Canucks: The best player to wear each jersey number

We take a trip down memory lane by examining the best Vancouver Canucks player to wear each jersey number.

In the sporting world, you see numbers everywhere: On the scoreboard, the standings, the contract and of course on the back of a jersey. Throughout their 50-year history, the Vancouver Canucks have had many great players proudly wear their uniforms.

Many of these players have made their own jersey numbers iconic in Vancouver.

Two things have inspired me to write this article. The first was the sweater numbers section on Hockey-Reference.com, which I stumbled upon. It lists every player who has worn each jersey number for the Canucks.  That will be the template for this article.

The second is a book called By the Numbers: From 00 to 99 , written by Sportsnet Executive Producer of Hockey, Scott Morrison. I found it while doing some cleaning a few weeks ago. This 2007 book, ranked the top NHL players for each number, and it profiled the number one ranked player.

I decided to take a look at all the numbers worn by the Canucks over the years and pick the best player that wore each of them.

Some of these decisions were tough since multiple standout players wore the same number. Others were easy decision because either a) the number was retired or b) only one player has worn it today.

Several selections are going to be lead to some debate, so feel free to let me know which ones you disagree with.

1. Roberto Luongo, 2006-2014

Some will say Kirk McLean deserves this spot, and it’s understandable. However, Roberto Luongo takes the cake here because I think he is the greatest goaltender in Canucks history. He’s the owner of the franchise records in both wins and shutouts.

Say what you want about the way his time ended in Vancouver, and the cap recapture penalty ( which really doesn’t help the cap situation.)  but Luongo was an elite goalie with the Canucks, and he was an instrumental part of their success in the early 2010s. If you haven’t already, follow Luongo on Twitter (@Strombone1) because his Twitter game is also elite.

2. Mattias Ohlund, 1997-2009

Mattias Ohlund is arguably the greatest defenceman in franchise history. He displayed a big shot from the blueline, excellent skating ability and often delivered big hits. He was the franchise leader in points for a defenceman in points until Alexander Edler surpassed him 2018.  Ohlund was a leader and a warrior on the ice despite suffering numerous injuries throughout his career.

3. Doug Lidster, 1985-1993

Doug Lidster was also a solid offensive-defenceman for the Canucks and simply one of the best blue liners the franchise ever had.

He ranks fourth in points for a defenceman and his 63 points in the 1986-87 season is still the most points in the regular season by a Canucks defenceman to date.  Lidster was traded to the New York Rangers in 1993 for John Vanbiesbrouck, (Why? To protect McLean.) who was exposed in the expansion draft. Lidster won the Stanley Cup with the Rangers against his old team the following year. That stung the Canucks for a long time. Maybe there is a fan with a Vanbiesbrouck Canucks jersey somewhere, you never know.

4. Rick Lanz, 1981-1987

Lanz was another good offensive-defenceman the Canucks had in the 1980s.  His time in Vancouver included a 57-point season in in 1983-84 and and a 53-point season in 1985-86.  Lanz was one of the few standout players on some bad Canucks teams in the ’80s.

5. Christian Ehrhoff, 2009-2011

Continuing with the theme of offensive defencemen, we go to one whom I believe is one of the most underrated defencemen in Canucks history.

It was only two seasons, but Christian Ehrhoff was a warrior for the Canucks as he put up 44 and 50 points in 2009-10 and 2010-11, respectively, while also being fairly solid defensively. He won the Babe Pratt Trophy as the team’s best defenceman both years, too.

6. Dennis Kearns, 1972-1981

Dennis Kearns was arguably the Canucks’ first offensively gifted defenceman they ever had.  Despite being only 5-foot-8, Kearns was known for his skills on the power play and offensive playmaking. He was described as the “Denis Potvin of the West” by The Hockey News. Kearns ranks eighth on all-time in assists by a Canuck (290).

7. Cliff Ronning, 1991-1996

This was tough in deciding between Cliff Ronning and Brendan Morrison, but the former won out. Ronning was a force in the playoffs; his 58 postseason points are the sixth-most in franchise history . The Burnaby born centre played six seasons with the Canucks and had at least 20 goals and 60 assists in four of them.

