1997–98 Vancouver Canucks season

The 1997–98 Vancouver Canucks season was the team's 28th season in the National Hockey League (NHL). After missing the playoffs the season before, the team responded by signing Mark Messier to a three-year contract. The signing of Messier did little to improve the team, however, as they finished even worse than the year before, costing Head Coach Tom Renney and General Manager Pat Quinn their jobs. For the first time in NHL history, regular season games were played outside of North America, with the Canucks playing the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in Tokyo, Japan, to open up the regular season. Pavel Bure became the last Canuck to score 50 or more goals in a season. On April 9, 1998, the Canucks scored three short-handed goals in a 6–3 road win over the Calgary Flames.[1]

1997–98 Vancouver Canucks
Division7th Pacific
Conference13th Western
1997–98 record25–43–14
Home record15–22–4
Road record10–21–10
Goals for224
Goals against273
Team information
General managerPat Quinn (16 games)
CoachTom Renney (19 games)
Mike Keenan (63 games)
CaptainMark Messier
Alternate captainsDave Babych (Oct-Mar)
Pavel Bure
Trevor Linden (Oct-Jan)
Bryan McCabe (Mar-Apr)
Dana Murzyn (Jan-Apr)
ArenaGeneral Motors Place
Average attendance17,120
Team leaders
GoalsPavel Bure (51)
AssistsPavel Bure (39)
PointsPavel Bure (90)
Penalty minutesDonald Brashear (372)
WinsArturs Irbe (14)
Goals against averageArturs Irbe (2.73)

In addition, the team introduced a new logo that would stay in use for over a decade.

The team was the last in NHL history to record over 2,000 penalty minutes, with 2,148.[2]

Off-season

Forward Trevor Linden resigned the team captaincy, in favour of new arrival Mark Messier.

Regular season

The Canucks finished the regular season with the most power-play opportunities against, with 432. Although the Canucks allowed the most goals in the League, with 273, they scored the most short-handed goals, with 19.[3]

All-Star Game

The 48th National Hockey League All-Star Game took place at General Motors Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, home to the Vancouver Canucks, on January 18, 1998.

The International Showdown

The 48th game was held in the very same year as the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, providing the NHL to show its players from all over the world. To this extent, the NHL had the All-Star teams consist of a team of North Americans playing against a team of stars from the rest of the world. The format change also helped to intensify the game, as national pride would also become a factor. These provisions only applied to the players — coaches would still be selected based on which teams were the best from each conference at the time of the break.

Final standings
Pacific Division
No. GP W L T GF GA Pts
1Colorado Avalanche8239261723120595
2Los Angeles Kings8238331122722587
3Edmonton Oilers8235371021522480
4San Jose Sharks8234381021021678
5Calgary Flames8226411521725267
6Mighty Ducks of Anaheim8226431320526165
7Vancouver Canucks8225431422427364

Note: CR = Conference rank; GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against; Pts = Points
         Bolded teams qualified for the playoffs.

Western Conference[4]
R Div GP W L T GF GA Pts
1p – Dallas StarsCEN82492211242167109
2x – Colorado AvalanchePAC8239261723120595
3Detroit Red WingsCEN82442315250196103
4St. Louis BluesCEN824529825620498
5Los Angeles KingsPAC8238331122722587
6Phoenix CoyotesCEN8235351222422782
7Edmonton OilersPAC8235371021522480
8San Jose SharksPAC8234381021021678
9Chicago BlackhawksCEN8230391319219973
10Toronto Maple LeafsCEN823043919423769
11Calgary FlamesPAC8226411521725267
12Mighty Ducks of AnaheimPAC8226431320526165
13Vancouver CanucksPAC8225431422427364

