The Vancouver Canucks are a Canadian professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, British Columbia. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Canucks joined the league in 1970–71 season as an expansion team, along with the Buffalo Sabres.
In their history, the team has captured the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl as Western Conference champions in 1982, 1994 and 2011, but lost in their three Stanley Cup appearances to the New York Islanders, New York Rangers and Boston Bruins, respectively.[1] The Sedin twins have won a combined four awards.[2][3] Markus Naslund has played in five NHL All-Star Games, the most in Canucks history.
Six players have had their numbers retired by the Canucks organization. Stan Smyl became the first Canuck to have his #12 retired in 1991, followed by Trevor Linden's #16 in 2008, Markus Naslund's #19 in 2010, Pavel Bure's #10 in 2013, Henrik Sedin's #33, and Daniel Sedin's #22 in 2020. Although they have been recognized for their accomplishments with different teams, Igor Larionov, Cam Neely, Mark Messier, Mats Sundin and Pavel Bure are several Hockey Hall of Famers who have played for the Canucks during their careers; former owner Frank Griffiths, coach Roger Neilson and general managers Bud Poile, Jake Milford and Pat Quinn have been inducted as builders. Twin brothers Henrik Sedin and Daniel Sedin, who played in Vancouver for their entire careers, as well as goaltender Roberto Luongo who was an integral part of the team for nearly a decade, were all inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2022.
The Canucks have seven internal team awards – the Molson Cup is awarded to the player who earns the most three-star selections throughout the season; the Cyclone Taylor Trophy is given to the team's most valuable player; Cyrus H. McLean Trophy recognizes the Canucks' leading scorer; the Walter "Babe" Pratt Trophy is given to the best Canucks defenceman; the Fred J. Hume Award is awarded to the Canucks' unsung hero, the Pavel Bure Most Exciting Player Award is awarded to the player judged to be the most exciting on the team, and the Daniel & Henrik Sedin Award is awarded to the player who has best demonstrated community leadership. Each of these awards are presented towards the end of the season.
- ^ Vancouver Canucks Team History, National Hockey League, retrieved November 26, 2010
- ^ Sedin becomes first Canuck to win Hart Trophy, Global BC, retrieved April 12, 2011
- ^ Daniel Sedin wins Lindsay Award, Kesler takes home Selke from NHL awards, National Hockey League, retrieved June 24, 2011