1987–88 Vancouver Canucks season

1987–88 Vancouver Canucks
1987–88 Vancouver Canucks
Division	5th Smythe
Conference	8th Campbell
1987–88 record	25–46–9
Home record	15–20–5
Road record	10–26–4
Goals for	272
Goals against	320
Team information
Coach	Bob McCammon
Captain	Stan Smyl
Alternate captains	Barry Pederson; Doug Lidster; Tony Tanti; Daryl Stanley; Garth Butcher
Arena	Pacific Coliseum
Average attendance	11,002
Team leaders
Goals	Tony Tanti (40)
Assists	Barry Pederson (52)
Points	Tony Tanti (77)
Penalty minutes	Garth Butcher (285)
Wins	Kirk McLean (11)
Goals against average	Steve Weeks (3.38)
	← 1986–87 1988–89 →

The 1987–88 Vancouver Canucks season was the team's 18th in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Canucks missed the playoffs for the second season in a row.

Offseason

Regular season

The Canucks had a very disappointing season, they were not capable of winning 3 games in a row during the season. However, after the season they were able to draft future captain Trevor Linden.

Final standings

Smythe Division
	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
Calgary Flames	80	48	23	9	397	305	105
Edmonton Oilers	80	44	25	11	363	288	99
Winnipeg Jets	80	33	36	11	292	310	77
Los Angeles Kings	80	30	42	8	318	359	68
Vancouver Canucks	80	25	46	9	272	320	59

^[1]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

Smythe Division record vs. opponents

Vs. Campbell Conference

Vs. Smythe Division

1987–88 NHL records^[2]
Team	CGY	EDM	LAK	VAN	WIN	Total
Calgary	—	4–3–1	4–4	6–0–2	3–4–1	17–11–4
Edmonton	3–4–1	—	4–2–2	7–0–1	4–1–3	18–7–7
Los Angeles	4–4	2–4–2	—	3–4–1	3–5	12–17–3
Vancouver	0–6–2	0–7–1	4–3–1	—	3–5	7–21–4
Winnipeg	4–3–1	1–4–3	5–3	5–3	—	15–13–4

Vs. Norris Division

1987–88 NHL records
Team	CHI	DET	MIN	STL	TOR	Total
Calgary	2–0–1	1–1–1	2–0–1	2–1	3–0	10–2–3
Edmonton	1–2	1–2	2–0–1	3–0	2–0–1	9–4–2
Los Angeles	2–1	1–2	3–0	2–1	1–1–1	9–5–1
Vancouver	1–2	1–2	2–1	1–2	1–1–1	6–8–1
Winnipeg	1–1–1	0–2–1	2–0–1	2–1	2–1	7–5–3

Vs. Wales Conference

Vs. Adams Division

1987–88 NHL records
Team	BOS	BUF	HFD	MTL	QUE	Total
Calgary	1–2	2–1	3–0	2–0–1	3–0	11–3–1
Edmonton	1–1–1	3–0	2–1	0–3	1–1–1	7–6–2
Los Angeles	0–2–1	1–2	0–3	1–2	2–1	4–10–1
Vancouver	1–2	1–1–1	0–1–2	0–2–1	3–0	5–6–4
Winnipeg	0–3	1–1–1	1–2	0–3	2–0–1	4–9–2

Vs. Patrick Division

1987–88 NHL records
Team	NJD	NYI	NYR	PHI	PIT	WSH	Total
Calgary	2–1	1–2	2–1	3–0	0–2–1	2–1	10–7–1
Edmonton	1–2	1–2	2–1	2–1	3–0	1–2	10–8–0
Los Angeles	1–1–1	0–3	3–0	0–3	0–1–2	1–2	5–10–3
Vancouver	3–0	0–3	1–2	1–2	2–1	0–3	7–11–0
Winnipeg	2–0–1	1–2	0–2–1	0–3	2–1	2–1	7–9–2

Schedule and results

1987–88 regular season^[3]

October

Game	Result	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
1	W	October 8, 1987	8–2	St. Louis Blues (1987–88)	1–0–0
2	L	October 10, 1987	1–7	New York Islanders (1987–88)	1–1–0
3	L	October 12, 1987	2–3	Detroit Red Wings (1987–88)	1–2–0
4	W	October 18, 1987	4–2	@ Los Angeles Kings (1987–88)	2–2–0
5	L	October 21, 1987	4–5	Boston Bruins (1987–88)	2–3–0
6	L	October 23, 1987	4–5 OT	Edmonton Oilers (1987–88)	2–4–0
7	L	October 24, 1987	5–9	@ Edmonton Oilers (1987–88)	2–5–0
8	L	October 27, 1987	2–3	Washington Capitals (1987–88)	2–6–0
9	T	October 30, 1987	3–3 OT	Calgary Flames (1987–88)	2–6–1