Divisions: CEN – Central, PAC – Pacific

bold – Qualified for playoffs; x – Won Division; p – Won Presidents' Trophy

Schedule and results
No. R Date Score Opponent Record
1WOctober 3, 19973–2Mighty Ducks of Anaheim* (1997–98)1–0–0
2LOctober 4, 19972–3@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim* (1997–98)1–1–0
3TOctober 9, 19972–2 OTToronto Maple Leafs (1997–98)1–1–1
4LOctober 11, 19973–6New York Rangers (1997–98)1–2–1
5WOctober 13, 19973–0Edmonton Oilers (1997–98)2–2–1
6LOctober 17, 19970–2Boston Bruins (1997–98)2–3–1
7TOctober 19, 19974–4 OTColorado Avalanche (1997–98)2–3–2
8WOctober 21, 19975–1@ Dallas Stars (1997–98)3–3–2
9LOctober 23, 19971–4@ St. Louis Blues (1997–98)3–4–2
10LOctober 25, 19972–3 OTPittsburgh Penguins (1997–98)3–5–2
11LOctober 26, 19971–5Detroit Red Wings (1997–98)3–6–2
12LOctober 29, 19970–3@ Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98)3–7–2
13LOctober 30, 19971–8@ New Jersey Devils (1997–98)3–8–2
14LNovember 1, 19976–7 OT@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1997–98)3–9–2
15LNovember 3, 19973–5@ Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98)3–10–2
16LNovember 4, 19971–2@ Washington Capitals (1997–98)3–11–2
17LNovember 8, 19972–3Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98)3–12–2
18LNovember 11, 19972–8@ Los Angeles Kings (1997–98)3–13–2
19WNovember 12, 19975–2@ San Jose Sharks (1997–98)4–13–2
20TNovember 14, 19973–3 OT@ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98)4–13–3
21WNovember 16, 19974–1Carolina Hurricanes (1997–98)5–13–3
22WNovember 20, 19974–2Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98)6–13–3
23LNovember 22, 19974–5 OTChicago Blackhawks (1997–98)6–14–3
24WNovember 25, 19974–2@ New York Rangers (1997–98)7–14–3
25WNovember 28, 19975–2@ Boston Bruins (1997–98)8–14–3
26WNovember 29, 19974–2@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98)9–14–3
27TDecember 1, 19973–3 OTDetroit Red Wings (1997–98)9–14–4
28LDecember 4, 19972–3San Jose Sharks (1997–98)9–15–4
29LDecember 6, 19974–6@ Colorado Avalanche (1997–98)9–16–4
30LDecember 8, 19971–5@ St. Louis Blues (1997–98)9–17–4
31LDecember 9, 19975–7@ Detroit Red Wings (1997–98)9–18–4
32LDecember 13, 19972–5Colorado Avalanche (1997–98)9–19–4
33WDecember 15, 19977–0Los Angeles Kings (1997–98)10–19–4
34WDecember 17, 19975–1@ Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98)11–19–4
35TDecember 18, 19970–0 OT@ San Jose Sharks (1997–98)11–19–5
36LDecember 20, 19970–5Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98)11–20–5
37LDecember 23, 19971–3Dallas Stars (1997–98)11–21–5
38TDecember 27, 19973–3 OT@ Dallas Stars (1997–98)11–21–6
39LDecember 29, 19972–5@ Los Angeles Kings (1997–98)11–22–6
40LDecember 31, 19970–8Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98)11–23–6
41LJanuary 3, 19982–4Montreal Canadiens (1997–98)11–24–6
42WJanuary 5, 19983–2Los Angeles Kings (1997–98)12–24–6
43LJanuary 7, 19982–3St. Louis Blues (1997–98)12–25–6
44TJanuary 8, 19984–4 OT@ Colorado Avalanche (1997–98)12–25–7
45TJanuary 10, 19982–2 OTFlorida Panthers (1997–98)12–25–8
46LJanuary 12, 19982–3@ Chicago Blackhawks (1997–98)12–26–8
47LJanuary 14, 19980–4@ Detroit Red Wings (1997–98)12–27–8
48LJanuary 15, 19982–6@ Buffalo Sabres (1997–98)12–28–8
49LJanuary 21, 19981–6Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98)12–29–8
50LJanuary 24, 19982–5@ Calgary Flames (1997–98)12–30–8
51LJanuary 26, 19982–4@ Phoenix Coyotes (1997–98)12–31–8
52LJanuary 28, 19981–6@ Colorado Avalanche (1997–98)12–32–8
53WJanuary 30, 19983–1New Jersey Devils (1997–98)13–32–8
54WJanuary 31, 19986–3@ Edmonton Oilers (1997–98)14–32–8
55LFebruary 2, 19981–2Colorado Avalanche (1997–98)14–33–8
56WFebruary 6, 19985–4Edmonton Oilers (1997–98)15–33–8
57WFebruary 7, 19986–3San Jose Sharks (1997–98)16–33–8
58WFebruary 25, 19985–2Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997–98)17–33–8
59TFebruary 27, 19984–4 OT@ Calgary Flames (1997–98)17–33–9
60WFebruary 28, 19986–4Ottawa Senators (1997–98)18–33–9
61TMarch 2, 19982–2 OT@ Los Angeles Kings (1997–98)18–33–10
62LMarch 5, 19982–6Calgary Flames (1997–98)18–34–10
63WMarch 7, 19985–2Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98)19–34–10
64LMarch 9, 19980–4St. Louis Blues (1997–98)19–35–10
65TMarch 11, 19982–2 OT@ Montreal Canadiens (1997–98)19–35–11
66LMarch 12, 19982–3@ Philadelphia Flyers (1997–98)19–36–11
67WMarch 14, 19986–2@ New York Islanders (1997–98)20–36–11
68WMarch 17, 19984–2@ Florida Panthers (1997–98)21–36–11
69LMarch 18, 19982–4@ Tampa Bay Lightning (1997–98)21–37–11
70TMarch 20, 19981–1 OT@ Ottawa Senators (1997–98)21–37–12
71TMarch 21, 19981–1 OT@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98)21–37–13
72WMarch 24, 19984–3New York Islanders (1997–98)22–37–13
73LMarch 26, 19982–5Buffalo Sabres (1997–98)22–38–13
74LMarch 28, 19982–3Washington Capitals (1997–98)22–39–13
75WApril 1, 19984–2Edmonton Oilers (1997–98)23–39–13
76WApril 4, 19985–3Dallas Stars (1997–98)24–39–13
77LApril 6, 19982–3@ Edmonton Oilers (1997–98)24–40–13
78WApril 9, 19986–3@ Calgary Flames (1997–98)25–40–13
79TApril 11, 19981–1 OT@ San Jose Sharks (1997–98)25–40–14
80LApril 15, 19980–2Los Angeles Kings (1997–98)25–41–14
81LApril 17, 19982–4Calgary Flames (1997–98)25–42–14
82LApril 19, 19981–2Toronto Maple Leafs (1997–98)25–43–14

