# 1981–82 Vancouver Canucks season

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 Finals, losing to the New York Islanders 4 games to 0.

## Regular season
### Final standings

Smythe Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | PTS |
| Edmonton Oilers | 80 | 48 | 17 | 15 | 417 | 295 | 111 |
| Vancouver Canucks | 80 | 30 | 33 | 17 | 290 | 286 | 77 |
| Calgary Flames | 80 | 29 | 34 | 17 | 334 | 345 | 75 |
| Los Angeles Kings | 80 | 24 | 41 | 15 | 314 | 369 | 63 |
| Colorado Rockies | 80 | 18 | 49 | 13 | 241 | 362 | 49 |
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

### Record vs. opponents

Smythe Division record vs. opponents :
Vs. Campbell Conference
Vs. Smythe Division
1981–82 NHL records
Team
CGY
COL
EDM
LAK
VAN
Total
Calgary
—6−22−5−14−3−13−3−215−13−4
Colorado
2−6—2−5−12−4−22−4−28−19−5
Edmonton
5−2−15−2−1—5−1−25−2−120−7−5
Los Angeles
3−4−14−2−21−5−2—3−2−311−13−8
Vancouver
3−3−24−2−22−5−12−3−3—11−13−8
Vs. Norris Division
1981–82 NHL records
Team
CHI
DET
MIN
STL
TOR
WIN
Total
Calgary
0−2−11−1−10−1−21−21−0−21−24−8−6
Colorado
2−10−30−1−21−20−1−21−24−10−4
Edmonton
1−1−12−0−12−0−13−02−12−112−3−3
Los Angeles
0−32−10−2−12−11−20−35−12−1
Vancouver
2−11−1−11−1−11−22−0−12−19−6−3
Vs. Wales Conference
Vs. Adams Division
1981–82 NHL records
Team
BOS
BUF
HFD
MTL
QUE
Total
Calgary
1−1−12−0−12−11−23−09−4−2
Colorado
0−30−32−0−10−2−11−23−10−2
Edmonton
0−1−22−12−0−10−1−21−25−5−5
Los Angeles
0−31−20−2−11−21−0−23−9−3
Vancouver
1−21−1−12−0−11−21−1−16−6−3
Vs. Patrick Division
1981–82 NHL records
Team
NYI
NYR
PHI
PIT
WSH
Total
Calgary
0−1−20−2−10−31−0−20−31−9−5
Colorado
0−2−10−2−11−20−32−13−10−2
Edmonton
1−1−13−02−13−02−0−111−2−2
Los Angeles
2−11−20−2−11−1−11−1−15−7−3
Vancouver
1−20−32−0–10–2−11−1−14–8–3 :

## Schedule and results

1981–82 Game Log :

## Playoffs

1982 Stanley Cup playoffs :

## Player statistics
### Skaters

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
| | | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | 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 | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| Player | # | GP | Min | W | L | T | GA | SO | GAA | GP | Min | W | L | GA | SO | GAA |
| Rick 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

Vancouver's picks at the 1981 NHL entry draft. The draft was held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 10 | Garth Butcher (D) | Canada | Regina Pats (WHL) |
| 3 | 51 | Jean-Marc Lanthier (RW) | Canada | Sorel Black Hawks (QMJHL) |
| 4 | 73 | Wendell Young (G) | Canada | Kitchener Rangers (OHL) |
| 5 | 105 | Moe Lemay (F) | Canada | Ottawa 67's (OHL) |
| 6 | 115 | Stu Kulak | Canada | Victoria Cougars (WHL) |
| 7 | 136 | Bruce Holloway (D) | Canada | Regina Pats (WHL) |
| 8 | 157 | Petri Skriko (F) | Finland | SaiPa (Finland) |
| 9 | 178 | Frank Caprice (G) | Canada | London Knights (OHL) |
| 10 | 199 | Rejean Vignola (F) | Canada | Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL) |