1970–71 Vancouver Canucks season

1st season in franchise history March 2026 August 2023 NHL 1970–71 1970 Vancouver Canucks East 6th 24–46–8 17–18–4 7–28–4 229 296 Bud Poile Hal Laycoe Orland Kurtenbach Ray CullenGary DoakGarth Rizzuto Pacific Coliseum 15,577 Rosaire Paiement (34) Dale Tallon (42) Andre Boudrias (66) Rosaire Paiement (152) Charlie Hodge (15) George Gardner (3.38) The 1970–71 Vancouver Canucks season was the Canucks' first in the National Hockey League (NHL). They joined the league on May 22, 1970, along with the Buffalo Sabres. After not being awarded an expansion team in 1967 when the league added six teams, Vancouver finally joined the NHL in 1970 for a price of $6 million (compared to $2 million in 1967 MacKinnon John NHL Hockey: The Official Fans' Guide 1996 Raincoast Book Distribution Ltd. Vancouver 128). The Vancouver Canucks of the Western Hockey League were promoted to the NHL, though the ownership group of the WHL Canucks, not willing to pay the $6 million to join the NHL, sold the team to Medicor, a group controlled by Thomas Scallen. The Canucks logo was a stylized C designed as a hockey stick inside a rink incorporating the colours of blue, green and white to represent the water, forests and snow surrounding Vancouver. It was designed by a local creative designer, Joe Borovich, and bought for $500.http://canucks.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NHLPage&id=12896 Canucks History 2007-11-02 Canucks.com 2007 Vancouver Canucks https://web.archive.org/web/20071012005211/http://canucks.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NHLPage&id=12896 12 October 2007 dead Season summary During the Amateur draft, held on June 11 in Montreal, there was debate over what expansion team would draft first. In order to reach a compromise, a numbered spinning wheel was brought in to determine the draft: the Sabres were odd numbers, the Canucks even. When the wheel landed on 11, the Canucks and NHL President Clarence Campbell thought it was II (two) in Roman numerals. However it turned out to be 11 (eleven) in Arabic numerals, leading the Sabres to select first overall future superstar Gilbert Perreault. Rud Jeff Canucks Legends: Vancouver's Hockey Heroes 2006 Raincoast Books Vancouver 256 On October 9, 1970, the Canucks played their first game in the NHL, a 3–1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings. There was a grand opening ceremony attended by British Columbia Premier W. A. C. Bennett, Mayor of Vancouver Tom Campbell (who was booed by fans), Chief Dan George and former Vancouver Millionaires player Cyclone Taylor, who received a standing ovation upon being introduced. Barry Wilkins scored the first goal for the Canucks in the third period. Inexplicably, the Canucks were placed in the East Division, which was not only the tougher division but featured opponents over 2,000 miles away from Vancouver. (The Canucks were nearly a .500 team at home, but could only win seven of 39 road games.) Throughout the first three months of the season, though, the expansion club managed to stay within contention of a playoff spot, until captain Orland Kurtenbach injured his knee in late December. The Canucks would finish their inaugural season with six 20-goal scorers, and Tallon would break Bobby Orr's rookie record for defenseman assists, but 11-30-5 mark to end the season placed them only one point