* At Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan

Player statistics

Forwards

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty Minutes

Player GP G A Pts PIM
Pavel Bure8251399048
Mark Messier8222386058
Alexander Mogilny5118274536
Markus Naslund7614203456
Brian Noonan8210152562
Dave Scatchard76131124165
Donald Brashear779918372
Steve Staios77347134

Defencemen

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty Minutes

Player GP G A Pts PIM
Jyrki Lumme749213034
Mattias Ohlund777233076
Bret Hedican713242779
Grant Ledyard392131514
Bryan McCabe261111264
Dave Babych4709937
Dana Murzyn3152742
Bert Robertsson3024624
Adrian Aucoin3533621
Chris McAllister36123106
Jamie Huscroft70110
Enrico Ciccone1301147
Mark Wotton50006

Goaltending

Note: GP= Games played; W= Wins; L= Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals Against

Player GP W L T SO GAA
Arturs Irbe411411622.73
Garth Snow1336003.10
Sean Burke1629403.51
Kirk McLean29617413.68
Corey Hirsch1----6.00

Transactions

Trades
January 2, 1998 To Vancouver Canucks
Sean Burke
Geoff Sanderson
Enrico Ciccone		 To Carolina Hurricanes
Kirk McLean
Martin Gelinas
February 4, 1998 To Vancouver Canucks
conditional 5th round pick in 1998 (Garrett Prosofsky)		 To Philadelphia Flyers
Mike Sillinger
February 4, 1998 To Vancouver Canucks
Brad May
3rd round pick in 1999		 To Buffalo Sabres
Geoff Sanderson
February 5, 1998 To Vancouver Canucks
Peter Zezel		 To New Jersey Devils
5th round pick in 1998 (Anton But)
February 6, 1998 To Vancouver Canucks
Bryan McCabe
Todd Bertuzzi
3rd round pick in 1999 (Jarkko Ruutu)		 To New York Islanders
Trevor Linden
March 3, 1998 To Vancouver Canucks
8th round pick in 1998 (Graig Mischler)		 To Boston Bruins
Grant Ledyard
March 4, 1998 To Vancouver Canucks
Garth Snow		 To Philadelphia Flyers
Sean Burke
March 7, 1998 To Vancouver Canucks
Brandon Convery		 To Toronto Maple Leafs
Lonny Bohonos
March 14, 1998 To Vancouver Canucks
Jamie Huscroft		 To Tampa Bay Lightning
Enrico Ciccone
March 23, 1998 To Vancouver Canucks
Jason Strudwick		 To New York Islanders
Gino Odjick
March 24, 1998 To Vancouver Canucks
3rd round pick in 1999 (Justin Morrison)		 To Philadelphia Flyers
Dave Babych
6th round pick in 1998 (Antero Niittymaki)

Draft picks

Vancouver's picks at the 1997 NHL Entry Draft in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club Team
1 10 Brad Ference (D)  Canada Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
2 34 Ryan Bonni (D)  Canada Saskatoon Blades (WHL)
2 36 Harold Druken (D)  Canada Detroit Whalers (OHL)
3 64 Kyle Freadrich (LW)  Canada Prince George Cougars (WHL)
4 90 Chris Stanley (C)  Canada Belleville Bulls (OHL)
5 114 David Darguzas (C)  Canada Edmonton Ice (WHL)
5 117 Matt Cockell (G)  Canada Saskatoon Blades (WHL)
6 144 Matt Cooke (LW)  Canada Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
6 148 Larry Shapley (D)  Canada Welland Jr. Canadians (Golden Horseshoe Junior B Hockey League)
7 171 Rod Leroux (D)  Canada Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
8 201 Denis Martynyuk (LW)  Russia CSKA Moscow (Russian Pro Hockey League)
9 227 Peter Brady (G)  Canada Powell River Paper Kings (BCJHL)

References
  1. https://www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/199804090CGY.html
  2. "Vancouver Canucks 1997-98". Retrieved Jan 26, 2012.
  3. https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1998.html
  4. "1997-1998 Conference Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". NHL.
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