# 1979–80 Vancouver Canucks season

The 1979–80 Vancouver Canucks season was the team's 10th in the NHL. Stan Smyl led the team in goals, assists, points, and penalty minutes, the last time one player has led his team in all four categories. On October 14, 1979, Wayne Gretzky scored his first NHL goal against Glen Hanlon.

## Regular season
### Final standings

Smythe Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| Chicago Black Hawks | 80 | 34 | 27 | 19 | 241 | 250 | 87 |
| St. Louis Blues | 80 | 34 | 34 | 12 | 266 | 278 | 80 |
| Vancouver Canucks | 80 | 27 | 37 | 16 | 256 | 281 | 70 |
| Edmonton Oilers | 80 | 28 | 39 | 13 | 301 | 322 | 69 |
| Winnipeg Jets | 80 | 20 | 49 | 11 | 214 | 314 | 51 |
| Colorado Rockies | 80 | 19 | 48 | 13 | 234 | 308 | 51 |
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.
League standings :
| R | | Div | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | p – Philadelphia Flyers | PTK | 80 | 48 | 12 | 20 | 327 | 254 | 116 |
| 2 | y – Buffalo Sabres | ADM | 80 | 47 | 17 | 16 | 318 | 201 | 110 |
| 3 | x – Montreal Canadiens | NRS | 80 | 47 | 20 | 13 | 328 | 240 | 107 |
| 4 | Boston Bruins | ADM | 80 | 46 | 21 | 13 | 310 | 234 | 105 |
| 5 | New York Islanders | PTK | 80 | 39 | 28 | 13 | 281 | 247 | 91 |
| 6 | Minnesota North Stars | ADM | 80 | 36 | 28 | 16 | 311 | 253 | 88 |
| 7 | x – Chicago Black Hawks | SMY | 80 | 34 | 27 | 19 | 241 | 250 | 87 |
| 8 | New York Rangers | PTK | 80 | 38 | 32 | 10 | 308 | 284 | 86 |
| 9 | Atlanta Flames | PTK | 80 | 35 | 32 | 13 | 282 | 269 | 83 |
| 10 | St. Louis Blues | SMY | 80 | 34 | 34 | 12 | 266 | 278 | 80 |
| 11 | Toronto Maple Leafs | ADM | 80 | 35 | 40 | 5 | 304 | 327 | 75 |
| 12 | Los Angeles Kings | NRS | 80 | 30 | 36 | 14 | 290 | 313 | 74 |
| 13 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NRS | 80 | 30 | 37 | 13 | 251 | 303 | 73 |
| 14 | Hartford Whalers | NRS | 80 | 27 | 34 | 19 | 303 | 312 | 73 |
| 15 | Vancouver Canucks | SMY | 80 | 27 | 37 | 16 | 256 | 281 | 70 |
| 16 | Edmonton Oilers | SMY | 80 | 28 | 39 | 13 | 301 | 322 | 69 |
| 17 | Washington Capitals | PTK | 80 | 27 | 40 | 13 | 261 | 293 | 67 |
| 18 | Detroit Red Wings | NRS | 80 | 26 | 43 | 11 | 268 | 306 | 63 |
| 19 | Quebec Nordiques | ADM | 80 | 25 | 44 | 11 | 248 | 313 | 61 |
| 20 | Winnipeg Jets | SMY | 80 | 20 | 49 | 11 | 214 | 314 | 51 |
| 21 | Colorado Rockies | SMY | 80 | 19 | 48 | 13 | 234 | 308 | 51 |
Divisions: ADM – Adams, NRS – Norris, PTK – Patrick, SMY – Smythe
bold – The top 16 teams in the league qualified for the playoffs, regardless of division or conference. x – Won division; y – Won Conference (and division); p – Won Presidents' Trophy (and conference and division)

### Record vs. opponents

Smythe Division record vs. opponents :
Vs. Campbell Conference
Vs. Smythe Division
1979–80 NHL records
Team
CHI
COL
EDM
STL
VAN
WIN
Total
Chicago
—3−0−11−31−2−11−1−22−28−8−4
Colorado
0−3−1—2−20−2−21−2−11−2−14−11−5
Edmonton
3−12−2—0−3−11−2−11−2−17−10−3
St. Louis
2−1−12−0−23−0−1—3−11−1−211−3−6
Vancouver
1−1−22−1−12−1−11−3—2−1−18−7−5
Winnipeg
2−22−1−11−2−12−21−2−1—8−9−3
Vs. Patrick Division
1979–80 NHL records
Team
ATL
NYI
NYR
PHI
WSH
Total
Chicago
2−0−21−2−12−1−10−2−22−27−7−6
Colorado
0−41−31−1−21−2−11−1−24−11−5
Edmonton
1−2−12−1−11−30−3−13−17−10−3
St. Louis
1−31−30−40−2−22−24−14−2
Vancouver
2−22−1−10−41−31−36−13−1
Winnipeg
0−40−2−22−20−40−3−12−15−3
Vs. Wales Conference
Vs. Adams Division
1979–80 NHL records
Team
BOS
BUF
MIN
QUE
TOR
Total
Chicago
2−21−1−22−1−12−1−14−011−5−4
Colorado
1−2−11−31−31−30−3−14−14−2
Edmonton
0−41−2−11−1−22−22−1−16−10−4
St. Louis
1−1−22−21−32−22−28−10−2
Vancouver
0−1−30−1−32−1−12−21−35−8−7
Winnipeg
1−30−3−11−2−12−20−44−14−2
Vs. Norris Division
1979–80 NHL records
Team
DET
HFD
LAK
MTL
PIT
Total
Chicago
3−11−1−20−3−12−22−0−28−7−5
Colorado
3−11−2−10−41−32−27−12−1
Edmonton
1−2−11−2−12−1−11−33−18−9−3
St. Louis
2−1−12−23−12−22−1−111−7−2
Vancouver
2−21−1−22−22−21−2−18−9−3
Winnipeg
1−32−22−1−11−30−46−13−1 :