out of last place. Regular season VAN Record vs. opponents VAN Schedule and results background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 5px solid; border-bottom:#008852 5px solid; 1970–71 regular season1970-71 Vancouver Canucks Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/VAN/1971_games.html Hockey-Reference.com March 25, 2025 y background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 2px solid; border-bottom:#008852 2px solid; October: 3–6–2 (home: 3–2–2; road: 0–4–0) # Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts |- | 1 || October 9 || Los Angeles || 3–1 || Vancouver || 0–1–0 || 0 |- | 2 || October 11 || Toronto || 3–5 || Vancouver || 1–1–0 || 2 |- | 3 || October 12 || Vancouver || 1–4 || St. Louis || 1–2–0 || 2 |- | 4 || October 14 || Vancouver || 2–8 || Chicago || 1–3–0 || 2 |- | 5 || October 15 || Vancouver || 4–5 || Philadelphia || 1–4–0 || 2 |- | 6 || October 18 || Boston || 5–3 || Vancouver || 1–5–0 || 2 |- | 7 || October 20 || California || 1–2 || Vancouver || 2–5–0 || 4 |- | 8 || October 23 || St. Louis || 1–1 || Vancouver || 2–5–1 || 5 |- | 9 || October 25 || Pittsburgh || 1–1 || Vancouver || 2–5–2 || 6 |- | 10 || October 27 || Buffalo || 2–7 || Vancouver || 3–5–2 || 8 |- | 11 || October 31 || Vancouver || 3–6 || Montreal || 3–6–2 || 8 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 2px solid; border-bottom:#008852 2px solid; November: 6–7–1 (home: 3–1–0; road: 3–6–1) # Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts |- | 12 || November 4 || Vancouver || 3–8 || Pittsburgh || 3–7–2 || 8 |- | 13 || November 5 || Vancouver || 4–1 || Buffalo || 4–7–2 || 10 |- | 14 || November 7 || Toronto|| 2–3 || Vancouver || 5–7–2 || 12 |- | 15 || November 10 || Vancouver || 3–6 || Boston || 5–8–2 || 12 |- | 16 || November 11 || Vancouver || 4–2 || Toronto || 6–8–2 || 14 |- | 17 || November 14 || Vancouver || 3 -3 || Minnesota || 6–8–3 || 15 |- | 18 || November 15 || Vancouver || 2–4 || Chicago || 6–9–3 || 15 |- | 19 || November 17 || Detroit || 5–2 || Vancouver || 6–10–3 || 15 |- | 20 || November 20 || Los Angeles || 1–7 || Vancouver || 7–10–3 || 17 |- | 21 || November 21 || Vancouver || 3–1 || Los Angeles || 8–10–3 || 19 |- | 22 || November 24 || Minnesota || 2–3 || Vancouver || 9–10–3 || 21 |- | 23 || November 26 || Vancouver || 2–4 || Detroit || 9–11–3 || 21 |- | 24 || November 28 || Vancouver || 1–5 || St. Louis || 9–12–3 || 21 |- | 25 || November 29 || Vancouver || 2–4 || Philadelphia || 9–13–3 || 21 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 2px solid; border-bottom:#008852 2px solid; December: 5–7–0 (home: 4–2–0; road: 1–5–0) # Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts |- | 26 || December 1 || Philadelphia || 4–5 || Vancouver || 10–13–3 || 23 |- | 27 || December 5 || Vancouver || 1–3 || Pittsburgh || 10–14–3 || 23 |- | 28 || December 6 || Vancouver || 1–4 || New York || 10–15–3 || 23 |- | 29 || December 8 || New York || 1–4 || Vancouver || 11–15–3 || 25 |- | 30 || December 9 || Vancouver || 1–6 || California || 11–16–3 || 25 |- | 31 || December 12 || California || 2–5 || Vancouver || 12–16–3 || 27 |- | 32 || December 15 || Philadelphia || 2–3 || Vancouver || 13–16–3 || 29 |- | 33 || December 18 || Montreal || 4–3 || Vancouver || 13–17–3 || 29 |- | 34 || December 20 || Vancouver || 1–5 || New York || 13–18–3 || 29 |- | 35 || December 23 || Vancouver || 2–7 || Toronto || 13–19–3 || 29 |- | 36 || December 26 || Chicago || 4–2 || Vancouver || 13–20–3 || 29 |- | 37 || December 30 || Vancouver || 4–1 || Los Angeles || 14–20–3 || 31 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 2px solid; border-bottom:#008852 2px solid; January: 1–10–2 (home: 0–6–1; road: 1–4–1) # Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts |- | 38 || January 2 || St. Louis || 3–1 || Vancouver || 14–21–3 || 31 |- | 39 || January 6 || Vancouver || 3–7 || Montreal || 14–22–3 || 31 |- | 40 || January 7 || Vancouver || 4–6 || Boston || 14–23–3 || 31 |- | 41 || January 9 || Vancouver || 2–2 || St. Louis || 14–23–4 || 32 |- | 42 || January 12 || New York || 4–2 || Vancouver || 14–24–4 || 32 |- | 43 || January 16 || Pittsburgh || 4–3 || Vancouver || 14–25–4 || 32 |- | 44 || January 17 || Vancouver || 3–1 || California || 15–25–4 || 34 |- | 45 || January 20 || Toronto || 5–1 || Vancouver || 15–26–4 || 34 |- | 46 || January 23 || Vancouver || 1–4 || Pittsburgh || 15–27–4 || 34 |- | 47 || January 24 || Vancouver || 3–7 || Detroit || 15–28–4 || 34 |- | 48 || January 26 || Chicago || 3–3 || Vancouver || 15–28–5 || 35 |- | 49 || January 29 || Minnesota || 2–1 || Vancouver || 15–29–5 || 35 |- | 50 || January 31 || Buffalo || 6–1 || Vancouver || 15–30–5 || 35 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 2px solid; border-bottom:#008852 2px solid; February: 3–7–1 (home: 3–3–1; road: 0–4–0) # Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts |- | 51 || February 2 || Montreal || 5–2 || Vancouver || 15–31–5 || 35 |- | 52 || February 6 || New York || 5–4 || Vancouver || 15–32–5 || 35 |- | 53 || February 9 || Buffalo || 3–6 || Vancouver || 16–32–5 || 37 |- | 54 || February 12 || Detroit || 3–5 || Vancouver || 17–32–5 || 39 |- | 55 || February 14 || Vancouver || 1–3 || Chicago || 17–33–5 || 39 |- | 56 || February 16 || Boston || 4–5 || Vancouver || 18–33–5 || 41 |- | 57 || February 19 || Philadelphia || 3–2 || Vancouver || 18–34–5 || 41 |- | 58 || February 22 || Montreal || 3–3 || Vancouver || 18–34–6 || 42 |- | 59 || February 25 || Vancouver || 3–8 || Boston || 18–35–6 || 42 |- | 60 || February 27 || Vancouver || 1–8 || Philadelphia || 18–36–6 || 42 |- | 61 || February 28 || Vancouver || 2–4 || New York || 18–37–6 || 42 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 2px solid; border-bottom:#008852 2px solid; March: 5–8–2 (home: 4–3–0; road: 1–5–2) # Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts |- | 62 || March 3 || Vancouver || 1–3 || Toronto || 18–38–6 || 42 |- | 63 || March 6 || Vancouver || 1–3 || Minnesota || 18–39–6 || 42 |- | 64 || March 7 || Vancouver || 3–6 || Buffalo || 18–40–6 || 42 |- | 65 || March 9 || Vancouver || 3–3 || Montreal || 18–40–7 || 43 |- | 66 || March 11 || Detroit || 3–7 || Vancouver || 19–40–7 || 45 |- | 67 || March 13 || Boston || 6–3 || Vancouver || 19–41–7 || 45 |- | 68 || March 16 || Chicago || 7–4 || Vancouver || 19–42–7 || 45 |- | 69 || March 19 || Pittsburgh || 4–6 || Vancouver || 20–42–7 || 47 |- | 70 || March 21 || Minnesota || 6–3 || Vancouver || 20–43–7 || 47 |- | 71 || March 23 || St. Louis || 1–4 || Vancouver || 21–43–7 || 49 |- | 72 || March 25 || Vancouver || 3–4 || Detroit || 21–44–7 || 49 |- | 73 || March 26 || Vancouver || 1–3 || Buffalo || 21–45–7 || 49 |- | 74 || March 28 || California || 5–11 || Vancouver || 22–45–7 || 51 |- | 75 || March 30 || Vancouver || 2–1 || Minnesota || 23–45–7 || 53 |- | 76 || March 31 || Vancouver || 2–2 || Los Angeles || 23–45–8 || 54 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 2px solid; border-bottom:#008852 2px solid; April: 1–1–0 (home: 0–1–0; road: 1–0–0) # Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts |- | 77 || April 2 || Vancouver || 7–2 || California || 24–45–8 || 56 |- | 78 || April 4 || Los Angeles || 4–2 || Vancouver || 24–46–8 || 56 |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win (2 points) 1px solid black #fcc Loss (0 points) 1px solid black #ffc Tie (1 point) 1px solid black Player statistics Skaters Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes     Regular season   Playoffs Player # GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM Andre Boudrias 7 77 25 41 66 16 -- – – – – Wayne Maki 11 78 25 38 63 99 – – – – – Rosaire Paiement 15 78 34 28 62 152 – – – – – Murray Hall 23 77 21 38 59 22 – – – – – Dale Tallon 19 78 14 42 56 58 – – – – – Orland Kurtenbach 25 52 21 32 53 84 – – – – – Mike Corrigan 12 76 21 32 53 103 – – – – – Ray Cullen 10 70 12 21 33 42 – – – – – Poul Popiel 18 78 10 22 32 61 – – – – – Ted Taylor 16 56 11 16 27 53 – – – – – Dan Johnson 8 66 15 11 26 16 – – – – – Barry Wilkins 4 50 5 18 23 131 – – – – – Pat Quinn 3 76 2 11 13 149 – – – – – Gary Doak 2 77 2 10 12 112 – – – – – Bobby Schmautz 9 26 5 5 10 14 – – – – – Garth Rizzuto 22 37 3 4 7 16 – – – – – Danny Seguin† 17 25 0 5 5 46 – – – – – John Schella 5 38 0 5 5 58 – – – – – Len Lunde – 20 1 3 4 2 – – – – – Ed Hatoum – 26 1 3 4 21 – – – – – Jim Wiste – 23 1 2 3 0 – – – – – Howie Young – 11 0 2 2 25 – – – – – Marc Reaume – 27 0 2 2 4 – – – – – Darryl Sly – 31 0 2 2 10 – – – – – Ralph Stewart – 3 0 1 1 0 – – – – – Jim Hargreaves – 7 0 1 1 33 – – – – – Ken Block – 1 0 0 0 0 – – – – – Bob Cook – 2 0 0 0 0 – – – – – John Arbour* – 13 0 0 0 12 – – – – – George Gardner 30 18 0 0 0 0 – – – – – Charlie Hodge 1 0 0 0 0 0 – – – – – Dunc Wilson 30 35 0 0 0 18 – – – – – †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   Playoffs Player # GP Min W L T GA SO GAA GP Min W L GA SO GAAGeorge Gardner 30 18 922 6 8 1 52 0 3.38 – – – – – – –Charlie Hodge 1 35 1967 15 13 5 112 0 3.41 – – – – – – – Dunc Wilson 30 35 1793 3 25 2 128 0 4.28 – – – – – – – Awards and records Trophies and awards Cyclone Taylor Award (Canucks MVP): Orland Kurtenbach Cyrus H. McLean Trophy (Canucks Leading Scorer): Andre Boudrias Fred J. Hume Award (Canucks Unsung Hero): Barry Wilkins Most Exciting Player: Andre Boudrias Records achieved in the season Note: Only records that stand as of 2020–21 are listed Canucks team records Fewest ties in one season: (8) – repeated in 1971–72, 1986–87, 1988–89 Fewest shutouts in one season: (0) – repeated in 1984–85, 2005–06 Fewest shutouts against in one season: (0) – repeated in 1984–85 Longest home winless streak: 11 games, December 18, 1970 – February 6, 1971 (0–10–1) Most goals in one game: 11, March 28, 1971 (California 5 at Vancouver 11) – repeated in 1986–87, 1991–92 Most shots against Vancouver goal, one game: 60, February 25, 1971, versus Boston Bruins Most shots against Vancouver goal, one period: 28, February 25, 1971, versus Boston Bruins (3rd period) Most shots both teams, one period: 43, February 25, 1971, versus Boston Bruins (3rd period) Fastest three goals against Vancouver: :20, February 25, 1971, versus Boston Bruins (3rd period: John