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1984–85 Vancouver Canucks season

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1984–85 Vancouver Canucks
Division5th Smythe
Conference9th Campbell
1984–85 record25–46–9
Home record15–21–4
Road record10–25–5
Goals for284
Goals against401
Team information
General managerHarry Neale
CoachBill LaForge (4-14-2)
Harry Neale (21-32-7)
CaptainStan Smyl
Alternate captainsDoug Halward
Rick Lanz
ArenaPacific Coliseum
Average attendance11,147
Team leaders
GoalsTony Tanti (39)
AssistsPatrik Sundstrom (43)
PointsPatrik Sundstrom (68)
Penalty minutesGarth Butcher (152)
WinsRichard Brodeur (16)
Goals against averageRichard Brodeur (4.67)

The 1984–85 Vancouver Canucks season was the team's 15th in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Canucks did not qualify for the playoffs for the first time since the 1977–78 season.

Offseason

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On May 18, Bill LaForge was announced as the new head coach.[1] At 32 years of age, LaForge would be the youngest coach in the NHL at the time. LaForge signed a two-year contract and promised tough practices, while emphasizing his Ph.D. philosophy – pride, hustle, and desire.[2]

Having played the majority of the previous season with the team's minor-league affiliate, centre Gerry Minor was not offered a new contract.[3] On May 30, the team announced it had signed its first Finnish player, Petri Skriko. The 8th round selection in the 1981 Draft had most recently been a member of SaiPa in the Finnish Elite League.[4] After three seasons with the club, Lars Molin turned down a two-way contract and returned to his native Sweden to play with his former club, MoDo AIK.[5]

In the Entry Draft, the Canucks took 5'11" defenceman J. J. Daigneault with the tenth overall pick. He would have a solid rookie campaign, playing 67 games and collecting 27 points.[6]

On June 22, the club announced that veteran forward Al MacAdam had been acquired from the North Stars for future considerations.[7] The following day, it was revealed that fan favourite Harold Snepsts would be heading to Minnesota after playing his entire ten-year career in a Canucks uniform.[8]

After neck problems had plagued him during the previous season, Darcy Rota underwent spinal fusion surgery on June 29.[9]

Entering the option year of his contract and unable to agree to terms for a new one, enforcer Tiger Williams was dealt to the Detroit Red Wings for Rob McClanahan.[10]

Training camp

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The Canucks held their training camp at the Cowichan Community Centre in Duncan, from September 18–21.[11]

49 players took part in the training camp. Notable absences included Thomas Gradin and Patrik Sundström, who were representing Team Sweden in the Canada Cup tournament, as well as Darcy Rota and Stu Kulak who were both recovering from injuries.[12]

Players were divided into three scrimmage teams, around which the training camp revolved. Aligning closely to coach LaForge's pride, hustle, and desire philosophy, the teams were named accordingly: Team Pride (captained by Ron Delorme); Team Hustle (captained by Doug Halward); Team Desire (captained by Stan Smyl). These scrimmage teams competed in a round-robin tournament, with the winning team claiming the Ph.D (Pride, Hustle, Desire) Cup. At the conclusion of each game, all players of the losing team were made to run a mile in full hockey gear. Those with bad knees were permitted to pedal five miles on a stationary bike in full hockey gear.[13]

Regular season

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The team continued to travel aboard their private jet, Air Canuck, for all road trips until late in the season when the plane was sold.[14]

Final standings

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Smythe Division
GP W L T GF GA Pts
Edmonton Oilers 80 49 20 11 401 298 109
Winnipeg Jets 80 43 27 10 358 332 96
Calgary Flames 80 41 27 12 363 302 94
Los Angeles Kings 80 34 32 14 339 326 82
Vancouver Canucks 80 25 46 9 284 401 59

[15]Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

Record vs. opponents

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Smythe Division record vs. opponents

Vs. Campbell Conference

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Vs. Wales Conference


Schedule and results

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Pre-season

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The Canucks released their pre-season schedule on June 20, 1984.[17]

