# 1986–87 Vancouver Canucks season

The 1986–87 Vancouver Canucks season was the team's 17th in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Canucks did not qualify for the playoffs.

## Regular season
### Final standings

Smythe Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| Edmonton Oilers | 80 | 50 | 24 | 6 | 372 | 284 | 106 |
| Calgary Flames | 80 | 46 | 31 | 3 | 318 | 289 | 95 |
| Winnipeg Jets | 80 | 40 | 32 | 8 | 279 | 271 | 88 |
| Los Angeles Kings | 80 | 31 | 41 | 8 | 318 | 341 | 70 |
| Vancouver Canucks | 80 | 29 | 43 | 8 | 282 | 314 | 66 |
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
1986–87 NHL records
Team
CGY
EDM
LAK
VAN
WIN
Total
Calgary
—6–1–15–34–42–617–14–1
Edmonton
1–6–1—4–2–27–0–15–317–11–4
Los Angeles
3–52–4–2—2–5–13–510–19–3
Vancouver
4–40–7–15–2–1—3–512–18–2
Winnipeg
6–23–55–35–3—19–13–0
Vs. Norris Division
1986–87 NHL records
Team
CHI
DET
MIN
STL
TOR
Total
Calgary
3–01–21–1–11–22–18–6–1
Edmonton
1–23–02–0–13–02–111–3–1
Los Angeles
1–1–13–00–2–11–1–11–1–16–5–4
Vancouver
1–1–11–20–32–0–12–16–7–2
Winnipeg
0–31–1–12–11–0–21–25–7–3
Vs. Wales Conference
Vs. Adams Division
1986–87 NHL records
Team
BOS
BUF
HFD
MTL
QUE
Total
Calgary
1–23–02–11–22–19–6–0
Edmonton
1–22–12–13–03–011–4–0
Los Angeles
1–21–22–10–30–34–11–0
Vancouver
1–23–00–2–12–11–27–7–1
Winnipeg
1–22–11–1–11–21–0–26–6–3
Vs. Patrick Division
1986–87 NHL records
Team
NJD
NYI
NYR
PHI
PIT
WSH
Total
Calgary
2–12–0–12–12–12–12–112–5–1
Edmonton
2–12–0–13–01–22–11–211–6–1
Los Angeles
2–12–10–2–12–12–13–011–6–1
Vancouver
0–2–12–11–21–20–1–20–34–11–3
Winnipeg
3–01–1–12–11–22–11–1–110–6–2 :

## Schedule and results
### Pre-season

The Canucks released their pre-season schedule on July 5, 1986.

