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Vancouver Canucks: Where Are They Now?

Kristen Hilderman

| April 4, 2011

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Image by Hockey Pants Tumblr | John Bollwitt

Stan Smyl (1978-1991) | Winger

Best known for:

Stan Smyl was selected 40th overall by the Vancouver Canucks and played his entire career with the team, spending the final eight years as captain. His aggressive, physical playing-style earned him the nickname Steamer, and some notable Canucks records. Smyl has the third most points (673), third most goals (262), third most assists (411), fourth most hat tricks (7), and third most penalty minutes (1,556). His #12 jersey was the first to be retired in Canucks history, and now hangs in the rafters at Rogers Arena. Smyl was the first Canuck to leave a legacy, retiring with records in nearly every Canucks stats category.

Age at first game with Canucks:

Age now:

Where is he now?

After retiring, Smyl was named assistant coach of the Canucks and held the position from 1991-1999. He coached in the American Hockey League and International Hockey League before returning to Vancouver as the Canucks director of player development. When Mike Gillis took over as general manager, Smyl was reassigned to director of collegiate scouting. He is currently the senior adviser to the Canucks and partially oversees collegiate scouting.

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Image by (Right) Rebecca Bollwitt

Richard Brodeur (1980-1988) | Goaltender

Best known for:

Brodeur was the Canucks' all-star goaltender during their 1982 playoff run. His spectacular performance in the playoffs earned him the nickname "King Richard," and the moniker stuck throughout the rest of his career. He holds several Canucks records, including second most games played as a goaltender (377), and third most wins as a goaltender (126). He was traded in the 1987-88 season to the then-NHL team the Hartford Whalers and retired at the season's close.

Age at first game with Canucks:

Age now:

Where is he now?

After retirement, Brodeur founded King Richard Brodeur's Hockey School in Burnaby, B.C.

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Image by Canucks.com | Flickr/Chris Breikss

Pat Quinn (1987-1997) | President, GM & Head Coach

Best known for:

Due to a contract snafu with the Los Angeles Kings, Quinn was banned from coaching the Canucks until 1990. He had arrived as president and general manager in 1987. He is best known in Vancouver for his controversial draft pick of 18-year-old Pavel Bure in 1989 and coaching during the 1994 playoff run. Following his tenure at the Canucks, Quinn moved on to coach their east coast rivals the Toronto Maple Leafs. Quinn won NHL Coach of the Year in 1980 and 1992, the latter for his time with the Canucks.

Age at first game with Canucks:

Age now:

Where is he now?

Pat Quinn was the head coach of the Edmonton Oilers from May 2009 until June 2010. He is currently senior adviser for hockey operations for the Oilers.

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Image by Canucks.com | John Bollwitt

Kirk McLean (1987-1998) | Goaltender

Best known for:

McLean was the number one goalie on the Canucks for over ten years, taking the team to game 7 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 1994. He leads the Canucks goaltenders in games played (516) and wins (211). He fell to the number two spot for most shutouts when current Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo surpassed McLean's record in November 2009.

Age at first game with Canucks:

Age now:

Where is he now?

McLean was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes in January 1998, and following that played for the Florida Panthers, the New York Rangers, and finally retired in 2001. After retirement from pro hockey, McLean stayed close to the game, working as the goaltending coach for the WHL's Kamloops Blazers for one season. Other post-hockey jobs include broadcaster for Canucks pay-per-view, Vancouver restaurateur, part-owner of local Junior A team Burnaby Express, and as of September 2010, goaltending consultant for the Colorado Avalanche.

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Image by (Right) Canucks.com

Brian Burke (1987-1992, 1998-2004) | Senior VP of Hockey Operations, President & GM

Best known for:

As Canucks president and general manager, Burke signed several players that went on to become leading forces on the team, such as Ryan Kesler, and superstar twins Daniel and Henrik Sedin.

Age at first game with Canucks:

Age now:

Where is he now?

After leaving the Canucks, Burke moved on as general manager of the Anaheim Ducks, winning the Stanley Cup in the 2006-07 season. He left the Ducks the following season and is now president and general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

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Image by Jason Payne/Vancouver Sun | Paul Joseph

Trevor Linden (1988-1998, 2001-2008) | Right Wing/Centre

Best known for:

Known to Vancouver fans as "Captain Canuck," Trevor Linden holds multiple team records, including most games played (1138 games), first player to play in 1,000 games, and first player to score 300 goals. His previous records of most points and most goals were eclipsed by succeeding Canucks captain Markus Naslund. On December 17, 2008, Linden's jersey was retired to the rafters of then-GM Place, joining the only other jersey to be retired in Canucks history at the time, lengendary Stan Smyl's number 12.