8.  Greg Adams, 1987-1995

Another B.C. Native, (born in Nelson), Adams is best known for scoring the winning goal in Game 5 of the 1994 Western Conference Final against the Toronto Maple Leafs,which sent the Canucks to the Stanley Cup Final for the second time. This was one of the most memorable calls of Jim Robson’s career, too.

Adams was a reliable power forward for Vancouver.  Adams hit the 30-goal mark for the Canucks in 1987-88, 1989-90 and 1991-92.

9.  Don Lever, 1974-1980

Don Lever was known for his hard work and two way skills.  He ranks 10th all time among Canucks in points with 407. His best season in Vancouver was the 1974-75 campaign, where he scored 38 goals and 68 points. His efforts led the Canucks to the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, where they lost in five games to the mighty Montreal Canadiens in the first round. It is still weird that the Canucks played their first few seasons in the Eastern Conference.

10. Pavel Bure, 1991-1998

Pavel Bure also was called “The Russian Rocket” for a reason. He was fast, electrifying, explosive and scored aplenty. He was the first Canuck to win the Calder Trophy (1991-92) and the only one to score 60 goals in a season (he did it in 1992-93 and 1993-94). His jersey number was retired on Nov. 2, 2013 before a home game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.  Bure is easily the best to wear 10, what more is there to say?

11. Wayne Maki, 1971-1973

You would all be blasting me if I picked Mark Messier, but No. 11 will go to Wayne Maki, a winger who put up 123 points in three seasons with the Canucks. This included a career-high 63 points in the 1970-71 season. Maki’s family were not happy when Messier was given number 11 and what is more infuriating is that the Canucks didn’t ask them permission.

12. Stan Smyl, 1979-1991

He was the first Canuck to have his jersey retired.  Stan Smyl was a hard nosed winger who played his entire career with the Canucks. “Steamer” captained the Canucks to their first run to the Stanley Cup final in 1982 and is fourth all time in games played, goals assists and fifth in points. Smyl is now senior advisor on hockey relations to general manager Jim Benning.

13. Lars Lindgren, 1978-1984

I originally wanted pick Artem Chubarov, (No, not Thomas Drance.) but decided to go with Lars Lindgren. The Swedish defenceman was a skilled puck mover who played a part in the 1982 run. He also known for scoring on his own net with nine seconds left in a game against the Edmonton Oilers in 1982 which ended in a 3-3 tie. (The goal was credited to Messier because of course.)

14.  Alex Burrows, 2005-2017

I could have gone with Geoff Courtnall or Chris Oddleifson, but Alex Burrows takes the prize here. He worked his way from being undrafted to the ECHL, the AHL to becoming the Sedins’ best ever linemate. He got under opponents skin and provided goals. Of course, we can’t forget the time he “slayed the dragon.” with the Game 7 overtime goal against the Chicago Blackhawks in round one of the 2011 playoffs.

15. J.J. Daigneault, 1984-1986

This one was tough because there wasn’t really any standouts for the number 15. However, J.J. Daigneault is the choice here. The defenceman spent the first two seasons of his career with the Canucks, scoring four goals and 27 points in his first season and five goals and 28 assists in his second. Daigneault went on to have a lengthy career with multiple NHL clubs including the Philadelphia Flyers and Canadiens.

16. Trevor Linden, 1988-1998, 2001-2008

This was an easy choice. Former captain Trevor Linden is one of the greatest and most beloved players in Canucks, history and the second to have his jersey retired. Nothing to be said that already hasn’t be already been said about “Captain Canuck.”

17. Ryan Kesler, 2003-2014

Some Canucks fans are not going to like this choice because of the way he left Vancouver, but Ryan Kesler was a warrior for the Canucks. He is the only player in franchise history to win the Selke Trophy and is tied for 12th all time in points with 393.

Kesler was a big part of the Canucks 2011 run to the Stanley Cup Final, including an excellent performance in the second round against the Nashville Predators which earned him the nickname “Beast Mode.”

18. Igor Larionov , 1989-1992

Igor Larionov is more well-known for his career as a Detroit Red Wing, but he spent the first three NHL seasons in Vancouver. In the 1991-92 campaign, he had 21 goals and 65 points, which was then a career-high while working with Adams and a rookie named Bure.

19. Markus Naslund, 1997-2008

Markus Naslund’s No. 19 was the third to be raised to the rafters. He is second all time in goals and third all time in points.