### Regular season

The Canucks released their regular season schedule on July 17, 1986.
| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | W | October 11, 1986 | 4–3 | St. Louis Blues (1986–87) | 1–0–0 |
| 2 | L | October 13, 1986 | 1–7 | Quebec Nordiques (1986–87) | 1–1–0 |
| 3 | L | October 15, 1986 | 2–3 | @ New Jersey Devils (1986–87) | 1–2–0 |
| 4 | L | October 16, 1986 | 2–6 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1986–87) | 1–3–0 |
| 5 | L | October 18, 1986 | 1–4 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1986–87) | 1–4–0 |
| 6 | W | October 22, 1986 | 5–1 | Boston Bruins (1986–87) | 2–4–0 |
| 7 | T | October 24, 1986 | 2–2 OT | Chicago Blackhawks (1986–87) | 2–4–1 |
| 8 | L | October 26, 1986 | 2–3 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1986–87) | 2–5–1 |
| 9 | L | October 28, 1986 | 2–5 | Washington Capitals (1986–87) | 2–6–1 |
| 10 | L | October 31, 1986 | 2–6 | Edmonton Oilers (1986–87) | 2–7–1 |
| 11 | L | November 2, 1986 | 3–5 | Montreal Canadiens (1986–87) | 2–8–1 |
| 12 | T | November 4, 1986 | 2–2 OT | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1986–87) | 2–8–2 |
| 13 | L | November 5, 1986 | 2–3 | @ Washington Capitals (1986–87) | 2–9–2 |
| 14 | W | November 7, 1986 | 7–6 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1986–87) | 3–9–2 |
| 15 | W | November 8, 1986 | 5–3 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1986–87) | 4–9–2 |
| 16 | L | November 11, 1986 | 3–5 | @ Calgary Flames (1986–87) | 4–10–2 |
| 17 | L | November 12, 1986 | 3–4 | Hartford Whalers (1986–87) | 4–11–2 |
| 18 | L | November 14, 1986 | 2–3 | Winnipeg Jets (1986–87) | 4–12–2 |
| 19 | W | November 18, 1986 | 5–0 | Calgary Flames (1986–87) | 5–12–2 |
| 20 | L | November 21, 1986 | 5–8 | New York Rangers (1986–87) | 5–13–2 |
| 21 | L | November 22, 1986 | 2–5 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1986–87) | 5–14–2 |
| 22 | W | November 25, 1986 | 11–5 | Los Angeles Kings (1986–87) | 6–14–2 |
| 23 | W | November 26, 1986 | 5–3 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1986–87) | 7–14–2 |
| 24 | L | November 29, 1986 | 3–6 | Winnipeg Jets (1986–87) | 7–15–2 |
| 25 | L | December 2, 1986 | 2–4 | Chicago Blackhawks (1986–87) | 7–16–2 |
| 26 | L | December 5, 1986 | 3–4 | New York Islanders (1986–87) | 7–17–2 |
| 27 | W | December 7, 1986 | 3–1 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1986–87) | 8–17–2 |
| 28 | L | December 9, 1986 | 3–6 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1986–87) | 8–18–2 |
| 29 | L | December 11, 1986 | 2–4 | @ Boston Bruins (1986–87) | 8–19–2 |
| 30 | T | December 13, 1986 | 2–2 OT | @ Hartford Whalers (1986–87) | 8–19–3 |
| 31 | W | December 14, 1986 | 7–3 | @ Chicago Blackhawks (1986–87) | 9–19–3 |
| 32 | L | December 17, 1986 | 4–5 | Detroit Red Wings (1986–87) | 9–20–3 |
| 33 | L | December 19, 1986 | 2–4 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1986–87) | 9–21–3 |
| 34 | L | December 20, 1986 | 3–5 | Calgary Flames (1986–87) | 9–22–3 |
| 35 | W | December 23, 1986 | 6–4 | Los Angeles Kings (1986–87) | 10–22–3 |
| 36 | W | December 27, 1986 | 4–2 | Philadelphia Flyers (1986–87) | 11–22–3 |
| 37 | L | December 30, 1986 | 3–7 | Edmonton Oilers (1986–87) | 11–23–3 |
| 38 | T | January 2, 1987 | 3–3 OT | Los Angeles Kings (1986–87) | 11–23–4 |
| 39 | L | January 4, 1987 | 2–4 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1986–87) | 11–24–4 |
| 40 | L | January 6, 1987 | 2–3 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1986–87) | 11–25–4 |
| 41 | W | January 7, 1987 | 3–2 OT | @ Montreal Canadiens (1986–87) | 12–25–4 |
| 42 | T | January 10, 1987 | 2–2 OT | @ New Jersey Devils (1986–87) | 12–25–5 |
| 43 | L | January 11, 1987 | 3–8 | @ New York Rangers (1986–87) | 12–26–5 |
| 44 | L | January 14, 1987 | 0–4 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1986–87) | 12–27–5 |
| 45 | W | January 16, 1987 | 9–5 | Calgary Flames (1986–87) | 13–27–5 |
