11 Best Vancouver Canucks Players of All Time, Ranked

The Vancouver Canucks may still be searching for their first Stanley Cup, but that doesn’t mean this franchise hasn’t had its fair share of superstar players.

The first decade of NHL hockey in Vancouver was not for the faint of heart, but the emergence of dynamic duo Stan Smyl and Thomas Gradin led to a trip to the Stanley Cup Final in 1982. 

There were more downs than ups in the decade that followed, but the Canucks got another crack at Lord Stanley in 1994 thanks to a Cinderella run led by Pavel Bure and Trevor Linden.

The Canucks would come up short in 1994 and wouldn’t get back to the Stanley Cup Final for nearly two decades. But in between, the Canucks enjoyed plenty of success and pulled off one of the greatest draft heists in NHL history when they obtained the second and third overall picks in 1999 so they could select Henrik and Daniel Sedin, the top two players on my list.

Who Are the Best Vancouver Canucks Players?

1 (tied). Henrik and Daniel Sedin

It was impossible to separate Swedish twins Henrik and Daniel Sedin on the ice, and I won’t do it on this list.

The Sedins rank first and second in Canucks’ history in games played, assists, and points, but the craziest part of their statistical portfolio is that they finished their careers with the same points per game (0.80).  

There were some tough seasons in Vancouver for Henrik and Daniel, but the Sedins helped turn the Canucks into a powerhouse in the late 2000s and early 2010s. 

It was not uncommon to find Vancouver at the top of the hockey odds to win the Stanley Cup in those days, and they came within one game of finally delivering the goods to their long-suffering fans when they lost to the Boston Bruins in Game 7 of the 2011 Final.

3. Trevor Linden

It became clear right away that the Canucks had something special in Trevor Linden. 

The Medicine Hat, Alberta, native potted 30 goals in his rookie campaign and finished second in the voting for the Calder Trophy. Linden didn’t slow down from there and would score at least 30 goals in five of the next six full seasons (1994-95 was shortened due to a labour strike).

It wasn’t just Linden’s production that earned him respect. He also became a leader in the locker room and community, which earned him the honour of being named captain at age 21.

By the end of Linden’s second stint with Vancouver, he had amassed 318 goals, 415 assists, and 733 points, all of which rank inside the top five in franchise history.

4. Stan Smyl

The first true icon of the Vancouver Canucks, Stan Smyl burst onto the scene in Vancouver. Nicknamed “Steamer” for his tenacity and physical play, Smyl became a point-per-game player in just his second season and was named captain just a few years later.

Smyl led the Canucks to their first trip to the Stanley Cup Final in 1982 and would retire as the Canucks’ all-time leader in games played, goals, assists, and points – all of which have been passed by the Sedin twins.

Smyl’s No. 12 was the first jersey to be retired by Vancouver.

5. Markus Naslund

After an uninspiring start in Pittsburgh, Markus Naslund’s career took off when he combined with Brendan Morrison and Todd Bertuzzi to form the “West Coast Express” line. 

With Naslund leading the way, the Canucks of that era were regularly near the top of the Stanley Cup odds.

Naslund would continue to put up terrific numbers throughout the 2000s and finished his career with the third-most points in franchise history behind Linden and Smyl.

6. Roberto Luongo

Considered one of the best goaltenders of his generation, Roberto Luongo’s arrival in Vancouver couldn’t have come at a better time.

With Naslund and the Sedins terrorizing defences, the Canucks felt they just needed to stabilize their crease to challenge for a Stanley Cup.

Luongo did just that and propelled the Canucks to the Stanley Cup Final in 2011. 

Luongo’s impact on the franchise was so profound that he became one of just a handful of goaltenders to be named captain of their respective team. 

7. Pavel Bure

The nickname says it all.

Known as the “Russian Rocket,” Pavel Bure was one of the biggest stars in the NHL in the early 1990s. 

In a city obsessed with hockey, Bure became an icon in his second season when he potted 60 goals and recorded 110 points. He would hit 60 again a year later and help lead the Canucks on an unexpected run to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final.

Bure’s 1.12 points per game is still the best mark in franchise history.. 

8. Thomas Gradin

There are several Swedish players on this list, and Thomas Gradin got it all started in the late 1970s. 

Gradin combined with Smyl to create one of the NHL’s most potent 1-2 punches in the 1970s and was a key contributor when Vancouver reached the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in 1982.

Gradin ranks sixth in franchise history in points.

9. Quinn Hughes

Quinn Hughes didn’t take long to become a fan favourite in Vancouver.

He was the runner-up for the Calder Trophy in 2019-20 and posted 16 points in 17 playoff games in Vancouver’s run to the Western Conference Finals in the Bubble.

Hughes continued to produce offence at a prolific rate over the next three seasons, but he took things to a whole new level in 2023-2024.

Hughes was named the 15th captain in Canucks’ history at the beginning of that campaign, and he answered the bell with 92 points and a Norris Trophy.

10. Alexander Edler

Stability and reliability are often underrated qualities when it comes to these kinds of lists, but I’m here to give Alexander Edler his due.

Edler wasn’t a prolific offensive force nor was he a loud, physical defenceman, but he was just solid. He averaged over 22 minutes of ice time per contest throughout his long career and ranks fourth in franchise history with 925 games played. 

11. Elias Pettersson

The only other Canuck to win the Calder Trophy besides Pavel Bure, Elias Pettersson burst onto the scene with 66 points in his rookie campaign.

The Swedish sniper saw his production plateau for the next few seasons, but he found a new level with 102 points in 2022-2023. 

It took Pettersson fewer than 450 games to crack the top 10 point scorers in franchise history.