# 1972–73 Vancouver Canucks season

The 1972–73 Vancouver Canucks season was the team's 3rd in the NHL. Vancouver finished 7th in the East Division for the second consecutive season, failing to reach the playoffs again.

## Regular season
### Final standings

East Division vte :
| | | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | DIFF | Pts |
| 1 | Montreal Canadiens | 78 | 52 | 10 | 16 | 329 | 184 | +145 | 120 |
| 2 | Boston Bruins | 78 | 51 | 22 | 5 | 330 | 235 | +95 | 107 |
| 3 | New York Rangers | 78 | 47 | 23 | 8 | 297 | 208 | +89 | 102 |
| 4 | Buffalo Sabres | 78 | 37 | 27 | 14 | 257 | 219 | +38 | 88 |
| 5 | Detroit Red Wings | 78 | 37 | 29 | 12 | 265 | 243 | +22 | 86 |
| 6 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 78 | 27 | 41 | 10 | 247 | 279 | −32 | 64 |
| 7 | Vancouver Canucks | 78 | 22 | 47 | 9 | 233 | 339 | −106 | 53 |
| 8 | New York Islanders | 78 | 12 | 60 | 6 | 170 | 347 | −177 | 30 |

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

| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | W | October 7, 1972 | 3–2 | California Golden Seals (1972–73) | 1–0–0 |
| 2 | L | October 11, 1972 | 3–5 | @ New York Rangers (1972–73) | 1–1–0 |
| 3 | L | October 12, 1972 | 3–7 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73) | 1–2–0 |
| 4 | T | October 14, 1972 | 3–3 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1972–73) | 1–2–1 |
| 5 | W | October 17, 1972 | 6–3 | Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73) | 2–2–1 |
| 6 | L | October 19, 1972 | 0–6 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1972–73) | 2–3–1 |
| 7 | L | October 21, 1972 | 3–5 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1972–73) | 2–4–1 |
| 8 | W | October 22, 1972 | 5–4 | @ Boston Bruins (1972–73) | 3–4–1 |
| 9 | L | October 24, 1972 | 0–4 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73) | 3–5–1 |
| 10 | L | October 28, 1972 | 1–2 | Atlanta Flames (1972–73) | 3–6–1 |
| 11 | L | October 31, 1972 | 1–4 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1972–73) | 3–7–1 |
| 12 | W | November 3, 1972 | 7–2 | New York Islanders (1972–73) | 4–7–1 |
| 13 | L | November 5, 1972 | 2–4 | Boston Bruins (1972–73) | 4–8–1 |
| 14 | L | November 8, 1972 | 2–5 | @ New York Rangers (1972–73) | 4–9–1 |
| 15 | W | November 11, 1972 | 4–3 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73) | 5–9–1 |
| 16 | L | November 12, 1972 | 1–3 | @ Atlanta Flames (1972–73) | 5–10–1 |
| 17 | T | November 14, 1972 | 3–3 | Detroit Red Wings (1972–73) | 5–10–2 |
| 18 | W | November 17, 1972 | 8–4 | Los Angeles Kings (1972–73) | 6–10–2 |
| 19 | W | November 19, 1972 | 9–5 | Buffalo Sabres (1972–73) | 7–10–2 |
| 20 | L | November 21, 1972 | 2–4 | @ St. Louis Blues (1972–73) | 7–11–2 |
| 21 | L | November 22, 1972 | 2–5 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73) | 7–12–2 |
| 22 | L | November 24, 1972 | 1–9 | Montreal Canadiens (1972–73) | 7–13–2 |
| 23 | L | November 26, 1972 | 1–3 | Minnesota North Stars (1972–73) | 7–14–2 |
| 24 | W | November 28, 1972 | 2–1 | New York Rangers (1972–73) | 8–14–2 |
| 25 | L | December 1, 1972 | 2–6 | St. Louis Blues (1972–73) | 8–15–2 |
| 26 | L | December 5, 1972 | 2–5 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73) | 8–16–2 |
| 27 | L | December 7, 1972 | 2–5 | @ Atlanta Flames (1972–73) | 8–17–2 |
| 28 | T | December 9, 1972 | 5–5 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73) | 8–17–3 |
| 29 | T | December 10, 1972 | 3–3 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1972–73) | 8–17–4 |
| 30 | L | December 12, 1972 | 1–5 | Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73) | 8–18–4 |
| 31 | L | December 15, 1972 | 2–4 | Montreal Canadiens (1972–73) | 8–19–4 |
| 32 | W | December 16, 1972 | 4–3 | California Golden Seals (1972–73) | 9–19–4 |
| 33 | L | December 20, 1972 | 3–6 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1972–73) | 9–20–4 |
| 34 | T | December 21, 1972 | 4–4 | @ New York Islanders (1972–73) | 9–20–5 |
| 35 | L | December 23, 1972 | 1–5 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1972–73) | 9–21–5 |
| 36 | W | December 26, 1972 | 4–3 | California Golden Seals (1972–73) | 10–21–5 |
| 37 | T | December 29, 1972 | 4–4 | Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73) | 10–21–6 |
| 38 | W | December 30, 1972 | 5–2 | New York Islanders (1972–73) | 11–21–6 |
| 39 | L | January 1, 1973 | 2–8 | Boston Bruins (1972–73) | 11–22–6 |
| 40 | L | January 3, 1973 | 3–11 | @ California Golden Seals (1972–73) | 11–23–6 |
| 41 | L | January 6, 1973 | 2–4 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73) | 11–24–6 |
| 42 | L | January 7, 1973 | 2–5 | @ Atlanta Flames (1972–73) | 11–25–6 |
| 43 | W | January 9, 1973 | 3–0 | St. Louis Blues (1972–73) | 12–25–6 |
| 44 | L | January 12, 1973 | 1–7 | Detroit Red Wings (1972–73) | 12–26–6 |
| 45 | L | January 14, 1973 | 0–3 | Montreal Canadiens (1972–73) | 12–27–6 |
| 46 | W | January 16, 1973 | 6–4 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73) | 13–27–6 |
| 47 | L | January 19, 1973 | 0–4 | Los Angeles Kings (1972–73) | 13–28–6 |
| 48 | L | January 20, 1973 | 3–4 | New York Rangers (1972–73) | 13–29–6 |
| 49 | T | January 24, 1973 | 3–3 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73) | 13–29–7 |
| 50 | W | January 26, 1973 | 5–1 | New York Islanders (1972–73) | 14–29–7 |
| 51 | L | January 27, 1973 | 1–3 | St. Louis Blues (1972–73) | 14–30–7 |
| 52 | L | February 1, 1973 | 4–5 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73) | 14–31–7 |
| 53 | W | February 3, 1973 | 2–1 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73) | 15–31–7 |
| 54 | L | February 4, 1973 | 2–8 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1972–73) | 15–32–7 |
| 55 | L | February 6, 1973 | 1–5 | @ St. Louis Blues (1972–73) | 15–33–7 |
| 56 | L | February 9, 1973 | 5–10 | Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73) | 15–34–7 |
| 57 | L | February 11, 1973 | 3–6 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1972–73) | 15–35–7 |
| 58 | L | February 13, 1973 | 3–7 | @ Boston Bruins (1972–73) | 15–36–7 |
| 59 | L | February 14, 1973 | 2–6 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73) | 15–37–7 |
| 60 | W | February 16, 1973 | 5–0 | Atlanta Flames (1972–73) | 16–37–7 |
| 61 | T | February 17, 1973 | 2–2 | Detroit Red Wings (1972–73) | 16–37–8 |
| 62 | L | February 20, 1973 | 6–7 | Boston Bruins (1972–73) | 16–38–8 |
| 63 | L | February 22, 1973 | 1–3 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1972–73) | 16–39–8 |
| 64 | L | February 24, 1973 | 3–7 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1972–73) | 16–40–8 |
| 65 | L | February 28, 1973 | 2–7 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73) | 16–41–8 |
| 66 | L | March 3, 1973 | 3–9 | @ New York Islanders (1972–73) | 16–42–8 |
| 67 | W | March 4, 1973 | 4–3 | @ New York Rangers (1972–73) | 17–42–8 |
| 68 | W | March 9, 1973 | 5–2 | Buffalo Sabres (1972–73) | 18–42–8 |
| 69 | L | March 10, 1973 | 2–4 | Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73) | 18–43–8 |
| 70 | W | March 14, 1973 | 5–2 | @ California Golden Seals (1972–73) | 19–43–8 |
| 71 | W | March 16, 1973 | 4–2 | Los Angeles Kings (1972–73) | 20–43–8 |
| 72 | W | March 17, 1973 | 6–1 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73) | 21–43–8 |
| 73 | L | March 21, 1973 | 2–3 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1972–73) | 21–44–8 |
| 74 | L | March 22, 1973 | 0–9 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73) | 21–45–8 |
| 75 | W | March 25, 1973 | 7–4 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73) | 22–45–8 |
| 76 | L | March 27, 1973 | 3–4 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1972–73) | 22–46–8 |
| 77 | T | March 30, 1973 | 3–3 | Minnesota North Stars (1972–73) | 22–46–9 |
| 78 | L | March 31, 1973 | 3–6 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1972–73) | 22–47–9 |

