Pick Your Canucks' All-Time Roster

by Sean Zandberg on Sep 6, 2009 1:10 AM PDT in Canucks History Comment 33 comments

I saw this posted on the CDC boards weeks ago and figured it would be a decent conversational piece. Pick your all-time best Canucks roster by position. It will vary because of different age levels from our readers and Canucks fan experiences but that's ok. The newb fans can get an education in the process. This may help jog your memories a tad. Pick the players as to how they performed in a Canucks uniform, or by your favorites. Explain why you picked who you did if necessary. It doesn't matter how long you've been a Canucks fan. Give it a shot.

Here's mine:

FORWARDS

Markus Naslund-Stan Smyl-Pavel Bure

Daniel Sedin-Trevor Linden-Henrik Sedin

Alex Mogilny-Brendan Morrison-Thomas Gradin

Tony Tanti-Don Lever-Greg Adams

DEFENCE

Doug Lidster-Mattias Ohlund

Dave Babych-Ed Jovanovski

Harold Snepsts-Jyrki Lumme

GOAL

Roberto Luongo-Kirk McLean

BENCH

Forwards: Darcy Rota, Cliff Ronning, Todd Bertuzzi, Gino Odjick (gotta have a brute on reserve!)

Defence: Rick Lanz, Garth Butcher (see Odjick), ~~Jim Sandlak,~~ Brett Hedican, Sami Salo

Goaltender: Richard Brodeur

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Yay? Nay? If you disagree with me so much then post your own picks!

Length of service+Production+Effectiveness played a role in my decisions.

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Comments

what no bertuzzi? really??? come on… brandon morrison but no big bert?

by Flowbert69 on Sep 6, 2009 1:16 AM PDT reply actions

Ok, you’re catching me prematurely posting. What are you doing up so late?
Bertuzzi is on my bench. Yeah that is my opinion. I’d take a Greg Adams over Bertuzzi any day, Like I said…post your own!

Nucks Misconduct

by Sean Zandberg on Sep 6, 2009 1:21 AM PDT reply actions

I’ll take Cam Neely on the bench…4th liner, just as he was when he played for Vancouver.

by GZ Expat on Sep 6, 2009 1:52 AM PDT reply actions

aww… Lumme. I miss him in national team…

Как хотел я

by sleza on Sep 6, 2009 2:09 AM PDT reply actions

Going with Sean on length of service, Neely shouldn’t make the team for what he did with the B on his chest.

Nazzy-Kurtenbach-Bure

Smyl-Linden-Boldirev

Daniel-Gradin-Henrik

Adams-Lever-Tanti

Defense

Olie-Lumme

Jovo-Lidster

McCarthey-Snepts

Goal- You have to ask? Everyone will have Luongo/McLean!

Bench-F-Mogilny-Ronning-Boudrias-Kesler

(Burrows in the press box, Bertuzzi not anywhere nere my team….not after his Moore moment) honorable mention to Tiger Williams and Darcy Rota

D-Butcher-Bieksa-Diduck ( my D’men…the other team doesn’t like when I put them out…a defensive version of the Hanson Bros.) Honorable mention to Doug Halward

Goal-Brodeur…

vancitydan

by vancitydan on Sep 6, 2009 2:24 AM PDT reply actions

It is almost time to have Kesler on an all-time roster isn’t it?
Love your line 2. That would be a Swedish death right there.

Nucks Misconduct

by Sean Zandberg on Sep 6, 2009 11:28 AM PDT up reply actions

Jim Sandlak?? On defence?? I also think we need a Courtnall or two on the bench. I’ll also go nostalgic (heart over head) and have King Richard on my team after Luongo. Lots of leadership, methinks: Smyl, Linden, Naslund, Luongo. Steamer gets the C. I’d also like to make room for Petri Skriko, just because I always liked the name…

by Lumberlung on Sep 6, 2009 3:19 AM PDT reply actions

Why do I have it stuck in my head that Sandlak was a defenceman? Yeeash. OK, I’ll edit that.
Agreed on Steamer getting the C. Skriko is a good pick. I mulled over him for a while.

Nucks Misconduct

by Sean Zandberg on Sep 6, 2009 11:26 AM PDT up reply actions

Geoff Courtnall-Stan Smyl-Todd Bertuzzi
Donald Brashear-Tiger Williams-Gino Odjick
Jeff Cowan-Rick Rypien-Tim Hunter
Darcy Hordichuk-Craig Coxe-Sergio Momesso

Harold Snepts-Garth Butcher
Matthias Ohlund-Gerald Diduck
Doug Lidster-Dana Murzyn

Dan Cloutier-Sean Burke

I’d probably be able to roll the top five defensemen like Vignault on this one.

