Swift Current Broncos (WHL) |
| 9 | 222 | Jason Cugnet (G) | Canada | Vancouver Canucks | Kelowna Spartans (BCJHL) |