# 1971–72 Vancouver Canucks season

The 1971–72 Vancouver Canucks season was the Canucks' second season in the NHL. They finished 7th, last, in the East Division. Hal Laycoe, the team's first head coach, was fired after the season concluded and replaced by Vic Stasiuk.

## Regular season

The Canucks opened the season at home against the Toronto Maple Leafs on October 8, 1971. They lost the game 3–2, though Jocelyn Guevremont, the team's first draft choice in the 1971 NHL amateur draft, scored his first goal. In their game against the Minnesota North Stars on October 20, the Canucks were shutout for the first time, losing 7–0. One week later the Canucks played the Maple Leafs and drew them 0–0, the first time the team had a shutout of their own; Dunc Wilson was in net for the Canucks, while Bernie Parent was in for the Maple Leafs.
During his tour of Canada, Soviet Premier Alexei Kosygin and his entourage watched the Canucks play the Montreal Canadiens on October 22. They stayed for the first two periods and saw Montreal score four goals en route to winning the game 6–0. Frank Mahovlich recorded a hat trick for the Canadiens, while Ken Dryden earned the shutout.
With the season concluded, Hal Laycoe was fired as head coach of the team. He was appointed vice-president of player development and scouting, and Vic Stasiuk was named the new coach.

## Standings
### Divisional standings

East Division vte :
| | | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | DIFF | Pts |
| 1 | Boston Bruins | 78 | 54 | 13 | 11 | 330 | 204 | +126 | 119 |
| 2 | New York Rangers | 78 | 48 | 17 | 13 | 317 | 192 | +125 | 109 |
| 3 | Montreal Canadiens | 78 | 46 | 16 | 16 | 307 | 205 | +102 | 108 |
| 4 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 78 | 33 | 31 | 14 | 209 | 208 | +1 | 80 |
| 5 | Detroit Red Wings | 78 | 33 | 35 | 10 | 261 | 262 | −1 | 76 |
| 6 | Buffalo Sabres | 78 | 16 | 43 | 19 | 203 | 289 | −86 | 51 |
| 7 | Vancouver Canucks | 78 | 20 | 50 | 8 | 203 | 297 | −94 | 48 |