Bucyk, 4:50; Ed Westfall, 5:02; Ted Green, 5:10) Canucks individual records Most assists in one season, rookie: Dale Tallon (42) Most goals, one game: Rosaire Paiement (4) – repeated eleven times Transactions The Canucks were involved in the following transactions during the 1970–71 season. Vancouver Canucks 2006–07 Vancouver Canucks Media Guide 2006 Hemlock Printers Ltd. Vancouver 264 Trades June 10, 1970 To Vancouver Canucks John Arbour To Pittsburgh Penguins Cash December 3, 1970 To Vancouver Canucks Cash To St. Louis Blues John Arbour May 25, 1971 To Vancouver Canucks Gregg Boddy To Montreal Canadiens Cash 3rd round pick (Jim Cahoon) in 1971 NHL amateur draft Draft picks Expansion draft Vancouver's picks at the 1970 NHL expansion draft. In order to fill out the rosters of both the Canucks and Buffalo Sabres, they were given the opportunity to select eighteen skaters and two goaltenders from the unprotected lists of existing NHL team's rosters. Beddall Justin Vancouver Canucks: Heart-Stopping Stories from Canada's Most Exciting Hockey Team https://archive.org/details/vancouvercanucks0000bedd registration 2004 Altitude Publishing Canada Ltd. Canmore, Alberta 137 Teams were allowed to protect several players from being drafted, and as such kept many of their star players, leaving the Canucks and Sabres with lesser quality players to choose from. The draft was held on June 9, 1970, at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Canada. Using a spinning wheel to determine the order of the expansion draft, Buffalo had the first choice. # Player Drafted from 1. Gary Doak (D) Boston Bruins 2. Orland Kurtenbach (C) New York Rangers 3. Ray Cullen (C) Minnesota North Stars 4. Pat Quinn (D) Toronto Maple Leafs 5. Rosaire Paiement (C) Philadelphia Flyers 6. Wayne Maki (LW) St. Louis Blues 7. Barry Wilkins (D) Boston Bruins 8. Andre Boudrias (C) St. Louis Blues 9. Mike Corrigan (LW) Los Angeles Kings10. Poul Popiel (D) Detroit Red Wings11. Dan Johnson (C) Toronto Maple Leafs12. Garth Rizzuto (C) Chicago Black Hawks13. Ed Hatoum (RW) Detroit Red Wings14. Jim Wiste (C) Chicago Black Hawks15. Howie Young (D) Chicago Black Hawks16. Darryl Sly (D) Minnesota North Stars17. Ralph Stewart (C) St. Louis Blues18. John Arbour (D) Pittsburgh Penguins19. Charlie Hodge G Oakland Seals20. Dunc Wilson (G) Philadelphia Flyers Amateur draft Vancouver's picks at the 1970 NHL amateur draft.http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/nhl1970a.html 1970 NHL Amateur Draft 2007-11-01 HockeyDB.com 2007 Slate, Ralph The draft was held on June 11, 1970, at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Canada. Round # Player Nationality College/junior/club team (league) 1 2 Dale Tallon (D) Canada Toronto Marlboros (OHA) 2 16 Jim Hargreaves (D) Canada Winnipeg Jets (WCHL) 3 30 Ed Dyck (G) Canada Calgary Centennials (WCHL) 4 44 Brent Taylor (RW) Canada Estevan Bruins (WCHL) 5 58 Bill McFadden Canada Swift Current Broncos (WCHL) 6 72 Dave Gilmour (LW) Canada London Knights (OHA) References Player stats: 2006–07 Vancouver Canucks Media Guide – 1970–71 stats, p. 150. Game log: 2006–07 Vancouver Canucks Media Guide – 1970–71 stats, p. 150. Team standings: 2007–08 NHL Official Guide & Record Book, p. 150. Team records: 2006–07 Vancouver Canucks Media Guide – Canucks all time team & individual records, pp. 225–237 Category:Vancouver Canucks seasons Vanc Vanc