And I had no idea who to put as my back up, so I threw in Sean Burke because of that Canucks-Sabres video.

by thelastjohnny on Sep 6, 2009 3:31 AM PDT reply actions

Geez johnny

Don’t want to meet that line up in a dark alley.

I think you got almost all the good fighters…maybe change Lidster for Bieksa…

Pound them into submission!

Just kidding there Johnny…but I have to ask…do you where glasses? The kind with hockey tape in the middle?

vancitydan

by vancitydan on Sep 6, 2009 4:14 AM PDT up reply actions

Yeah, Bieksa for Lidster, maybe. I’d give him next season to prove he deserves to be there.

by thelastjohnny on Sep 6, 2009 4:38 AM PDT up reply actions

That second line is simply beautiful

'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.

by Yankee Canuck on Sep 6, 2009 4:36 AM PDT up reply actions

It’s like trying to decide on the national team. Do they go with the very best or put some role players on, too?

by thelastjohnny on Sep 6, 2009 4:38 AM PDT up reply actions

Hey! The Vancouver Flyers right there!

Nucks Misconduct

by Sean Zandberg on Sep 6, 2009 11:28 AM PDT up reply actions

Naslund-Linden-Bure
D.Sedin-H.Sedin-Mogilny (that’s a spicy meatball!)
Bertuzzi-Gradin-Smyl
Gelinas-Kesler-Tanti

Lumme-Lidster
Ohlund-Butcher
Snepsts-Babych

Luongo
McLean

Ride the pine:
F-Greg Adams, Igor Larionov, Gino Odjick, Orland Kurtenbach
D-Ed Jovanovski, Gerald Diduck, Dennis Kearns
G-’King Richard Brodeur

by Sneps-ish on Sep 6, 2009 7:31 AM PDT reply actions

Naslund-Linden-Smyl (the captain line)
Tanti-H.Sedin-D.Sedin (the finisher they’ve always lacked)
Mogilny -Larionov-Bure (oh those Russians)
Sundstrom-Gradin-Skriko (silky smooth)

Lumme-Lidster
Salo-Reinhart
Snepsts-Babych

Luongo
McLean

Ride the pine:
F-Ronning, Bertuzzi, Brashear,
D-Ohlund, Ed Jovanovski, Butcher
G-’King Richard Brodeur

by yoata on Sep 6, 2009 9:25 AM PDT reply actions

You just might be on to something with Tanti being the finisher on the Sedin line. He had an awesome shot.

Nucks Misconduct

by Sean Zandberg on Sep 6, 2009 12:51 PM PDT up reply actions

Yep

Great puck-tipper too, very quick hands.

by yoata on Sep 6, 2009 1:17 PM PDT up reply actions

The 1st Canuck player that I heard about as a little kid. Good ol’ TT

by Beantown Canuck on Sep 6, 2009 2:51 PM PDT up reply actions

damn, he was good

From Wiki:

As a junior in the Ontario Hockey League for three seasons, Tanti played with the Oshawa Generals, breaking a league rookie record previously set by Wayne Gretzky. Tanti still holds the record for most goals by a rookie with 81 in 1980–81.1 He was selected by the Chicago Black Hawks as the 12th overall pick in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft, but was traded after just three games over two seasons to the Vancouver Canucks for feared fighter and able scorer Curt Fraser in 1982–83.

Three 40+ goal and two 39 goal seasons with the Canucks. And he was about Wellwood’s size (not prior to last season)

Nucks Misconduct

by Sean Zandberg on Sep 6, 2009 2:59 PM PDT up reply actions

Good idea for a post right there. Yoata, I smell a FanPost by you :) C’mon!

Nucks Misconduct

by Sean Zandberg on Sep 6, 2009 3:01 PM PDT up reply actions

Met him once

at a golf tourney in Kelowna that was attended by a bunch of Nucks and Islanders from the ‘82 finals, he was short ( although who isn’t standing next to the likes of Clarke Gillies ) but he had quads the size of rubgy balls, super nice guy, as they all were, got some pics and autpgraphs as he was my brother’s favorite hockey player.

by yoata on Sep 6, 2009 3:13 PM PDT up reply actions

I can remember his play vaguely. He was a bright light on a hell team mostly.

Nucks Misconduct

by Sean Zandberg on Sep 6, 2009 3:18 PM PDT up reply actions

94 roster – 4th line – Bryan Glynn + west coast express + Mattias Ohlund + Roberto Luongo.