### Record vs. opponents
## Schedule and results

1971–72 Game log :
October: 4–7–2 (home: 2–5–1; road: 2–2–1)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeRecordPts
1October 8Toronto3–2Vancouver0–1–00
2October 10Los Angeles4–2Vancouver0–2–00
3October 12Philadelphia2–3Vancouver1–2–02
4October 15Vancouver9–6California2–2–04
5October 16Pittsburgh2–1Vancouver2–3–04
6October 19Vancouver3–1St. Louis3–3–06
7October 20Vancouver0–7Minnesota3–4–06
8October 22Montreal6–0Vancouver3–5–06
9October 24Boston4–3Vancouver3–6–06
10October 27Vancouver0–0Toronto3–6–17
11October 28Vancouver2–3Philadelphia3–7–17
12October 30Buffalo4–4Vancouver3–7–28
13October 31Chicago2–6Vancouver4–7–210 :
November: 3–7–2 (home: 3–2–1; road: 0–5–1)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeRecordPts
14November 5Pittsburgh2–4Vancouver5–7–212
15November 6New York3–1Vancouver5–8–212
16November 10Vancouver1–3Pittsburgh5–9–212
17November 11Vancouver3–4Philadelphia5–10–212
18November 13Vancouver2–2Toronto5–10–313
19November 14Vancouver1–6New York5–11–313
20November 17Vancouver0–3Chicago5–12–313
21November 18Vancouver0–5Boston5–13–313
22November 21Detroit2–2Vancouver5–13–414
23November 23Minnesota2–1Vancouver5–14–414
24November 27Buffalo2–5Vancouver6–14–416
25November 30Chicago2–4Vancouver7–14–418 :
December: 2–8–0 (home: 2–3–0; road: 0–5–0)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeRecordPts
26December 4Vancouver0–7Montreal7–15–418
27December 5Vancouver3–6New York7–16–418
28December 7St. Louis1–2Vancouver8–16–420
29December 11Boston6–2Vancouver8–17–420
30December 14Detroit4–3Vancouver8–18–420
31December 17Monreal6–2Vancouver8–19–420
32December 19Vancouver1–5Buffalo8–20–420
33December 22Vancouver0–3Detroit8–21–420
34December 26California2–6Vancouver9–21–422
35December 29Vancouver1–3Los Angeles9–22–422 :
January: 5–6–1 (home: 3–2–1; road: 2–4–0)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeRecordPts
36January 2Los Angeles6–3Vancouver9–23–422
37January 5Vancouver4–6Montreal9–24–422
38January 8Vancouver5–1Minnesota10–24–424
39January 11Minnesota2–2Vancouver10–24–525
40January 14Vancouver3–5California10–25–525
41January 15California3–4Vancouver11–25–527
42January 19Vancouver6–1Pittsburgh12–25–529
43January 20Vancouver0–1Buffalo12–26–529
44January 22New York2–5Vancouver13–26–531
45January 27Vancouver0–4Chicago13–27–531
46January 29Toronto2–5Vancouver14–27–533
47January 30California2–0Vancouver14–28–533 :
February: 2–12–1 (home: 1–5–0; road: 1–7–1)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeRecordPts
48February 2Vancouver5–1California15–28–535
49February 4Chicago6–2Vancouver15–29–535
50February 6Montreal4–2Vancouver15–30–535
51February 8Philadelphia3–1Vancouver15–31–535
52February 10Vancouver1–9Boston15–32–535
53February 12Vancouver4–5St. Louis15–33–535
54February 13Vancouver4–6Pittsburgh15–34–535
55February 15New York5–1Vancouver15–35–535
56February 18St. Louis2–5Vancouver16–35–537
57February 19Vancouver3–5Los Angeles16–36–537
58February 22Boston4–3Vancouver16–37–537
59February 24Vancouver0–2Detroit16–38–537
60February 26Vancouver1–7Toronto16–39–537
61February 27Vancouver3–3Chicago16–39–638
62February 29Vancouver2–8Detroit16–40–638 :
March: 3–10–2 (home: 2–3–1; road: 1–7–1)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeRecordPts
63March 2Vancouver3–7Boston16–41–638
64March 4Vancouver0–5Montreal16–42–638
65March 5Vancouver1–6New York16–43–638
66March 8Philadelphia6–5Vancouver16–44–638
67March 10Buffalo2–3Vancouver17–44–640
68March 14Pittsburgh7–4Vancouver17–45–640
69March 16Vancouver2–6Minnesota17–46–640
70March 17Vancouver6–2Buffalo18–46–642
71March 19St. Louis3–3Vancouver18–46–743
72March 21Detroit7–5Vancouver18–47–743
73March 24Toronto3–5Vancouver19–47–745
74March 26Vancouver1–4Philadelphia19–48–745
75March 28Vancouver1–2St. Louis19–49–745
76March 29Vancouver2–4Los Angeles19–50–745
77March 31Los Angeles4–4Vancouver19–50–846 :
April: 1–0–0 (home: 1–0–0; road: 0–0–0)
#DateVisitorScoreHomeRecordPts
78April 2Minnesota1–4Vancouver20–50–848 :