Age at first game with Canucks:

Age now:

40 (he turns 41 on April 11, 2011)

Where is he now?

Since retiring from professional hockey, Linden has been pursuing a career in Vancouver real estate. He recently joined the ranks of local pro athlete Steve Nash as a fitness club owner, when he opened Club 16, Trevor Linden Fitness. In addition to his ambitious business endeavours, Linden is also a spokesperson for Clearly Contacts and heavily involved in charitable organizations.

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Image by Canucks.com | Stephen Dyrgas, Classic Rock 101

Cliff Ronning (1990-1996) | Centre

Best known for:

Cliff Ronning wasn't the biggest player on the ice, but that didn't stop him from becoming a force to reckon with on the Canucks. He was an integral part of the team during their 1994 playoff run, and played in game seven with a broken hand. Although he doesn't hold any Canucks franchise records in regular season play, he's near the top of the list on many playoff records. Ronning has the fourth most playoff points (58), the fourth most playoff goals (24), the third most playoff assists (34), the second most over-time playoff goals (2), and the most game-winning playoff goals (7). Ronning left the Canucks after the 1995-1996 season and played for five more NHL teams before retiring in 2006.

Age at first game with Canucks:

Age now:

Where is he now?

Ronning lives in Vancouver with his wife and four children, and has maintained his close involvement with the hockey world. Outside of the NHL he has coached, played, and been involved in hockey equipment research. He is the co-founder and vice-president of Base Hockey Labs, a hockey stick design and manufacturing firm in Burnaby, B.C.

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Image by (Right ) Stephen Dyrgas, Classic Rock 101

Gino Odjick (1990-1998) | Left Wing

Best known for:

Gino Odjick was drafted 86th overall by the Canucks in 1990. He was aptly named "Chief, the Enforcer," and has the track record to back up his legacy of being a tough guy. Odjick holds the Canucks record for most penalty minutes, at 2,127 minutes over his eight seasons with the team.

Age at first game with Canucks:

Age now:

Where is he now?

After suffering a concussion in an off-season practice with the Montreal Canadiens in 2002, Odjick retired and moved back to Vancouver where he currently lives. He manages the Musqueam Golf Academy and enjoys playing golf in his free time. He regularly stays in touch with ex-teammate Pavel Bure.

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Image by (Right) Kommersant/Alexandr Zhdanov

Pavel Bure (1991-1999) | Right Wing

Best known for:

The "Russian Rocket," as he's known for his speed on the ice, was selected 113th overall by the Canucks in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft. There was much confusion around Bure's selection and NHL eligibility, and the pick was originally declared illegal until protested by the Canucks and further investigated. His dramatic entry into the NHL was telling of the excitement to come Canucks fans voted Bure the most exciting player from 1992-1995 and again in 1998. He holds the most exciting player record with fellow Canuck Tony Tanti. Although he doesn't hold the top spot in any other Canucks records, he has the fourth most game-winning goals (32), the third most hat tricks (9), and the fourth most goals (254).

Age at first game with Canucks:

18 (drafted), 20 (first game)

Age now:

Where is he now?

Bure left the Canucks in 2008 for "personal reasons," and finished his hockey career playing for the Florida Panthers (1999-2002) and the New York Rangers (2002-2003), then retiring due to a chronic knee injury. He went on to manage Russia's hockey team in the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin. On October 10, 2009, he wed Russian model Alina Khasanova. He now lives in Miami.

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Image by Canucks.com

Markus Naslund (1996-2008) | Left Wing

Best known for:

"Nazzy" was the star captain of the Canucks for eight years, the longest reigning captaincy in the team's history next to Stan Smyl. He led the team with a soft-spoken authority and a long list of accomplishments. He ousted former captain Trevor Linden for most goals (346), most points (756), and shares the crown with Tony Tanti for most hat tricks at 10.

Age at first game with Canucks:

Age now:

Where is he now?

Naslund enjoyed a short-lived retirement from May 2009 until November 2009, when he joined the Modo hockey team in Sweden. After 29 games with Modo, Naslund announced his second (and final) retirement from professional hockey. In December 2010, the Canucks retired his jersey to the rafters of Rogers Arena, next to fellow former captains Trevor Linden and Stan Smyl. Naslund now lives in Sweden with his wife and three kids, and is the general manager of Modo.

Back to the feature: The Vancouver Canucks Franchise

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