Maybe + Smyl as an extra forward.

by Beantown Canuck on Sep 6, 2009 10:05 AM PDT via mobile reply actions

Appreciate people’s participation here. It gives me/us insight on Canuckleheads’ insight and faves.

Nucks Misconduct

by Sean Zandberg on Sep 6, 2009 12:50 PM PDT reply actions

Bure-Bertuzzi-Naslund
Sedin-Sedin-Mogilny
Skriko-Ronning-Adams
Williams-Kesler-Odjick

Bieksa-Jovo
Ohlund-Reinhart
Lumme-Butcher

Spares- Larionov,Tanti, G.Courtnall,Linden
Spare D- Salo,Babych

Goalie- Luongo, Mclean

by Nuckels on Sep 6, 2009 1:21 PM PDT reply actions

Favourite Canuck combos...

Here are my all-time favourite Canuck combos:

Bure-Larioniov-Adams
Sedin-Sedin-Linden
Skriko-Gradin-G Courtnall
Tiger-Smyl-Odjick

Lumme-Snepts
Lidster-Mccarthy
Ohlund-Butcher

Goalie – McLean

Backups

Forwards- Rota,Tanti, Ronning, Sundstrom, Peca, Mogilny
D- Salo, Babych, Diduck

Spare Goalies- Luongo, Brodeur

by tsusiat on Sep 6, 2009 4:49 PM PDT reply actions

McLean over Lou huh? Well McLean in the early 90’s was pretty damned good.
I never should have left Geoff Courtnall off my list. He was so gold in the 94 playoffs

Nucks Misconduct

by Sean Zandberg on Sep 6, 2009 5:02 PM PDT reply actions

Naslund-Morrison-Bertuzzi
Gradin-Smyl-Fraser
Sedin-Sedin-Linden
Tanti-Sundstrom-Williams

Snepsts-Ohlund
Lumme-Butcher
Lidster-McCarthy

Luongo-Mclean

subs
Ronning,G Courtnall,Odjick, Adams
Babych, Jovanoski,Diduck
Gardner (I’ve got a soft spot for ol’ George, may he rest in peace )

I've seen enough to know that I've seen too much.

by Smoboy41 on Sep 6, 2009 5:42 PM PDT reply actions

Ooops

Left Naslund off my line combo list, better add him as a spare forward. Also, have to pick Mclean and Brodeur ahead of Luongo until Lungo gets to the finals. Considering Mclean took the team to within a game of the cup and played well in that seventh game, isn’t that an obvious choice?

by tsusiat on Sep 7, 2009 9:45 PM PDT reply actions

Kind of. He was gold, no doubt. But he had a team in front of him that never quit. Do you agree?

Nucks Misconduct

by Sean Zandberg on Sep 7, 2009 10:16 PM PDT up reply actions

Balance

So this team is based on guys who played a portion of their best years in Van City. I am not going to include Messier or Neely or anything like that. I also think you need to structure your team with two scoring lines a checking line and a 4th line that hits.

Nazzy-Linden-Bertuzzi
Tanti-Ronning-Bure
Burrows-Smyl-Kesler
Odjick-Sandlak-Adams

Lumme-Mitchell
Ohlund-Jovo
Snepts-Babych

McLean
Luongo

Bench – Gradin, Sedin, Sedin, G. Courtnall, Sundstrom, Brashear and Bieksa, Lidster, Salo, Butcher

Here is my thinking. Linden in his prime would have been a great center for Nazzy and Bert. That line would dominate. Your second line needs to score and that second line is pure goal scoring. The third line is my shut down line to play against the other teams best players. Does anybody want to play against Steamer, Burrows and Kesler. Grit and determination. Plus they can chip in with some goals. The fourth line is getting very few minutes. But they will hit everything, have a little scoring with Adams on the line and they will protect the elite guys if they have too. On D I havae put a shut down type stay at home guy with Lumme and a similar set up with Jovo able to wander thanks to Ohlund staying home. The third pair doesn’t see a tonne of ice but when they do they are very responsible in their own zone, clear the front of the net and protect the elite guys the way the 4th line does. If it’s a playoff game then McLean gets the start. As I am writing this he is a more proven playoff performer. The bench is pretty self explanatory. Some good scorers there and some grit and toughness in case one of the 4th liners is suspended. And let’s face it they would be from time to time. Same kind of mixture on the bench at the back.

by Section 312 on Sep 8, 2009 3:24 PM PDT reply actions