1984 preseason
Preseason: 4–5–1 (home: 2–3–0; road: 2–2–1)
Game Date Visitor Score Home Decision Attendance Record Recap
1[a][b] September 22 Vancouver 4–1 Los Angeles Kilroy — –
2[b] September 22 Vancouver 5–3 Los Angeles Young 3,958 1–0–0
3[a][c] September 23 Los Angeles 4–5 Vancouver Grant — –
4[c] September 23 Los Angeles 4–3 Vancouver Young — 1–1–0
5 September 25 Edmonton 7–2 Vancouver Brodeur 9,241 1–2–0
6 September 28 Vancouver 4–3 Winnipeg Caprice 10,820 2–2–0
7 September 30 Vancouver 4–8 Calgary Brodeur 16,863 2–3–0
8 October 2 Vancouver 4–7 Edmonton Garrett 17,237 2–4–0
9[b] October 3 Winnipeg 0–4 Vancouver Caprice 3,900 3–4–0
10 October 4 Vancouver 5–5 Los Angeles Garrett 5,000 3–4–1
11 October 5 Calgary 3–4 Vancouver Brodeur 8,997 4–4–1
12 October 7 St. Louis 5–4 Vancouver Caprice 9,059 4–5–1

Legend:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Tie (1 point)
Notes:
a Game was played by the rookie squad.
b Game was played at Memorial Arena in Victoria.
c Game was played at Cowichan Community Centre in Duncan.

Regular season

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The Canucks released their regular season schedule on June 27, 1984.[18]