| 46 | W | January 17, 1987 | 4–3 | @ Calgary Flames (1986–87) | 14–27–5 |
| 47 | L | January 19, 1987 | 4–5 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1986–87) | 14–28–5 |
| 48 | W | January 21, 1987 | 5–3 | New York Rangers (1986–87) | 15–28–5 |
| 49 | L | January 23, 1987 | 0–6 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1986–87) | 15–29–5 |
| 50 | T | January 27, 1987 | 4–4 OT | Edmonton Oilers (1986–87) | 15–29–6 |
| 51 | L | January 28, 1987 | 3–7 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1986–87) | 15–30–6 |
| 52 | L | January 30, 1987 | 3–4 | New Jersey Devils (1986–87) | 15–31–6 |
| 53 | L | February 1, 1987 | 3–4 | Minnesota North Stars (1986–87) | 15–32–6 |
| 54 | W | February 3, 1987 | 4–2 | @ Calgary Flames (1986–87) | 16–32–6 |
| 55 | W | February 4, 1987 | 4–1 | New York Islanders (1986–87) | 17–32–6 |
| 56 | T | February 6, 1987 | 2–2 OT | St. Louis Blues (1986–87) | 17–32–7 |
| 57 | L | February 8, 1987 | 2–3 | Calgary Flames (1986–87) | 17–33–7 |
| 58 | T | February 14, 1987 | 3–3 OT | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1986–87) | 17–33–8 |
| 59 | W | February 17, 1987 | 4–3 | @ St. Louis Blues (1986–87) | 18–33–8 |
| 60 | L | February 18, 1987 | 3–7 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1986–87) | 18–34–8 |
| 61 | L | February 20, 1987 | 3–6 | Washington Capitals (1986–87) | 18–35–8 |
| 62 | W | February 22, 1987 | 3–2 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1986–87) | 19–35–8 |
| 63 | L | February 24, 1987 | 0–2 | @ Calgary Flames (1986–87) | 19–36–8 |
| 64 | L | February 26, 1987 | 4–5 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1986–87) | 19–37–8 |
| 65 | L | February 28, 1987 | 6–8 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1986–87) | 19–38–8 |
| 66 | W | March 1, 1987 | 4–2 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1986–87) | 20–38–8 |
| 67 | L | March 4, 1987 | 5–8 | Edmonton Oilers (1986–87) | 20–39–8 |
| 68 | W | March 6, 1987 | 4–1 | Montreal Canadiens (1986–87) | 21–39–8 |
| 69 | L | March 8, 1987 | 2–5 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1986–87) | 21–40–8 |
| 70 | W | March 10, 1987 | 7–4 | Detroit Red Wings (1986–87) | 22–40–8 |
| 71 | W | March 13, 1987 | 6–4 | Buffalo Sabres (1986–87) | 23–40–8 |
| 72 | W | March 17, 1987 | 4–2 | Quebec Nordiques (1986–87) | 24–40–8 |
| 73 | W | March 20, 1987 | 6–5 OT | Winnipeg Jets (1986–87) | 25–40–8 |
| 74 | L | March 22, 1987 | 2–3 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1986–87) | 25–41–8 |
| 75 | W | March 26, 1987 | 5–2 | @ New York Islanders (1986–87) | 26–41–8 |
| 76 | L | March 28, 1987 | 1–2 | @ Boston Bruins (1986–87) | 26–42–8 |
| 77 | L | March 29, 1987 | 4–7 | @ Hartford Whalers (1986–87) | 26–43–8 |
| 78 | W | April 1, 1987 | 8–3 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1986–87) | 27–43–8 |
| 79 | W | April 3, 1987 | 6–4 | Winnipeg Jets (1986–87) | 28–43–8 |
| 80 | W | April 5, 1987 | 5–2 | Los Angeles Kings (1986–87) | 29–43–8 |

## Draft picks

Vancouver's draft picks at the 1986 NHL Entry Draft held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 7 | Dan Woodley | United States | Portland Winter Hawks (WHL) |
| 3 | 49 | Don Gibson | Canada | Winkler Flyers (MJHL) |
| 4 | 70 | Ronnie Stern | Canada | Longueuil Chevaliers (QMJHL) |
| 5 | 91 | Eric Murano | Canada | Calgary Canucks (AJHL) |
| 6 | 112 | Steve Herniman | Canada | Cornwall Royals (OHL) |
| 7 | 133 | Jon Helgeson | United States | Roseau High School (USHS-MN) |
| 8 | 154 | Jeff Noble | Canada | Kitchener Rangers (OHL) |
| 9 | 175 | Matt Merten | Canada | Stratford Cullitons (WOJBHL) |
| 10 | 196 | Marc Lyons | Canada | Kingston Canadians (OHL) |
| 11 | 217 | Todd Hawkins | Canada | Belleville Bulls (OHL) |
| 12 | 238 | Vladimir Krutov | Soviet Union | CSKA Moscow (USSR) |
| S2 | 10 | David Gourlie | Canada | University of Denver (WCHA) |