Naslund led the Canucks in scoring for seven straight seasons and was the first Canuck to win the Lester B. Pearson Award (now called the Ted Lindsay Award)  and was a finalist for the Hart Memorial Trophy in 2003. An all-time Vancouver sports legend.

20. Chris Higgins, 2011-2016

Chris Higgins was acquired at the 2011 trade deadline from the Florida Panthers. Though he had numerous injuries, Higgins was a player that was used in all situations and brought lots of speed and secondary scoring. Higgins is now the Assistant Director of Player Development for the Canucks. He also had the best abs in Canucks history.

21. Jyrki Lumme, 1990-1998

Jyrki Lumme is also one of the best defencemen in Canucks history.  He was reliable in the defensive zone but he was best known for being an offensive defenceman with a quick wrist shot.  Lumme’s best season was 1993-94 where he had 13 goals and 55 points. He is third all time in points for a Vancouver defenceman with 321.

22. Daniel Sedin, 2000-2018

Daniel Sedin was a no-brainer here. He is the Canucks’ franchise leading goal scorer, is second in points and the leader in power play and game-winning goals. Daniel won the Ted Lindsay Award and the Art Ross Trophy in 2011. He is one of only two Canucks to reach 1,000 points. (wonder who is the other guy?)

23. Thomas Gradin, 1979-1986

Thomas Gradin, like Smyl was a big part of the Canucks’ 1982 cup run. He scored 19 points in 17 playoff games that year and had 37 goals and 86 points in the regular season. Gradin’s 550 career points made him the franchise’s leading scorer at the time of his departure. He is now a scout for the Canucks.

24. Matt Cooke, 1998-2008

Matt Cooke was known for being a pest during his career and his time with the Canucks. He made big hits, wasn’t afraid to drop the gloves and was solid on the penalty kill and in the defensive zone.

Cooke’s best season in Vancouver was a 15-goal, 42-point campaign in 2002-03. Of course, we can’t forget his game-tying goal in the waning seconds of Game 7 in the 2004 Western Conference Quarterfinals against the Calgary Flames.

25. Orland Kurtenbach, 1960-1974

Orland Kurtenbach was the first captain in franchise history. His best season was 1971-72, where he had 24 goals and 61 points. Kurtenbach retired in 1974, and he later served as their head coach for two seasons (1976-77 to 1977-78). In October 2010, he was the first Canuck inducted in the Ring of Honour.

26. Trent Klatt, 1999-2003

Trent Klatt is best known as the Sedins’ first linemate. He was on their line for three of his five seasons in Vancouver. Klatt scored the overtime winner, set up by the twins in Game 1 of their second round series against the Minnesota Wild.

27. Harold Snepsts, 1974-1984, 1988-1990

Harold Snepsts was a defenceman who had a pretty cool moustache. He was (and still is in a way) a fan favourite in Vancouver.  Snepsts was known for his physicality, toughness and grit and fans would often chant his name. Snepsts is fourth all time in penalty minutes with 1,446.

28. Luc Bourdon, 2007-2008

This is a heavy one. Luc Bourdon wore 28 for 27 games in the 2007-08 season. Sadly, he died in a motorcycle accident at the age of 21 on May 29, 2008.

As a result, the number 28 was taken out of circulation. We may never know how good Bourdon could have been, but he certainly displayed the potential.

29. Gino Odjick, 1991-1998

Gino Odjick was a winger who was tough as nails. The franchise leader in penalty minutes was an enforcer and a fan favourite.

In 1993-94, he scored 16 goals, a career high. Odjick’s most memorable moment was when he fought multiple players on the St. Louis Blues in a 1995 game. He wore 29 because that was his father, Joe’s registration number when he was in a residential school in Spanish, Ontario.

30. Cesare Maniago, 1976-1978

Now we are getting into goalie territory. Cesare Maniago (sounds like someone who would own a pizza place.)  played the final two seasons of his career with the Canucks, posting 17 wins in 1976-77 and 10 the following year.

31. John Garrett, 1983-1985

Before he was the ketchup loving, colour commentator on Sportsnet we know and love today, John Garrett was a goaltender who played the final three years of his career with the Canucks.  He was named to the 1983 All Star Game and was named MVP but a re-vote was held and the MVP was given to Wayne Gretzky.  He also had wore a super cool mask.