1984–85 regular season[19]
October
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record
1 L October 11, 1984 2–5 Quebec Nordiques (1984–85) 0–1–0
2 W October 13, 1984 6–5 OT @ Los Angeles Kings (1984–85) 1–1–0
3 L October 14, 1984 5–7 Calgary Flames (1984–85) 1–2–0
4 L October 17, 1984 3–4 @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1984–85) 1–3–0
5 L October 18, 1984 2–13 @ Philadelphia Flyers (1984–85) 1–4–0
6 L October 20, 1984 2–3 @ Hartford Whalers (1984–85) 1–5–0
7 L October 23, 1984 5–6 @ New York Islanders (1984–85) 1–6–0
8 L October 24, 1984 3–9 @ Chicago Black Hawks (1984–85) 1–7–0
9 L October 28, 1984 2–5 Washington Capitals (1984–85) 1–8–0
10 L October 30, 1984 0–7 @ Edmonton Oilers (1984–85) 1–9–0
11 L October 31, 1984 3–10 Los Angeles Kings (1984–85) 1–10–0
November
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record
12 W November 3, 1984 6–4 Chicago Black Hawks (1984–85) 2–10–0
13 T November 7, 1984 4–4 OT @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1984–85) 2–10–1
14 L November 9, 1984 5–7 @ Winnipeg Jets (1984–85) 2–11–1
15 T November 10, 1984 5–5 OT @ Minnesota North Stars (1984–85) 2–11–2
16 L November 12, 1984 3–5 Montreal Canadiens (1984–85) 2–12–2
17 W November 14, 1984 3–2 Detroit Red Wings (1984–85) 3–12–2
18 W November 16, 1984 7–6 Pittsburgh Penguins (1984–85) 4–12–2
19 L November 17, 1984 0–7 @ Edmonton Oilers (1984–85) 4–13–2
20 L November 20, 1984 1–5 St. Louis Blues (1984–85) 4–14–2
21 L November 21, 1984 4–6 @ Calgary Flames (1984–85) 4–15–2
22 L November 23, 1984 1–5 Winnipeg Jets (1984–85) 4–16–2
23 L November 25, 1984 2–4 Calgary Flames (1984–85) 4–17–2
24 L November 27, 1984 1–6 St. Louis Blues (1984–85) 4–18–2
25 L November 29, 1984 1–12 @ Los Angeles Kings (1984–85) 4–19–2
December
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record
26 L December 1, 1984 3–6 @ Los Angeles Kings (1984–85) 4–20–2
27 L December 3, 1984 4–5 New York Islanders (1984–85) 4–21–2
28 W December 8, 1984 3–2 OT Edmonton Oilers (1984–85) 5–21–2
29 W December 11, 1984 4–3 @ Quebec Nordiques (1984–85) 6–21–2
30 W December 13, 1984 5–4 @ Montreal Canadiens (1984–85) 7–21–2
31 L December 15, 1984 1–2 OT @ Boston Bruins (1984–85) 7–22–2
32 T December 16, 1984 2–2 OT @ Buffalo Sabres (1984–85) 7–22–3
33 L December 20, 1984 1–9 @ Calgary Flames (1984–85) 7–23–3
34 W December 21, 1984 3–1 @ Edmonton Oilers (1984–85) 8–23–3
35 L December 23, 1984 4–5 Calgary Flames (1984–85) 8–24–3
36 T December 26, 1984 3–3 OT Los Angeles Kings (1984–85) 8–24–4
37 L December 28, 1984 4–7 Philadelphia Flyers (1984–85) 8–25–4
38 T December 30, 1984 7–7 OT Edmonton Oilers (1984–85) 8–25–5
January
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record
39 L January 2, 1985 0–6 @ New York Rangers (1984–85) 8–26–5
40 W January 3, 1985 6–4 @ New Jersey Devils (1984–85) 9–26–5
41 W January 5, 1985 4–1 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1984–85) 10–26–5
42 L January 8, 1985 3–5 @ Philadelphia Flyers (1984–85) 10–27–5
43 L January 9, 1985 4–7 @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1984–85) 10–28–5
44 L January 13, 1985 3–5 Toronto Maple Leafs (1984–85) 10–29–5
45 W January 15, 1985 6–5 OT New York Islanders (1984–85) 11–29–5
46 T January 18, 1985 4–4 OT Edmonton Oilers (1984–85) 11–29–6
47 L January 19, 1985 5–7 @ Edmonton Oilers (1984–85) 11–30–6
48 T January 21, 1985 3–3 OT Calgary Flames (1984–85) 11–30–7
49 L January 23, 1985 4–6 Winnipeg Jets (1984–85) 11–31–7
50 W January 25, 1985 7–4 Winnipeg Jets (1984–85) 12–31–7
51 L January 26, 1985 2–6 @ Calgary Flames (1984–85) 12–32–7
52 W January 30, 1985 5–4 OT Montreal Canadiens (1984–85) 13–32–7
February
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record
53 W February 1, 1985 4–3 OT Hartford Whalers (1984–85) 14–32–7
54 W February 3, 1985 4–1 New York Rangers (1984–85) 15–32–7
55 L February 6, 1985 0–4 @ St. Louis Blues (1984–85) 15–33–7
56 T February 8, 1985 5–5 OT @ Winnipeg Jets (1984–85) 15–33–8
57 W February 10, 1985 5–3 @ Winnipeg Jets (1984–85) 16–33–8
58 W February 16, 1985 3–2 OT Boston Bruins (1984–85) 17–33–8
59 W February 19, 1985 7–5 New Jersey Devils (1984–85) 18–33–8
60 L February 21, 1985 2–6 Washington Capitals (1984–85) 18–34–8
61 L February 23, 1985 5–7 Quebec Nordiques (1984–85) 18–35–8
62 L February 26, 1985 2–3 @ Washington Capitals (1984–85) 18–36–8
63 L February 27, 1985 5–11 @ Detroit Red Wings (1984–85) 18–37–8
March
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record
64 L March 2, 1985 0–5 @ Boston Bruins (1984–85) 18–38–8
65 W March 3, 1985 7–6 OT @ Hartford Whalers (1984–85) 19–38–8
66 L March 6, 1985 3–6 New York Rangers (1984–85) 19–39–8
67 W March 8, 1985 4–3 Los Angeles Kings (1984–85) 20–39–8
68 W March 10, 1985 6–3 Edmonton Oilers (1984–85) 21–39–8
69 W March 13, 1985 6–4 Buffalo Sabres (1984–85) 22–39–8
70 L March 15, 1985 5–6 Detroit Red Wings (1984–85) 22–40–8
71 L March 17, 1985 4–6 Chicago Black Hawks (1984–85) 22–41–8
72 W March 20, 1985 5–4 @ Buffalo Sabres (1984–85) 23–41–8
73 W March 21, 1985 3–2 @ New Jersey Devils (1984–85) 24–41–8
74 L March 23, 1985 4–6 @ Winnipeg Jets (1984–85) 24–42–8
75 L March 25, 1985 3–5 @ Minnesota North Stars (1984–85) 24–43–8
76 L March 27, 1985 3–5 Winnipeg Jets (1984–85) 24–44–8
77 W March 31, 1985 3–2 Minnesota North Stars (1984–85) 25–44–8
April
Game Result Date Score Opponent Record
78 L April 3, 1985 3–5 @ Calgary Flames (1984–85) 25–45–8
79 L April 5, 1985 3–4 Los Angeles Kings (1984–85) 25–46–8
80 T April 6, 1985 4–4 OT @ Los Angeles Kings (1984–85) 25–46–9

Legend:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Tie (1 point)

Player statistics

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Awards and records

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Transactions

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Draft picks

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Vancouver's draft picks at the 1984 NHL Entry Draft held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal.

Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)
1 10 J. J. Daigneault  Canada Longueuil Chevaliers (QMJHL)
2 31 Jeff Rohlicek  United States Portland Winter Hawks (WHL)
3 52 David Saunders  Canada St. Lawrence University (ECAC)
3 55 Landis Chaulk  Canada Calgary Wranglers (WHL)
3 58 Mike Stevens  Canada Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
4 73 Brian Bertuzzi  Canada Kamloops Jr. Oilers (WHL)
5 94 Brett MacDonald  Canada North Bay Centennials (OHL)
6 115 Jeff Korchinski  Canada Clarkson College (ECAC)
7 136 Blaine Chrest  Canada Portland Winter Hawks (WHL)
8 157 Jim Agnew  Canada Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
9 178 Rex Grant  Canada Kamloops Jr. Oilers (WHL)
10 198 Ed Lowney  United States Boston University (ECAC)
11 219 Doug Clarke  Canada Colorado College (WCHA)
12 239 Ed Kister  Canada London Knights (OHL)

Farm teams

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Fredericton Express (AHL)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "LaForge named Canucks' coach". Star-Phoenix. Saskatoon, SK. Canadian Press. May 19, 1984. p. D9. Retrieved December 7, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "LaForge plans a 'Ph.D' philosophy for Canucks". Bennington Banner. Bennington, Vermont. United Press International. May 23, 1984. p. 12. Retrieved December 8, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "No draft deals for Neale". The Vancouver Sun. Vancouver, BC. Vancouver Sun staff. May 24, 1984. p. D3. Retrieved December 24, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Last contract for Snepsts?". The Vancouver Sun. Vancouver, BC. Vancouver Sun staff. May 30, 1984. p. C3. Retrieved December 24, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Molin retires; Canucks raise ticket prices". Star-Phoenix. Saskatoon, SK. Star-Phoenix staff. May 30, 1984. p. D9. Retrieved December 24, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "1984 NHL Entry Draft". Calgary Herald. Calgary, AB page. Canadian Press. June 10, 1984. p. F6. Retrieved December 24, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Stars' MacAdam traded to Canucks". Star Tribune. Minneapolis. Star Tribune staff. June 22, 1984. p. 1D. Retrieved December 9, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Snepsts now Minnesota property". The Vancouver Sun. Vancouver, BC. Vancouver Sun staff. June 23, 1984. p. B3. Retrieved December 9, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Can Neale hook any more fans?". The Vancouver Sun. Vancouver, BC. Vancouver Sun staff. July 18, 1984. p. C2. Retrieved December 24, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "'Arthur Griffiths didnt want me' – Williams". The Vancouver Sun. Vancouver, BC. Vancouver Sun staff. August 8, 1984. p. D4. Retrieved December 24, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Will Neale feel warm all over?". The Province. Vancouver, BC. Province Staff. September 18, 1984. p. 42. Retrieved December 7, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "LaForge going to camp looking for scorers". The Vancouver Sun. Vancouver, BC. Vancouver Sun Staff. September 14, 1984. p. C-2. Retrieved December 8, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Will Neale feel warm all over?". The Province. Vancouver, BC. Province Staff. September 18, 1984. p. 42. Retrieved December 7, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Speed and convenience make Air Canuck untouchable". The Vancouver Sun. Vancouver, BC. Vancouver Sun staff. February 26, 1985. p. C1. Retrieved December 27, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 152. ISBN 9781894801225.
  16. ^ "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  17. ^ "Canucks trio has work to do". The province. Vancouver, BC. Province Staff Reporter. June 20, 1984. p. 55. Retrieved December 7, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Start with Nordiques". Nanaimo Daily News. Nanaimo, BC. Nanaimo Daily News staff. June 28, 1984. p. C1. Retrieved December 27, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ "1984-85 Vancouver Canucks Schedule". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
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