1991–92 Vancouver Canucks season

The 1991–92 Vancouver Canucks season was the Canucks' 22nd NHL season.

1991–92 Vancouver Canucks
Smythe Division champions
Division1st Smythe
Conference2nd Campbell
1991–92 record42–26–12
Home record23–10–7
Road record19–16–5
Goals for285
Goals against250
Team information
General managerPat Quinn
CoachPat Quinn
CaptainTrevor Linden
Alternate captainsDoug Lidster
Ryan Walter
ArenaPacific Coliseum
Average attendance15,768
Team leaders
GoalsPavel Bure (34)
AssistsCliff Ronning (47)
PointsTrevor Linden (75)
Penalty minutesGino Odjick (348)
Plus/minusJyrki Lumme (+25)
WinsKirk McLean (38)
Goals against averageKirk McLean (2.74)

Off-season

In the off-season, the Canucks fourth round draft pick in 1989 was finally validated and the Canucks now officially held the NHL rights to Pavel Bure. There was still a problem, though. His release from the Central Red Army still needed to be negotiated and there was no guarantee that he would play for the Canucks in the upcoming season. Director of Hockey Operations Brian Burke accepted the job as general manager of the Hartford Whalers and took Milwaukee Admirals Head Coach, Rick Ley to coach his team. George McPhee filled the vacant front-office post and Jack McIlhargey became the new coach on the farm. Ron Wilson became an assistant coach, as did Stan Smyl, who tearfully resigned from active playing. "The Steamer" retired as the team's all-time leader in games (896), goals (262), assists (411), and points (673). Pat Quinn elected to retain all three titles (President, General Manager, and Head Coach) instead of hiring a new coach. Craig Coxe was chosen by the San Jose Sharks in the expansion draft, and Steve Bozek signed with the same club as a free agent. To fill the void, 13-year veteran and Burnaby-native C Ryan Walter was signed away from Montreal.

Forward Trevor Linden is named sole team captain. Defenceman Doug Lidster (who shared the captaincy last season with Linden) is returned to his previous role of an alternate captain. Newly signed forward Ryan Walter, is named the other alternate captain.

Regular season

The team season opened with a home-and-home series against the expansion San Jose Sharks and the Canucks swept. Pavel Bure, staying in California with his father and brother, watched the game at the Cow Palace from the press box. They managed to roll up a 7–1–1 record, the last being a 3–1 victory over the Washington Capitals on October 24 which leap-frogged the Canucks past Washington into first place in the NHL standings. On November 3, the Canucks paid tribute to their long-time captain and all-time leading scorer turned assistant coach (Smyl) with a special pre-game ceremony. He was presented with a Harley Davidson motorcycle, among other gifts, and had his number 12 raised to the rafters at Pacific Coliseum. In the game to follow, Igor Larionov broke out of a long drought by scoring his first three goals of the season in a 7–2 rout of Edmonton. The Pavel Bure debacle was being settled during that time and two nights later he made his NHL debut before a packed Coliseum against the Winnipeg Jets. The "Russian Rocket", as he became known, dazzled the crowd with three spectacular rushes but failed to score in a 3–3 tie. Three games later, Bure scored his first two NHL goals in an 8–2 romp of the Los Angeles Kings. Playing with Larionov and Greg Adams, Bure completed the "BIG Line", which became, arguably, the most dangerous offensive unit in Canucks history. Though all of the experts were predicting otherwise, the Canucks remained among the NHL's elite throughout the season, hitting a high point with an 11–0 shellacking of the Calgary Flames on March 1. Bure rolled to 34 goals, many of the highlight-reel variety, breaking Ivan Hlinka's club rookie record in only 65 games. His 60 points equaled Hlinka's total from 1981 to 1982. Trevor Linden's 75 points led the team in scoring for the second straight year, Cliff Ronning was second with 71 points and Larionov finished third with 65. Kirk McLean rebounded to have a terrific season in goal, winning a club-record 38 games and recording a 2.74 goals-against average with five shutouts earning him team MVP honors. Gino Odjick broke Dave Williams' 11-year-old single-season penalty minutes record with 348 and, what's more, he did it in only 65 games. Overall, the team racked up club record totals of 42 wins and 96 points and won the Smythe Division by 12 points over Los Angeles. The only threat to their division crown was a 10-day strike in early April that threatened to wipe out the playoffs. Finally, the streak of losing seasons had been halted at 16 years and, for the first time since 1982, the Canucks would open up a playoff series at home.