32.  Murray Craven, 1993-94

He was only with the Canucks for two seasons, including the 1993-94 team that reached the Stanley Cup Final. In the regular season, he scored 15 goals and 55 points. He chipped in with four goals and 13 points during the postseason, too.

33. Henrik Sedin, 2000-2018

Arguably the greatest Canuck ever, Henrik Sedin is the franchise leader in both points and assists. He is also the only Canucks to win the Hart Trophy, the first to win the Art Ross and he was the first Canuck to reach 1,000 points.

34. Jason Strudwick, 1998-2002

Jason Strudwick was a defenceman who played five seasons with the Canucks and had four goals and 19 assists to go along with 367 penalty minutes

35.Richard Brodeur, 1981-1988

“King Richard” Brodeur led the Canucks to the 1982 Stanley Cup Final, capturing the imagination of fans. He is third all time in wins with 126.

36.Jannik Hansen, 2007-2017

In my opinion, Jannik Hansen is one of the most underrated Canucks ever. He was a solid bottom six winger that provided a good two-way game with speed and energy.

“The Honey Badger.”  was on the 2010-11 team that went all the way to the Stanley Cup Final.

37.Rick Rypien, 2005-2011

Rick Rypien was known for being throwing the body around and getting into scraps. Though he was only 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds, he was one of the toughest fighters the Canucks ever had.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t beat his battle with depression and tragically took his own life in the summer of 2011. As a result, no Canuck has worn 37 since.

I was also tempted to pick Jarko Ruutu.who apparently has super powers because he made Dion Phaneuf fall over in a fight without even throwing a punch.

38. Pavol Demitra, 2008-2010

Though his last season in Vancouver, was plagued by injury, Demitra enjoyed a nice stint in Vancouver. He scored 69 points in 97 games over the course of two seasons. Sadly, Demitra and his KHL team Lokomotiv Yaroslavl were killed in a plane crash on Sept. 7, 2011.

39. Dan Cloutier, 2000-2006

Yes, I know Dan Cloutier is notoriously known for the letting Nick Lidstrom score from centre ice in the 2002 playoffs. I am also aware that he wasn’t very good in the playoffs.

But Cloutier is still the choice for No 39. He had three straight 30-win seasons from 2001-02 to 2003-04, posting solid stats all around. In five seasons with the Canucks, he tallied with a .906 save percentage and 2.42 goals against average. If only he didn’t turn into Neo from The Matrix in the playoffs.

40. Elias Pettersson 2018-Present

He has only played two seasons in the NHL, but Elias Pettersson is looking like the franchise cornerstone, as well as one of the NHL’s elite players. He is only going to get better.

41. Andrew Alberts, 2010-2013

There weren’t a lot of options for 41 , but Andrew Alberts was a reliable stay-at-home defenceman who arrived ahead of the 2010 trade deadline. He racked up 126 penalty minutes over 134 games with the Canucks. His career came to an end in a game against Calgary in 2013 thanks to a Brian Mcgratten hit.

42. Kyle Wellwood, 2008-2010

Kyle Wellwood was a fan favourite in Vancouver. Though he was only 5-foot-10 and 181 pounds, Wellwood displayed some skill in his two seasons with the Canucks. Wellwood put up 32 goals and 52 points in 149 games during his two years in Vancouver.

43. Quinn Hughes, 2019-Present

Quinn Hughes is the only player to date to wear 43 for the Canucks. The smooth skating defenceman will be a force on the blue line for years to come.

44. Todd Bertuzzi, 1998-2006

Todd Bertuzzi was arguably the league’s best power forward in the early 2000s. As the right winger of the famous West Coast Express line, fans loved his big hits and the ability to light the lamp. His best season came in 2002-03, when Big Burt scored 46 goals and 97 points.

He ranks ninth in Canucks all time scoring with 449 points.

45. Jordan Schroeder, 2013-2014

A star for the United States at the World Juniors, Schroeder was drafted 22nd overall by the Canucks in 2009. Schroeder scored six goals and 15 points in two seasons with Vancouver

46. Nicklas Jensen, 2013-2015

Nicklas Jensen spent most of his tenure with the organization in the AHL. The No. 29 selection in the 2011 Draft managed a six-point campaign in 2013-14.

