Harold Snepsts Harold John Snepsts ( born October 24 , 1954 , in Edmonton , Alberta ) is a retired professional player who spent 17 seasons in the National Hockey League . He is one of the most popular players in the history of the Vancouver Canucks , the club where he spent the majority of his career , and currently serves on the team ' s scouting staff . Playing career . A big , bruising stay - at - home defender , Snepsts played his junior hockey for the Edmonton Oil Kings and was selected 59th overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 1974 NHL Amateur Draft . He made a strong impression during his first training camp , and appeared in 27 games for the Canucks in 1974 – 75 , recording his first NHL goal . In 1975 – 76 , he became a regular for the Canucks , appearing in 78 games and recording 3 goals and 18 points . He would quickly become a fan favourite for his hard - working , effective , blue - collar defensive game as well as his likeable personality and large moustache . Through the late 1970s and early 1980s , Snepsts was Vancouver ' s most effective defender . His physical , error - free brand of hockey saw him selected to the NHL All - Star Game in 1977 and 1982 , and he was named the club ' s top defender four times in five years between 1977 and 1982 . He also showed improvement offensively , scoring a career - high 31 points in 1978 – 79 , and on February 2 , 1980 became the first defender in club history to score on a penalty shot . Throughout this period , however , the Canucks were one of the weaker franchises in the NHL . However , they caught fire late in the 1981 – 82 season and went on an extended playoff run , reaching the Stanley Cup finals . Snepsts , along with goalie Richard Brodeur , was the heart - and - soul of the team defensively and was a tower of strength during the playoff run . However , he would commit a terrible turnover in overtime of the first game of the finals against the New York Islanders which led to the winning goal by Mike Bossy , and the club was swept in four games . The 1982 – 83 season would be a disaster for Snepsts , as he missed 30 games due to a number of injuries , and was also suspended for 5 games for fighting Doug Risebrough under the stands at the Pacific Coliseum . He would have a better year in 1983 – 84 , but at the end of the season was a victim of General Manager Harry Neale ' s youth movement on the blueline and , in a highly unpopular move , was dealt to the Minnesota North Stars . He left Vancouver as the club ' s all - time leader in games played and penalty minutes , although Stan Smyl would break those records a few years later . Devastated by the trade , Snepsts never really found his game in Minnesota and lasted only a season with the North Stars . It was the worst offensive season of his career , as he failed to score a goal and recorded only 7 assists , although he did set a career high with 232 penalty minutes . Let go by Minnesota , Snepsts signed as a free agent with the Detroit Red Wings . However , his time in Detroit would be blighted by injury . Knee problems limited him to just 35 games in 1985 – 86 , and he failed to score a goal for the second consecutive year . In 1986 – 87 , he was having his best campaign in years for a rejuvenated Detroit team until he injured his shoulder in February , and then re - injured it during the playoffs . The resulting off - season surgery forced him to miss the first half of the 1987 – 88 season , although he returned to help the Wings reach the Campbell Conference finals for the second consecutive year . The 1988 – 89 season would be a homecoming for Snepsts , as he signed a free - agent contract with the Canucks and returned to Vancouver . Now a depth defender , he was a steadying influence as the team set a club record for fewest goals against . Late in the 1989 – 90 season , however , he was dealt to the St . Louis Blues to add experience for the playoffs . He played out his final season with the Blues , during which he played in his 1000th NHL game , before retiring in 1991 . Snepsts appeared in 1033 NHL games over his career , recording 38 goals and 195 assists for 233 points , along with 2009 penalty minutes . Coaching career . Following his retirement , Snepsts remained with the St . Louis organization and became head coach of their top minor - league affiliate , the Peoria Rivermen of the International Hockey League . Despite having no coaching experience , he led the team to a stellar 48 – 25 – 9 mark for a 105 - point season before losing in the second round of the playoffs . For 1992 – 93 , he was promoted to an assistant coaching position in St . Louis under head coach Bob Plager . However , he remained in that position for only a year before being replaced by new head coach Bob Berry . Following his departure from the Blues , he spent a season as head coach of the San Diego Gulls of the IHL , leading them to a 93 - point season . He signed on as head coach of the Portland Winter Hawks of the WHL for the 1998 – 99 WHL season , but inherited a rebuilding team and was fired mid - way through his second season in charge . In 2000 , Snepsts was hired as a scout for the NHL ' s Central Scouting Service ( CSS ) . He spent five seasons in that role before returning to the Canucks organization as a scout in 2005 .