The best defencemen in Vancouver Canucks franchise history

Ed Jovanovski (1998-2006)

Career stats: 1128GP, 137G, 363A, 500TP

Stats with Vancouver: 434GP, 57G, 177A, 234TP

Acquired in a seven player deal that saw Pavel Bure heading to the Florida Panthers, Ed Jovanovski spent his first three seasons in the league with the Panthers as they selected him first overall in the 1994 NHL draft. Jovanovski immediately became the top defenceman on the team as the Canucks were in the midst of a rebuild. Jovanovski played alongside both Ohlund and the “West Coast Express” (forward line of Markus Naslund, Brendan Morrison, and Todd Bertuzzi,) in the middle of his tenure with the Canucks.

Jovanovski helped the Canucks reach the western conference finals in the 2002-2003 season where they lost to the Minnesota Wild in game 7. Jovanovski’s best season production-wise was in the 2005-06 season where he posted 8 goals and 33 points in 44 games (0.75 ppg,) whereas his highest point total was 17 goals and 48 points in 82 games in the 2001-02 season.

In the 2006 offseason, Jovanovski did not receive a contract extension as the Canucks were tight on cap space as they had to extend the contracts of Roberto Luongo, Daniel and Henrik Sedin. Jovanovski would then go on to sign with the Phoenix Coyotes, and ended his career where he started, with the Florida Panthers.

Alexander Edler (2006-present)

Career stats (as of 07/04/2019): 814GP, 94G, 274A, 368TP

Being the only currently active player on this list, Alex Edler has played his whole career so far as a Canuck, recently signing a two year, 12 million dollar deal to stay in Vancouver. Selected 91st overall in the 2004 NHL draft, Edler is the only defenceman on this list that was apart of the 2011 Stanley Cup Final team, where the Canucks lost 4-0 in game seven to the Boston Bruins.

Edler has been the Canucks most consistent defender over the recent years but has faced many injuries, only completing a full 82 game season once in his career in 2011-12. Edler has also been one of the team’s best shot blockers over his career with a high of 203 in 2017-18.

Over his 13 seasons, all with the Canucks, Edler’s best season production-wise was in 2010-2011, where he produced 8 goals, 25 assists for a total of 33 points in only 51 games (0.647 points per game,) and his highest point total was 49 in 82 games in the 2011-2012 season. Edler is the current all-time defencemen point leader for the franchise currently sitting at 368 points, but the 33-year-old still has time to make an impact and improve his legacy with the Canucks.

Honourable Mentions (with point totals with Canucks)

Bringing the list down to four defencemen is hard to do with 50 years worth of hockey, so here are five more defencemen that should be in consideration.

Listed by point totals

Sami Salo: 566GP, 74G, 162A, 236TP

Dennis Kearns: 677GP 31G 290A 321TP

Doug Lidster: 666GP, 65G, 242A, 307TP

Kevin Bieksa: 597GP, 56G, 185A, 241TP

Harold Snepts: 781GP, 35G, 160A, 195TP

Over the past 50 seasons, there have been many memories, fan favourite players and disasters, as well as many up and downs, however a new age dawns with the likes of prospects Quinn Hughes, Jett Woo, and Olli Juolevi on the blueline. Canucks fans have plenty to look forward to in the near future.