Playoffs

The Canucks would eventually win the first round against the Winnipeg Jets, in seven games, after trailing the series 3–1 for the first playoff series victory since reaching the Stanley Cup Final in 1982. However, the Canucks would not get past the Edmonton Oilers and lost the series in six games.

Awards

If it was any consolation, the Canucks were pretty successful in post-season hardware. They didn't win the Stanley Cup, but Pavel Bure won the Calder Memorial Trophy as Rookie of the year, Pat Quinn won the Jack Adams Award as Coach of the Year, and Ryan Walter won the Bud Light NHL Man of the Year for his work in the community. As well, Kirk McLean is runner-up for the Vezina Trophy (top goaltender) and is named to the NHL's Second All-Star Team.

Regular season
Smythe Division[1]
GP W L T GF GA Pts
Vancouver Canucks8042261228525096
Los Angeles Kings8035311428725084
Edmonton Oilers8036341029529782
Winnipeg Jets8033321525124481
Calgary Flames8031371229630574
San Jose Sharks801758521935939
Campbell Conference[2]
R Div GP W L T GF GA Pts
1Detroit Red WingsNRS8043251232025698
2Vancouver CanucksSMY8042261228525096
3Chicago BlackhawksNRS8036291525723687
4Los Angeles KingsSMY8035311428729684
5St. Louis BluesNRS8036331127926683
6Edmonton OilersSMY8036341029529782
7Winnipeg JetsSMY8033321525124481
8Calgary FlamesSMY8031371229630574
9Minnesota North StarsNRS803242624627870
10Toronto Maple LeafsNRS803043723429467
11San Jose SharksSMY801758521935939

Divisions: NRS – Norris, SMY – Smythe
bold – Qualified for playoffs

Schedule and results

October

Monthly Record: 9–3–1 (Home 5–1–1; Road 4–2–0)

#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPts
1October 4San Jose3 – 4VancouverMcLean16,1231–0–02
2October 5Vancouver5 – 2San JoseMcLean10,8882–0–04
3October 8Vancouver3 – 2WinnipegOTMcLean8,6893–0–06
4October 10Vancouver6 – 7ChicagoGamble17,3223–1–06
5October 12Vancouver2 – 1TorontoMcLean15,7594–1–08
6October 13Vancouver3 – 1BuffaloMcLean14,4035–1–010
7October 17Boston3 – 3VancouverOTMcLean15,9865–1–111
8October 19Calgary2 – 5VancouverMcLean15,2266–1–113
9October 21Toronto1 – 4VancouverMcLean13,1087–1–115
10October 24Washington1 – 3VancouverMcLean16,1048–1–117
11October 26Vancouver4 – 5EdmontonMcLean16,4468–2–117
12October 27Edmonton6 – 3VancouverMcLean14,6468–3–117
13October 29New Jersey3 – 4VancouverMcLean12,1969–3–119

November

Monthly Record: 7–4–2 (Home 6–2–1; Road 1–2–1)

#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPts
14November 1St. Louis3 – 2VancouverMcLean16,1239–4–119
15November 3Edmonton2 – 7VancouverMcLean15,65110–4–121
16November 5Winnipeg2 – 2VancouverOTMcLean16,12310–4–222
17November 7Vancouver4 – 3Los AngelesMcLean16,00511–4–224
18November 10NY Islanders0 – 6VancouverMcLean16,12312–4–226
19November 12Los Angeles2 – 8VancouverMcLean16,12313–4–228
20November 14Vancouver2 – 2CalgaryOTMcLean19,68813–4–329
21November 16San Jose0 – 1VancouverMcLean15,95014–4–331
22November 19NY Rangers4 – 3VancouverMcLean16,07714–5–331
23November 21Vancouver2 – 3CalgaryMcLean20,05514–6–331
24November 22Calgary5 – 6VancouverOTMcLean16,12315–6–333
25November 26Vancouver1 – 4San JoseGamble10,88815–7–333
26November 29Chicago2 – 5VancouverMcLean16,12316–7–335

December

Monthly Record: 6–4–3 (Home 3–1–2; Road 3–3–1)

#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPts
27December 1Vancouver0 – 7EdmontonMcLean15,50216–8–335
28December 3Vancouver0 – 3QuebecMcLean13,03316–9–335
29December 4Vancouver3 – 0MontrealMcLean16,57317–9–337
30December 7Vancouver3 – 6TorontoGamble15,78117–10–337
31December 10Edmonton7 – 4VancouverMcLean14,97417–11–337
32December 12Minnesota5 – 7VancouverGamble14,80318–11–339
33December 14Vancouver4 – 4Los AngelesOTMcLean16,00518–11–440
34December 17Detroit1 – 2VancouverMcLean15,60919–11–442
35December 19Winnipeg1 – 3VancouverMcLean16,12320–11–444
36December 22Quebec6 – 6VancouverOTMcLean16,12320–11–545
37December 27Philadelphia1 – 1VancouverOTMcLean16,12320–11–646
38December 28Vancouver3 – 2San JoseMcLean10,88821–11–648
39December 31Vancouver5 – 3Los AngelesMcLean16,00522–11–650