47. Sven Baertschi 2015-Present

Sven Baertschi could have been a consistent 20-goals and 40-point player in the NHL if it weren’t for the numerous injuries. At the time of this writing, it looks like his time with Vancouver is done. Baertschi’s best season was 2016-17, when he scored 18 goals and 35 points.

48. Bert Robertsson,1997-1999

Bert Robertsson was mainly a stay-at-home defenceman who played two seasons with the Canucks (1997-98 to 1998-99). He managed four goals and 10 points in those two years.

49. Darren Archibald, 2014-2018

He was mainly in Utica with the Comets, but Darren Archibald played a depth role with the Canucks when called up. He scored six goals and 14 points in 52 games spread across three seasons.

50. Brendan Gaunce, 2015-2019

Brendan Gaunce 117 games in Vancouver, tallying six goals and 15 points. He is the only player to wear 50 for the Canucks to date. Every time Gaunce scored it felt Halley’s Comet appeared because it rarely happened.

51. Troy Stecher, 2016-2020

A Richmond native and fan favourite, Stecher was a solid puck-moving defenceman for four seasons with the Canucks. “Tony Stretcher” is the second player to wear 51 for Vancouver. The first was Derek Dorsett in 2014-15.

52.  Alexander Sulzer, 2012

There weren’t many options for 52 and they weren’t very interesting but Alexander Sulzer gets the nod over Sven Butenschön.  Sulzer was a defenceman who played 27 games with the Canucks in the 2011-12 season and managed one assist. Butenschön was also a defenceman who played eight games without a point with the Canucks in the 2005-06 season.

53. Bo Horvat, 2014-Present

The Canucks current captain is the only player to wear 53 in franchise history. He wears 53 in honour of Ian Jenkins, a player selected with Horvat in the 2011 OHL Draft who tragically died after falling out of a pickup truck.

54. Aaron Volpatti, 2010-2012

Aaron Volpatti wore 54 from 2010-2012 before switching to15. He was often in the AHL and used as a thirteenth forward but he did score three goals and had an assist through 54 games with the Canucks.

55. Ed Jovanovski, 1999-2006

Not many Canucks wore 55, but it is no surprise that Ed Jovanovski wore it best. “Jovo Cop” (That is such an awesome nickname.) was tough and talented and led defencemen in scoring for four straight seasons. He is eighth all-time in points for a Canucks defenceman with 234.

56. Guillaume Brisebois, 2018 – Present

Guillaume Brisebois (Called Breeze-Bah by the late Jason Botchford) is mostly an AHL depth player but wore 56 for eight games in the 2018-19 season. He is the second Canuck to wear the number after Alex Friesen wore it for one game in the 2015-16 season.

57. Tyler Myers, 2019 – Present

I could have gone with Lee Sweatt who was the first player to wear 57 but he only played three NHL games in the 2010-11 season. (he did score in his first game. That was against the Nashville Predators) However, current Canucks defenceman Tyler Myers gets the crown here. A polarizing figure among Canucks fans because of his contract, he is also known for his size as he walks around towering over people at 6’8″. (He also has a long neck and as a result he was compared to a giraffe by Canucks fans.)

58. Robert Kron, 1990 -1993

The Canucks drafted Robert Kron in the 1985 Entry Draft but it took him five years to make his NHL Debut likely due to the political climate in Czechoslovakia. He played two and a half seasons with the Canucks before being traded to the Hartford Whalers in 1992-93 tallying 24 goals and 57 points. Kron was the only player to wear 58 until Taylor Fedun wore it for one game in the 2015-16 season, (he had an assist.) Kron was recently hired the by the Seattle Kraken as their director of amateur scouting.

59. Tim Schaller, 2018-2020

Tim Schaller wore 59 for 98 games over the course of two seasons with the Canucks. Many fans and pundits thought he was a good signing in the summer of 2018 but was a disappointment. He did score eight goals (three were against the Dallas Stars.) and 16 points. He is the second to wear 59 after Ashton Sautner wore it for 22 games in 2017-18 and 2018-19.

60. Markus Granlund, 2016-2019

Markus Granlund is the only Canucks player to wear the number 60. Acquired before the 2016 trade deadline for Hunter Shinkaruk (Canucks fans were furious with that trade at the time.) he spent three and a half seasons with the Canucks with his best being 2016-17 where he scored 19 goals and 32 points.