## 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 |
| Andre Boudrias | 7 | 78 | 27 | 34 | 61 | 26 | -- | – | – | – | – |
| Orland Kurtenbach | 25 | 78 | 24 | 37 | 61 | 48 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Jocelyn Guevremont | 2 | 75 | 13 | 38 | 51 | 44 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Wayne Maki | 11 | 76 | 22 | 25 | 47 | 43 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Dale Tallon | 9 | 69 | 17 | 27 | 44 | 78 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Dave Balon$^†$ | 21 | 59 | 19 | 19 | 38 | 21 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Wayne Connelly$^†$ | 8 | 53 | 14 | 20 | 34 | 12 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Rosaire Paiement | 15 | 69 | 10 | 19 | 29 | 117 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Dennis Kearns | 6 | 73 | 3 | 26 | 29 | 59 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Bobby Schmautz | 14 | 60 | 12 | 13 | 25 | 82 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Ted Taylor | 16 | 69 | 9 | 13 | 22 | 88 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Richard Lemieux | – | 42 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 4 | – | – | – | – | – |
| John Schella | 5 | 77 | 2 | 13 | 15 | 166 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Murray Hall | 23 | 32 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 6 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Mike Corrigan* | – | 19 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 27 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Gregg Boddy | – | 40 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 45 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Barry Wilkins | 4 | 45 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 65 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Ron Ward | 17 | 71 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 4 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Bobby Lalonde | – | 27 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 2 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Pat Quinn | 3 | 57 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 53 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Ron Stewart* | 12 | 42 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 10 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Dan Johnson* | – | 11 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Fred Speck | 10 | 18 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Poul Popiel | 18 | 38 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 36 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Gary Doak* | – | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 23 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Ed Dyck | – | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – |
| George Gardner | 30 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Dunc Wilson | 1 | 53 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | – | – | – | – | – |
$^†$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 |
| Dunc Wilson | 1 | 53 | 3870 | 16 | 30 | 3 | 173 | 1 | 3.61 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Ed Dyck | – | 12 | 573 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 35 | 0 | 3.66 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| George Gardner | 30 | 24 | 1237 | 3 | 14 | 3 | 86 | 0 | 4.17 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |

## Awards and records
### Trophies and awards

* Cyclone Taylor Award (Canucks MVP): Orland Kurtenbach
* Cyrus H. McLean Trophy (Canucks Leading Scorer): Andre Boudrias, Orland Kurtenbach
* Fred J. Hume Award (Canucks Unsung Hero): Ron Ward
* Most Exciting Player: Andre Boudrias

### Records achieved in the season
#### Canucks team records

* Fewest points overall: (48) – repeated in 1994–95
* Fewest road points: (15) – repeated in 1972–73
* Fewest wins overall: (20) – (18 in shortened 1994–95 season)
* Most losses overall: (50)
* Most road losses: (30)
* Fewest ties overall: (8) – repeated in 1970–71, 1986–87, 1988–89
* Most shutouts against: (12)

## Transactions

The Canucks were involved in the following transactions during the 1971–72 season.

### Trades

| June 8, 1971 | To Vancouver Canucks Gary Bredin John Cunniff | To Detroit Red Wings Irv Spencer Bob Dillabough |
| September 14, 1971 | To Vancouver Canucks Rey Comeau | To Montreal Canadiens Cash |
| November 16, 1971 | To Vancouver Canucks Ron Stewart Wayne Connelly Dave Balon | To New York Rangers Gary Doak Jim Wiste |
| November 21, 1971 | To Vancouver Canucks Cash | To Detroit Red Wings Bob Cook |
| March 5, 1972 | To Vancouver Canucks Cash | To New York Rangers Ron Stewart |
| March 6, 1972 | To Vancouver Canucks Jim Niekamp | To Detroit Red Wings Ralph Stewart |

## Draft picks

Vancouver's picks at the 1971 NHL amateur draft, held at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/junior/club team (league) |
| 1 | 3 | Jocelyn Guevremont (D) | Canada | Montreal Junior Canadiens (OHA) |
| 2 | 17 | Bobby Lalonde (C) | Canada | Montreal Junior Canadiens (OHA) |
| 3 | 39 | Richard Lemieux (C) | Canada | Montreal Junior Canadiens (OHA) |
| 5 | 59 | Mike McNiven (RW) | Canada | Halifax Juniors |
| 6 | 73 | Tim Steeves (D) | Canada | PEI Islanders (Junior) |
| 7 | 87 | Bill Green | United States | Notre Dame (NCAA) |
| 8 | 101 | Norm Cherrey | Canada | Wisconsin (NCAA) |
| 8 | 102 | Bob Murphy | Canada | Cornwall Royals (QMJHL) |