## Schedule and results

| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | L | October 9, 1979 | 2–5 | St. Louis Blues (1979–80) | 0–1–0 |
| 2 | W | October 12, 1979 | 3–1 | Detroit Red Wings (1979–80) | 1–1–0 |
| 3 | T | October 14, 1979 | 4–4 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1979–80) | 1–1–1 |
| 4 | W | October 17, 1979 | 5–1 | @ St. Louis Blues (1979–80) | 2–1–1 |
| 5 | L | October 18, 1979 | 3–6 | @ New York Rangers (1979–80) | 2–2–1 |
| 6 | L | October 20, 1979 | 0–2 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1979–80) | 2–3–1 |
| 7 | T | October 21, 1979 | 3–3 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1979–80) | 2–3–2 |
| 8 | W | October 24, 1979 | 5–1 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1979–80) | 3–3–2 |
| 9 | W | October 27, 1979 | 5–3 | Washington Capitals (1979–80) | 4–3–2 |
| 10 | T | October 31, 1979 | 2–2 | New York Islanders (1979–80) | 4–3–3 |
| 11 | T | November 2, 1979 | 3–3 | Boston Bruins (1979–80) | 4–3–4 |
| 12 | L | November 4, 1979 | 2–4 | New York Rangers (1979–80) | 4–4–4 |
| 13 | T | November 6, 1979 | 7–7 | Minnesota North Stars (1979–80) | 4–4–5 |
| 14 | W | November 10, 1979 | 2–1 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1979–80) | 5–4–5 |
| 15 | L | November 11, 1979 | 4–5 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80) | 5–5–5 |
| 16 | W | November 13, 1979 | 5–3 | @ Atlanta Flames (1979–80) | 6–5–5 |
| 17 | W | November 14, 1979 | 5–2 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1979–80) | 7–5–5 |
| 18 | W | November 16, 1979 | 5–2 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1979–80) | 8–5–5 |
| 19 | W | November 18, 1979 | 5–2 | Montreal Canadiens (1979–80) | 9–5–5 |
| 20 | L | November 20, 1979 | 1–5 | Los Angeles Kings (1979–80) | 9–6–5 |
| 21 | L | November 23, 1979 | 2–5 | Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80) | 9–7–5 |
| 22 | L | November 24, 1979 | 3–5 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1979–80) | 9–8–5 |
| 23 | W | November 28, 1979 | 4–2 | Winnipeg Jets (1979–80) | 10–8–5 |
| 24 | T | November 30, 1979 | 1–1 | Chicago Black Hawks (1979–80) | 10–8–6 |
| 25 | L | December 2, 1979 | 1–3 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1979–80) | 10–9–6 |
| 26 | W | December 4, 1979 | 5–1 | @ New York Islanders (1979–80) | 11–9–6 |
| 27 | T | December 5, 1979 | 3–3 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1979–80) | 11–9–7 |
| 28 | L | December 8, 1979 | 1–5 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1979–80) | 11–10–7 |
| 29 | L | December 9, 1979 | 3–5 | @ Boston Bruins (1979–80) | 11–11–7 |
| 30 | W | December 11, 1979 | 5–3 | Hartford Whalers (1979–80) | 12–11–7 |
| 31 | W | December 14, 1979 | 5–3 | Colorado Rockies (1979–80) | 13–11–7 |
| 32 | L | December 15, 1979 | 3–4 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1979–80) | 13–12–7 |
| 33 | L | December 19, 1979 | 3–5 | @ New York Rangers (1979–80) | 13–13–7 |
| 34 | L | December 21, 1979 | 1–2 | @ Washington Capitals (1979–80) | 13–14–7 |
| 35 | L | December 22, 1979 | 2–4 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1979–80) | 13–15–7 |
| 36 | L | December 28, 1979 | 3–5 | Edmonton Oilers (1979–80) | 13–16–7 |
| 37 | W | December 29, 1979 | 6–2 | Quebec Nordiques (1979–80) | 14–16–7 |
| 38 | L | January 3, 1980 | 2–6 | @ St. Louis Blues (1979–80) | 14–17–7 |
| 39 | W | January 4, 1980 | 4–2 | @ Colorado Rockies (1979–80) | 15–17–7 |
| 40 | L | January 6, 1980 | 1–3 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1979–80) | 15–18–7 |
| 41 | L | January 8, 1980 | 0–3 | @ New York Islanders (1979–80) | 15–19–7 |
| 42 | L | January 9, 1980 | 2–4 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1979–80) | 15–20–7 |
| 43 | L | January 11, 1980 | 4–7 | @ Washington Capitals (1979–80) | 15–21–7 |