January

Monthly Record: 7–3–1 (Home 2–2–0; Road 5–1–1)

#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPts
40January 3Vancouver3 – 3WashingtonOTMcLean16,78922–11–751
41January 4Vancouver3 – 4MinnesotaGamble15,20422–12–751
42January 7San Jose1 – 4VancouverMcLean15,81623–12–753
43January 12Pittsburgh4 – 3VancouverMcLean16,12323–13–753
44January 14Vancouver4 – 2WinnipegMcLean14,73724–13–755
45January 15Vancouver5 – 3EdmontonMcLean15,17625–13–757
46January 21Vancouver5 – 3QuebecGamble13,63426–13–759
47January 23Vancouver3 – 1DetroitMcLean19,81627–13–761
48January 25Vancouver1 – 0St. LouisOTMcLean18,21528–13–763
49January 28Edmonton5 – 3VancouverMcLean16,12328–14–763
50January 30Chicago1 – 4VancouverMcLean16,12329–14–765

February

Monthly Record: 5–6–2 (Home 3–2–1; Road 2–4–1)

#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPts
51February 1Hartford4 – 4VancouverOTMcLean16,12329–14–866
52February 4Montreal3 – 5VancouverMcLean16,12330–14–868
53February 6NY Islanders5 – 4VancouverOTGamble15,68930–15–868
54February 10Vancouver3 – 8MontrealMcLean16,83830–16–868
55February 12Vancouver2 – 5NY RangersMcLean16,00230–17–868
56February 13Vancouver3 – 5New JerseyGamble12,70230–18–868
57February 15Vancouver1 – 3NY IslandersMcLean9,91130–19–868
58February 17Vancouver3 – 3NY RangersOTMcLean18,20030–19–969
59February 19Buffalo5 – 6VancouverMcLean16,12331–19–971
60February 21Vancouver5 – 3San JoseMcLean10,88832–19–973
61February 23Boston1 – 2VancouverOTMcLean16,12333–19–975
62February 25Los Angeles4 – 3VancouverMcLean16,12333–20–975
63February 28Winnipeg3 – 5VancouverMcLean16,12334–20–977

March

Monthly Record: 7–5–2 (Home 3–1–1; Road 4–4–1)

#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionRecordPts
64March 1Calgary0 – 11VancouverMcLean35–20–979
65March 2St. Louis5 – 3VancouverMcLean35–21–979
66March 5Vancouver2 – 2BostonOTGamble35–21–1080
67March 7Vancouver5 – 1HartfordGamble36–21–1082
68March 8Vancouver7 – 3PhiladelphiaMcLean37–21–1084
69March 12New Jersey1 – 2VancouverMcLean38–21–1086
70March 14Vancouver6 – 4CalgaryMcLean39–21–1088
71March 18Hartford1 – 3VancouverGamble40–21–1090
72March 20Winnipeg2 – 2VancouverOTGamble40–21–1191
73March 22Vancouver1 – 5WinnipegGamble40–22–1191
74March 24Vancouver4 – 2MinnesotaMcLean41–22–1193
75March 26Vancouver3 – 7PittsburghGamble41–23–1193
76March 28Vancouver1 – 3DetroitMcLean41–24–1193
77March 29Vancouver4 – 7WashingtonMcLean41–25–1193

April

Monthly Record: 1–1–1 (Home 1–0–1; Road 1–0–0)

#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceRecordPts
78April 12Los Angeles6 – 1VancouverGamble16,12341–26–1193
79April 14Vancouver3 – 2Los AngelesMcLean16,00542–26–1195
80April 16Calgary4 – 4VancouverOTGamble15,84342–26–1296
  • Green background indicates win.
  • Red background indicates regulation loss.
  • White background indicates tie.