November

Game	Result	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
10	L	November 1, 1987	3–7	@ Winnipeg Jets (1987–88)	2–7–1
11	L	November 3, 1987	2–3	@ Washington Capitals (1987–88)	2–8–1
12	W	November 5, 1987	4–3	@ Philadelphia Flyers (1987–88)	3–8–1
13	W	November 7, 1987	4–1	@ Minnesota North Stars (1987–88)	4–8–1
14	L	November 8, 1987	1–3	@ Winnipeg Jets (1987–88)	4–9–1
15	T	November 11, 1987	4–4 OT	Buffalo Sabres (1987–88)	4–9–2
16	W	November 13, 1987	6–4	Quebec Nordiques (1987–88)	5–9–2
17	L	November 15, 1987	4–8	@ Calgary Flames (1987–88)	5–10–2
18	W	November 17, 1987	6–4	Pittsburgh Penguins (1987–88)	6–10–2
19	W	November 19, 1987	4–1	@ Detroit Red Wings (1987–88)	7–10–2
20	L	November 21, 1987	1–4	@ St. Louis Blues (1987–88)	7–11–2
21	L	November 22, 1987	2–3	@ Chicago Blackhawks (1987–88)	7–12–2
22	L	November 25, 1987	2–4	Calgary Flames (1987–88)	7–13–2
23	W	November 27, 1987	4–2	New Jersey Devils (1987–88)	8–13–2

December

Game	Result	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
24	W	December 1, 1987	3–1	@ Quebec Nordiques (1987–88)	9–13–2
25	T	December 2, 1987	3–3 OT	@ Montreal Canadiens (1987–88)	9–13–3
26	L	December 5, 1987	3–6	@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1987–88)	9–14–3
27	W	December 6, 1987	5–1	@ Buffalo Sabres (1987–88)	10–14–3
28	L	December 8, 1987	2–3	Minnesota North Stars (1987–88)	10–15–3
29	L	December 11, 1987	1–2	@ Edmonton Oilers (1987–88)	10–16–3
30	L	December 12, 1987	3–6	Edmonton Oilers (1987–88)	10–17–3
31	T	December 15, 1987	2–2 OT	@ Hartford Whalers (1987–88)	10–17–4
32	L	December 17, 1987	2–3 OT	@ Boston Bruins (1987–88)	10–18–4
33	T	December 20, 1987	3–3 OT	Hartford Whalers (1987–88)	10–18–5
34	W	December 23, 1987	5–1	Los Angeles Kings (1987–88)	11–18–5
35	L	December 26, 1987	2–3	@ Los Angeles Kings (1987–88)	11–19–5
36	L	December 28, 1987	3–7	@ Edmonton Oilers (1987–88)	11–20–5
37	L	December 29, 1987	1–4	Montreal Canadiens (1987–88)	11–21–5
38	W	December 31, 1987	2–1	Winnipeg Jets (1987–88)	12–21–5

January

Game	Result	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
39	L	January 2, 1988	1–4	Philadelphia Flyers (1987–88)	12–22–5
40	T	January 4, 1988	7–7 OT	@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1987–88)	12–22–6
41	L	January 6, 1988	2–4	@ New York Rangers (1987–88)	12–23–6
42	W	January 7, 1988	6–3	@ New Jersey Devils (1987–88)	13–23–6
43	W	January 9, 1988	3–2	@ Quebec Nordiques (1987–88)	14–23–6
44	L	January 12, 1988	3–5	Winnipeg Jets (1987–88)	14–24–6
45	W	January 13, 1988	8–2	Winnipeg Jets (1987–88)	15–24–6
46	T	January 15, 1988	4–4 OT	Calgary Flames (1987–88)	15–24–7
47	W	January 17, 1988	6–5	@ Winnipeg Jets (1987–88)	16–24–7
48	L	January 19, 1988	5–7	@ Calgary Flames (1987–88)	16–25–7
49	L	January 22, 1988	3–6	New York Rangers (1987–88)	16–26–7
50	L	January 24, 1988	1–3	@ Chicago Blackhawks (1987–88)	16–27–7
51	L	January 26, 1988	6–7	@ St. Louis Blues (1987–88)	16–28–7
52	L	January 29, 1988	2–4	Hartford Whalers (1987–88)	16–29–7
53	L	January 30, 1988	3–4	@ Calgary Flames (1987–88)	16–30–7

February

Game	Result	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
54	W	February 2, 1988	5–2	Los Angeles Kings (1987–88)	17–30–7
55	L	February 3, 1988	2–7	@ Los Angeles Kings (1987–88)	17–31–7
56	W	February 5, 1988	5–1	New Jersey Devils (1987–88)	18–31–7
57	L	February 11, 1988	2–7	Edmonton Oilers (1987–88)	18–32–7
58	W	February 13, 1988	6–5	Boston Bruins (1987–88)	19–32–7
59	L	February 14, 1988	6–7	@ Edmonton Oilers (1987–88)	19–33–7
60	W	February 17, 1988	5–0	Pittsburgh Penguins (1987–88)	20–33–7
61	L	February 19, 1988	0–5	Toronto Maple Leafs (1987–88)	20–34–7
62	W	February 21, 1988	6–4	@ New York Rangers (1987–88)	21–34–7
63	L	February 23, 1988	1–6	@ New York Islanders (1987–88)	21–35–7
64	L	February 24, 1988	4–5	@ Montreal Canadiens (1987–88)	21–36–7
65	L	February 26, 1988	3–5	Calgary Flames (1987–88)	21–37–7
66	L	February 28, 1988	0–2	Los Angeles Kings (1987–88)	21–38–7

