2003 Vancouver Canucks

Vancouver joined the NHL as an expansion team in 1970. The club struggled in its first four seasons, placing no better than sixth in its division from 1970-71 to 1973-74. In the 1974-75 season, however, head coach Phil Maloney guided the Canucks to a division title. Outstanding players included goalie Gary Smith, left wing Andre Boudrias, defenseman Harold Snepsts, and right wings Bobby Schmautz and Dennis Ververgaert. The Canucks lost in the first round of the 1975 playoffs, and they again fell in the first round in 1976, 1979, 1980, and 1981.

Under head coach Roger Neilson, Vancouver advanced beyond the first round of the playoffs for the first time in 1982, reaching the Stanley Cup Finals despite posting a losing record during the regular season. Center Thomas Gradin led the team in scoring for the second consecutive year. In the postseason the Canucks defeated the Calgary Flames, the Los Angeles Kings, and the Chicago Blackhawks to reach the finals. There they lost to the heavily favored New York Islanders, 4 games to 0.

From 1982 to 1991 Vancouver reached the playoffs five times, again losing in the first round each year. Star players of this period included right wing Stan Smyl, center Patrik Sundstrom, right wing Tony Tanti, and center Trevor Linden. After 13 seasons in Vancouver, including eight years as team captain, Smyl retired in 1991 as the Canucks' career leader in points, goals, assists, and games.

In both the 1991-92 and the 1992-93 seasons, head coach Pat Quinn piloted the Canucks to division crowns, but both years the team was eliminated in the second round of the playoffs. In the 1991-92 season Quinn received the Jack Adams Award as coach of the year, right wing Pavel Bure earned the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's rookie of the year, and goalie Kirk McLean ranked first in the league in shutouts.

In 1994 Quinn guided the Canucks to the franchise's second Stanley Cup Finals, where the team lost to the New York Rangers 4 games to 3. Following the season, Bure became the first Canuck to be named to the NHL All-Star First Team. After failing to make the playoffs in 1997, the franchise bolstered its roster by signing former New York Ranger center Mark Messier as a free agent. The Canucks, however, failed to qualify for the playoffs again in 1998.Playing hockey since 1946 in the Pacific Coast Hockey League, the Western Canada Senior Hockey League, and the Western Hockey League, the Canucks became an NHL team in 1970 for the sum of $6 million. Few teams can boast the offensive firepower that Vancouver has shown the last few seasons, and this season should be no different. The Canucks first line absolutely dominated the competition last season, with Marcus Naslund and Todd Bertuzzi at or around 100 points apiece and Brendan Morrison chipping in 71. Naslund may be the best offensive player in the league this season, period. The offense is also supplemented by a quality second line, anchored by Swedish twins Henrik and Daniel Sedin alongside newcomer Magnus Arvedson. Head coach Marc Crawford is entering his 5th season at the healm, and loves to let the Canucks play an open, offensive game. The defensive corps lost steady veteran Murray Baron, but does return Ed Jovanovski, Mattias Ohlund, and Sami Salo. Dan Cloutier, the goalie who took much of blame for the Canucks' decline in last season's second round, will look to rebound and make a good showing in this season's quest that should undoubtedly see the Canucks at or near the top of the West. The Canucks play their home games at the General Motors Place, which is also home to special events as well as concerts.

Previous players include: Andy Bathgate, Johnny Bower, Tony Esposito, Allan Herbert Stanley, Gump Worsley, Wayne Maki, Stan Smyl, Don Cherry and Phil Maloney.