Playoffs

Smythe Division Semi-finals: vs. (4) Winnipeg Jets

Vancouver wins series 4–3

#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceSeries
1April 18Winnipeg3 – 2VancouverMcLean0 – 1
2April 20Winnipeg2 – 3VancouverMcLean1 – 1
3April 22Vancouver2 – 4WinnipegMcLean1 – 2
4April 24Vancouver1 – 3WinnipegMcLean1 – 3
5April 26Winnipeg2 – 8VancouverMcLean2 – 3
6April 28Vancouver8 – 3WinnipegMcLean3 – 3
7April 30Winnipeg0 – 5VancouverMcLean4 – 3

Smythe Division Final: vs. (3) Edmonton Oilers

Edmonton wins series 4–2

#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTDecisionAttendanceSeries
1May 3Edmonton4 – 3VancouverOTMcLean0 – 1
2May 4Edmonton0 – 4VancouverMcLean1 – 1
3May 6Vancouver2 – 5EdmontonMcLean1 – 2
4May 8Vancouver2 – 3EdmontonMcLean1 – 3
5May 10Edmonton3 – 4VancouverMcLean2 – 3
6May 12Vancouver0 – 3EdmontonMcLean2 – 4

Player statistics

Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = Plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes

Player GP G A Pts
Trevor Linden80314475
Cliff Ronning80244771
Igor Larionov72214465
Pavel Bure65342660
Greg Adams76302757

Goaltending

Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; Sv% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average

PlayerGPTOIWLTGASOSv%GAA
Kirk McLean653,852381791765.9012.74
Troy Gamble191,009493730.8594.34

Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = Plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes

Player GP G A Pts PIM
Geoff Courtnall12681420
Cliff Ronning1385136
Greg Adams1276136
Trevor Linden1348126
Pavel Bure13641014
Jim Sandlak13461022

Goaltending

Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; Sv% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average

PlayerGPTOIWLGASOSv%GAA
Kirk McLean1378567332.9092.52

Awards and records

1992 Canuck Awards Winners

Kirk McLean
  • Named NHL Player-of-the-Month for October after posting a 9–2–1 record and a 2.37 GAA. He became the first Canuck to achieve the honor on November 1, 1991.
  • Records his 20th victory in a 3–2 win at San Jose on December 22, 1991. Becoming the fastest Canuck goaltender to reach the 20-win mark.
  • Selected to represent the Campbell Conference at the 43rd NHL All-Star Game in Philadelphia on January 18, 1992.
  • Played in his 250th career NHL game on March 8, 1992, at Philadelphia and recorded his 33rd win of the season to set a single season franchise record for most wins.
  • Recorded 100th career NHL win on March 14, 1992, at Calgary.
  • Tied for NHL lead with most wins in the 1991–92 NHL season with 38.
  • Tied for the NHL lead for most shutouts in the 1991–92 NHL season with 5.
  • Named on the NHL Second All-Star Team on June 16, 1992.
  • Named on the Sporting News All-Star Second Team on June 16, 1992.
  • Nominated for the Vezina Trophy, but lost to Patrick Roy on June 16, 1992.

Pavel Bure
  • Scored his first two NHL goals in an 8–2 victory vs. Los Angeles on November 12, 1991.
  • Scored 34 goals to break Ivan Hlinka's franchise rookie goal-scoring record from the 1981–82 season.
  • Tied with Ivan Hlinka for the franchise rookie points record with 60.
  • Named NHL Rookie-of-the-Month for March/April on April 18, 1992.
  • Won the Calder Memorial Trophy as Rookie of the Year on June 16, 1992.

Geoff Courtnall
  • Recorded his 200th career NHL assist on November 1, 1991, vs. St. Louis.
  • Recorded his 400th career NHL point on November 3, 1991, vs. Edmonton.
  • Scored his 200th career NHL goal on November 5, 1991, vs. Winnipeg.
  • Had a 9-game point streak scoring 7 goals and recorded 7 assists for 14 points from October 27-November 16.
  • Scored 2 goals and recorded 3 assists for 5 points on December 22, 1991, at Quebec.
  • Set a club record with 281 shots on goal.

Trevor Linden
  • Recorded his 200th career NHL and Canuck point on November 5 vs. Winnipeg.
  • Selected to represent the Campbell Conference at the 43rd NHL All-Star Game in Philadelphia on January 18, 1992. Linden recorded a goal and an assist at the game.
  • Played in his 300th career NHL and Canuck game on March 7, 1992, at Hartford.
  • Led the team in scoring for the second-straight season.
  • Had an 8-game point streak scoring 2 goals and recorded 11 assists for 13 points.

Cliff Ronning
  • Played 200th career NHL game on October 21, 1991, vs. Toronto.
  • Had a 9-game point streak scoring 5 goals and recorded 8 assists for 13 points from October 17-November 5.
  • Recorded his 100th career NHL assist on December 7, 1991, at Toronto.
  • Recorded his 200th career NHL point on March 8, 1992, at Philadelphia.
  • Molson Cup Player of the Month for October and December.