## Awards and records
### Trophies and awards

* Cyclone Taylor Award (Canucks MVP): Orland Kurtenbach
* Cyrus H. McLean Trophy (Canucks Leading Scorer): Bobby Schmautz
* Babe Pratt Trophy (Canucks Outstanding Defenceman): Barry Wilkins
* Fred J. Hume Award (Canucks Unsung Hero): Dennis Kearns
* Most Exciting Player: Bobby Schmautz

## Draft picks

Vancouver's picks at the 1972 NHL Amateur Draft. The draft was held at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Quebec.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/junior/club team (league) |
| 1 | 3 | Don Lever (LW) | Canada | Niagara Falls Flyers (OHA) |
| 2 | 19 | Bryan McSheffrey (F) | Canada | Ottawa 67's (OHA) |
| 3 | 35 | Paul Raymer (F) | Canada | Peterborough Petes (OHA) |
| 4 | 51 | Ron Homenuke (F) | Canada | Calgary Centennials (WCHL) |
| 5 | 67 | Larry Bolonchuk (D) | Canada | Winnipeg Jets (WCHL) |
| 6 | 83 | Dave McLelland (G) | Canada | Brandon Wheat Kings (WCHL) |
| 7 | 99 | Danny Gloor (C) | Canada | Peterborough Petes (OHA) |
| 8 | 115 | Dennis McCord (D) | Canada | London Knights (OHA) |
| 9 | 131 | Steve Stone (RW) | Canada | Niagara Falls Flyers (OHA) |