1985–86 Vancouver Canucks season
| 1985–86 Vancouver Canucks | |
|---|---|
| Division | 4th Smythe |
| Conference | 8th Campbell |
| 1985–86 record | 23–44–13 |
| Goals for | 282 |
| Goals against | 333 |
| Team information | |
| General Manager | Jack Gordon |
| Coach | Tom Watt |
| Captain | Stan Smyl |
| Alternate captains |
Doug Halward Rick Lanz Doug Lidster |
| Arena | Pacific Coliseum |
| Average attendance | 10,446 |
| Team leaders | |
| Goals | Tony Tanti (39) |
| Assists | Patrik Sundstrom (48) |
| Points | Petri Skriko (78) |
| Penalties in minutes | Garth Butcher (188) |
| Wins | Richard Brodeur (19) |
| Goals against average | Wendell Young (3.58) |
Changes were the order of the day after a disastrous 1984-85 campaign. Gone were Vice-President, General Manager, and Head Coach Harry Neale and Associate Coach Ron Smith. Assistant GM Jack Gordon was promoted to GM and Director of Hockey Operations and 1982 Jack Adams Trophy winner Tom Watt was brought in to coach. The team would undergo a cosmetic change as well, altering their jerseys so that the big "V" on the front was replaced by the team logo, while smaller "V"s appeared on the shoulders.
In the Entry Draft, the Canucks took 6'3" right-winger Jim Sandlak with the fourth overall pick. He would play 23 games for the team in the season, collecting four points.
Stan Smyl became the first Canuck to reach the 200-goal plateau on November 22 in a 6-5 loss to New Jersey. Richard Brodeur would earn team MVP honours, appearing in a career-high 64 games and keeping the Canucks in many games they had no business being in. On February 28, he registered his 100th win as a Canuck in a 3-1 decision over Philadelphia. Sophomore Petri Skriko earned career high marks in goals (38) and points (78). His point total led the team but he trailed Tony Tanti by one in the goal department.
Otherwise, the only thing to keep fan interest was the three-way turtle derby between the Canucks, Jets, and Kings for the final two playoff spots in the Smythe Division, since the Oilers and Flames were well ahead of them and had already locked up the top two spots in the division. After a dreadful 20-game stretch in which they went 1-13-6 to drop to 20th overall in the NHL (ahead of only a woeful Detroit squad), the Canucks went 5-4-1 in their last ten to finish tied with Winnipeg for third place in the Smythe with 59 points, while Los Angeles was out with 54. On the basis of winning more games (26-23), the Jets claimed third place, while the Canucks drew fourth and a first-round date with the Oilers.
...
Wikipedia