| 44 | L | January 12, 1980 | 4–6 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1979–80) | 15–22–7 |
| 45 | L | January 16, 1980 | 3–5 | Atlanta Flames (1979–80) | 15–23–7 |
| 46 | T | January 18, 1980 | 2–2 | Buffalo Sabres (1979–80) | 15–23–8 |
| 47 | L | January 22, 1980 | 3–5 | Colorado Rockies (1979–80) | 15–24–8 |
| 48 | L | January 23, 1980 | 4–6 | New York Rangers (1979–80) | 15–25–8 |
| 49 | L | January 27, 1980 | 2–5 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1979–80) | 15–26–8 |
| 50 | L | January 29, 1980 | 3–4 | Montreal Canadiens (1979–80) | 15–27–8 |
| 51 | W | February 2, 1980 | 5–4 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1979–80) | 16–27–8 |
| 52 | L | February 3, 1980 | 0–3 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1979–80) | 16–28–8 |
| 53 | W | February 7, 1980 | 4–1 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80) | 17–28–8 |
| 54 | W | February 9, 1980 | 4–3 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1979–80) | 18–28–8 |
| 55 | T | February 12, 1980 | 5–5 | @ Hartford Whalers (1979–80) | 18–28–9 |
| 56 | L | February 16, 1980 | 3–5 | Washington Capitals (1979–80) | 18–29–9 |
| 57 | W | February 17, 1980 | 4–2 | New York Islanders (1979–80) | 19–29–9 |
| 58 | L | February 19, 1980 | 1–3 | St. Louis Blues (1979–80) | 19–30–9 |
| 59 | L | February 22, 1980 | 3–7 | Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80) | 19–31–9 |
| 60 | T | February 23, 1980 | 4–4 | Boston Bruins (1979–80) | 19–31–10 |
| 61 | L | February 26, 1980 | 4–5 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1979–80) | 19–32–10 |
| 62 | T | February 29, 1980 | 3–3 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1979–80) | 19–32–11 |
| 63 | W | March 1, 1980 | 5–2 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1979–80) | 20–32–11 |
| 64 | W | March 4, 1980 | 2–1 | Winnipeg Jets (1979–80) | 21–32–11 |
| 65 | T | March 5, 1980 | 3–3 | Chicago Black Hawks (1979–80) | 21–32–12 |
| 66 | L | March 7, 1980 | 3–9 | Atlanta Flames (1979–80) | 21–33–12 |
| 67 | T | March 9, 1980 | 4–4 | @ Colorado Rockies (1979–80) | 21–33–13 |
| 68 | W | March 10, 1980 | 5–2 | @ Atlanta Flames (1979–80) | 22–33–13 |
| 69 | L | March 13, 1980 | 1–3 | @ Hartford Whalers (1979–80) | 22–34–13 |
| 70 | T | March 15, 1980 | 2–2 | @ Boston Bruins (1979–80) | 22–34–14 |
| 71 | W | March 16, 1980 | 3–2 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1979–80) | 23–34–14 |
| 72 | T | March 19, 1980 | 3–3 | Buffalo Sabres (1979–80) | 23–34–15 |
| 73 | L | March 21, 1980 | 2–5 | Detroit Red Wings (1979–80) | 23–35–15 |
| 74 | L | March 23, 1980 | 2–6 | Quebec Nordiques (1979–80) | 23–36–15 |
| 75 | L | March 25, 1980 | 2–4 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1979–80) | 23–37–15 |
| 76 | T | March 28, 1980 | 4–4 | Hartford Whalers (1979–80) | 23–37–16 |
| 77 | W | March 30, 1980 | 5–3 | Minnesota North Stars (1979–80) | 24–37–16 |
| 78 | W | April 1, 1980 | 5–0 | Edmonton Oilers (1979–80) | 25–37–16 |
| 79 | W | April 3, 1980 | 4–2 | Los Angeles Kings (1979–80) | 26–37–16 |
| 80 | W | April 5, 1980 | 5–3 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1979–80) | 27–37–16 |

## Playoffs

1980 Stanley Cup playoffs :

## Draft picks

Vancouver's picks at the 1979 NHL entry draft. The draft was held in August 1979 at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Canada.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 5 | Rick Vaive (RW) | Canada | Birmingham Bulls (WHA) |
| 2 | 26 | Brent Ashton (C) | Canada | Saskatoon Blades (WHL) |
| 3 | 47 | Ken Ellacott (G) | Canada | Peterborough Petes (OHA) |
| 4 | 68 | Art Rutland (F) | Canada | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHA) |
| 5 | 89 | Dirk Graham (RW) | Canada | Regina Pats (WHL) |
| 6 | 110 | Shane Swan | Canada | Sudbury Wolves (OHA) |