March

Game	Result	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
67	L	March 1, 1988	3–7	Philadelphia Flyers (1987–88)	21–39–7
68	L	March 3, 1988	3–4	@ Winnipeg Jets (1987–88)	21–40–7
69	L	March 6, 1988	2–7	@ Washington Capitals (1987–88)	21–41–7
70	L	March 8, 1988	4–7	@ New York Islanders (1987–88)	21–42–7
71	L	March 10, 1988	2–5	@ Detroit Red Wings (1987–88)	21–43–7
72	T	March 12, 1988	3–3 OT	Edmonton Oilers (1987–88)	21–43–8
73	L	March 13, 1988	5–7	Buffalo Sabres (1987–88)	21–44–8
74	T	March 16, 1988	3–3 OT	@ Los Angeles Kings (1987–88)	21–44–9
75	W	March 18, 1988	5–3	Los Angeles Kings (1987–88)	22–44–9
76	W	March 22, 1988	5–3	Toronto Maple Leafs (1987–88)	23–44–9
77	W	March 25, 1988	3–2	Chicago Blackhawks (1987–88)	24–44–9
78	L	March 26, 1988	1–6	@ Calgary Flames (1987–88)	24–45–9
79	L	March 29, 1988	2–3	Winnipeg Jets (1987–88)	24–46–9

April

Game	Result	Date	Score	Opponent	Record
80	W	April 1, 1988	6–1	Minnesota North Stars (1987–88)	25–46–9

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

Player statistics

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

Player	GP	G	A	Pts	+/-	PIM
Tony Tanti	73	40	37	77	-1	90
Greg Adams	80	36	40	76	-24	30
Barry Pederson	76	19	52	71	2	92
Petri Skriko	73	30	34	64	-12	32
Stan Smyl	57	12	25	37	-5	110

Awards and records

Transactions

Draft picks

Vancouver's draft picks at the 1987 NHL Entry Draft held at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. The Canucks attempted to select Chris Gillies in the second round of the 1987 NHL Supplemental Draft, but the claim was ruled invalid since Gillies entered school after age 20 and therefore did not meet eligibility requirements.^[4]

Round	#	Player	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team (League)
2	24	Rob Murphy	Canada	Laval Titan (QMJHL)
3	45	Steve Veilleux	Canada	Trois-Rivières Draveurs (QMJHL)
4	66	Doug Torrel	United States	Hibbing High School (USHS-MN)
5	87	Sean Fabian	United States	Hill-Murray School (USHS-MN)
6	108	Garry Valk	Canada	Sherwood Park Crusaders (AJHL)
7	129	Todd Fanning	Canada	Ohio State University (CCHA)
8	150	Viktor Tyumenev	Soviet Union	Spartak Moscow (USSR)
9	171	Craig Daly	United States	New Hampton School (USHS-NH)
10	192	John Fletcher	United States	Clarkson University (ECAC)
11	213	Roger Hansson	Sweden	Rögle BK (Sweden)
12	233	Neil Eisenhut	Canada	Langley Eagles (BCJHL)
12	234	Matt Evo	United States	Country Day School (USHS-MA)
S1	3	Steve Johnson	United States	University of North Dakota (WCHA)

References

^ Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 153. ISBN 9781894801225.
^ "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
^ "1987-88 Vancouver Canucks Schedule". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved March 25, 2025.
^ "1987 NHL Supplemental Draft -- Round 2 Selections". Hockey Draft Central. Retrieved December 6, 2021.

[nhl-gd-standings-1] Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 153. ISBN 9781894801225.

[2] "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.

[Gamelog-3] "1987-88 Vancouver Canucks Schedule". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved March 25, 2025.

[4] "1987 NHL Supplemental Draft -- Round 2 Selections". Hockey Draft Central. Retrieved December 6, 2021.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

v t e Vancouver Canucks
Founded in 1970 Based in Vancouver, British Columbia
Franchise	Team General managers Coaches Players Captains Draft picks expansion draft Seasons Current season
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Personnel	Owner(s) Canucks Sports & Entertainment (Francesco Aquilini, chairman) President Jim Rutherford General manager Patrik Allvin Head coach Rick Tocchet Team captain Quinn Hughes Current roster
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v t e Vancouver Canucks seasons
1970s	1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80
1980s	1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90
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2010s	2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20
2020s	2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25

v t e 1987–88 NHL season
Patrick	New Jersey NY Islanders NY Rangers Philadelphia Pittsburgh Washington
Adams	Boston Buffalo Hartford Montreal Quebec
Norris	Chicago Detroit Minnesota St. Louis Toronto
Smythe	Calgary Edmonton Los Angeles Vancouver Winnipeg
See also	Entry draft Supplemental draft Waiver draft All-Star Game Stanley Cup playoffs Stanley Cup Finals