Pat Quinn
  • Sets club record with 42 wins in a single-season.
  • Sets club record with 96 points in a single-season.
  • Won the Jack Adams Award for Coach of the Year on June 16, 1992.
  • Received Coach of the Year honors by the Sporting News on June 16, 1992.

Petr Nedved
  • Scored first multiple goal game on January 7, 1992, vs. San Jose.
  • Played in his 100th career NHL and Canuck game on January 7, 1992, vs. San Jose.
  • Had 6 multiple point games.

Jyrki Lumme
  • Scored career high 4 points (1–3–4) vs. Minnesota on December 12, 1991.
  • Three game goal streak and 3 game point streak (3–4–7) from December 7–12.
  • Played in his 200th career NHL game on December 31, 1991, vs. Los Angeles.

Greg Adams
  • Played in his 500th career NHL game on February 13, 1992, at New Jersey.
  • Recorded his 400th career NHL point on March 14, 1992, at Calgary.

Igor Larionov
  • Played in his 200th career NHL and Canuck game.
  • Recorded his 100th career NHL and Canuck point.

Dave Babych
  • Scored his 1st career hat-trick including the game winner on November 22, 1991, vs. Calgary.
  • Played in his 800th career NHL game on March 5, 1992, at Boston.

Gerald Diduck
  • Played his 400th career NHL game on November 21, 1991, at Calgary.
  • Recorded his 100th career NHL assist on February 28, 1992, vs. Winnipeg.

Gino Odjick]
  • Broke Dave "Tiger" Williams single-season penalty minutes record with 348 doing it in only 65 games on March 2, 1992, vs. St. Louis.
  • Played in his 100th career NHL game on March 14, 1992, at Calgary.

Others
  • Ryan Walter won the Bud Light NHL Man of the Year for his work in the community on May 27, 1992.
  • Sergio Momesso had a 5-game point streak scoring 2 goals and recorded 3 assists for 5 points.
  • Dana Murzyn played his 400th career NHL game on October 19, 1991, vs Calgary.

Transactions

Trades
June 22, 1991 To Vancouver Canucks
Dave Babych		 To Minnesota North Stars
Tom Kurvers
August 1, 1991 To Vancouver Canucks
Robin Bawa		 To Washington Capitals
Cash
December 19, 1991 To Vancouver Canucks
Tom Fergus		 To Toronto Maple Leafs
Cash
March 9, 1992 To Vancouver Canucks
Ken Hammond		 To San Jose Sharks
8th round pick in 1992 (C.J. Denomme)

Free agents acquired
PlayerFormer Team
C Ryan WalterMontreal Canadiens
D Randy GreggEdmonton Oilers

Free agents lost
PlayerNew Team
LW Steve BozekSan Jose Sharks
D Jack CapuanoBoston Bruins

Expansion draft

Vancouver's losses at the 1991 NHL Dispersal and Expansion Drafts in Buffalo, New York.

Round # Player Nationality Drafted by Drafted from
1 19 Craig Coxe (C)  United States San Jose Sharks Vancouver Canucks

Draft picks

Vancouver's picks at the 1991 NHL Entry Draft in Buffalo, New York.

Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)
1 7 Alek Stojanov (RW)  Canada Hamilton Dukes (OHL)
2 29 Jassen Cullimore (D)  Canada Peterborough Petes (OHL)
3 51 Sean Pronger (C)  Canada Bowling Green State University (NCAA)
5 95 Dan Kesa (RW)  Canada Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
6 117 Evgeny Namestnikov (D)  Soviet Union Nizhny Novgorod Torpedo (USSR)
7 139 Brent Thurston (LW)  Canada Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
8 161 Eric Johnson (RW)  United States St. Cloud State University (NCAA)
9 183 David Neilson (LW)  United States Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
10 205 Brad Barton (RW)  Canada Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
11 227 Jason Fitzsimmons (G)  Canada Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
12 249 Xavier Majic (C)  Canada Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (NCAA)
S13Scott Meehan (D) United StatesUniversity of Massachusetts Lowell (Hockey East)

Farm teams

Milwaukee Admirals

Vancouver Canucks IHL affiliate that play in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and their home arena is the Bradley Center.

Columbus Chill

Vancouver Canucks ECHL affiliate that play in Columbus, Ohio and their home arena is the Ohio State Fairgrounds Coliseum.

See also

References
  1. "1991-1992 Division Standings". National Hockey League. Retrieved March 25, 2012.
  2. "1991-1992 Conference Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". NHL.
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