2012–13 Vancouver Canucks season
The season was threatened with cancellation before the lockout ended, ultimately the length of the labor dispute resulted in the reduction of games from the standard 82 to a shortened 48.
Cory Schneider entered the season as the team's new starting goaltender, while the Canucks attempted to trade incumbent Roberto Luongo.
After a six-game winning streak to start February, the Canucks dealt with multiple injuries and suspensions resulting in the team slumping.
In late March Schneider captured the starters job starting seven consecutive games helping the team to a second six-game winning streak.
As a way of celebrating 100 years of hockey in British Columbia, the Canucks wore a special patch on their jerseys with the logo of the Vancouver Millionaires, the first professional team in the city.
[13] Doug MacLean on Sportsnet's Hockey Central reported that a trade was in place to send Luongo to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
[15] Prior to the NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) expiring in September, teams reassigned players on two-way or entry-level contracts to minor league affiliates.
[24][25][26][27][28][29] As the lockout dragged on, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman gave a self-imposed a deadline of January 11 to agree to terms on a new CBA or the entire season would be cancelled.
[30] As the deadline approached, Bettman and the head of the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA), Donald Fehr, engaged in a 16-hour negotiation session that produced a tentative agreement to end the lockout.
Centre Ryan Kesler, who was recovering from off-season surgeries to his shoulder and wrist, would be unable to start the season; it was unknown how long he would be out rehabbing the injuries.
[43] Alain Vigneault stated that he hoped to keep his third and fourth lines intact, leaving the possible replacements as, Andrew Ebbett, Jordan Schroeder and Zack Kassian.
[47] The prediction was based on Vancouver's team depth, the offense provided by Daniel and Henrik Sedin, the two-way play of Kesler and Alexandre Burrows, plus the versatility of the Canuck's top four defenceman.
In the post-game interview, Schneider took the blame for the loss, saying, "It was unacceptable to play that way and to put my team in that situation and not even give them a chance to win."
[54] After losing their first two games, Vancouver added to their forward depth recalling Jordan Schroeder from the AHL and assigning Jim Vandermeer to the Wolves.
[60][61] The coin became a running joke for Vigneault and the Canucks in general, as Ryan Kesler stated he flipped it before announcing his return from injury.
As Kesler was returning from injury, Vancouver placed centre Manny Malhotra on injured reserve (IR) for the remainder of the season.
The game was also witness to a piece of Canucks history as Henrik Sedin recorded two assists to pass Markus Naslund as the franchise's all-time leading scorer, with 757 points.
During a commercial break, the Canucks ran a tribute video for the accomplishment, featuring congratulations from Naslund and Trevor Linden, the third-leading scorer in team history.
[77] Opinions of the hit varied with former NHL referee Kerry Fraser, stating that he did not believe that there was any deliberate or malicious intent, and that he would be surprised if Hansen received a suspension for the play.
[88] In the second game of their winning streak, defenceman Alexander Edler collided with Phoenix Coyotes' goaltender Mike Smith and was given a five-minute major for charging.
[98][99] In their first game of April, Vancouver attempted to improve its offensive production by re-calling their 2011 first round draft choice, Nicklas Jensen, and forward Bill Sweatt.
[100] The following day, the Canucks acquired centre Derek Roy from the Dallas Stars for Kevin Connauton and a second-round draft pick.
Vigneault responded by telling Sedin that "he's not going to be the one that breaks the streak," and he gave him the choice to remain on the bench or return to the locker room.
In the third period, Kesler scored a power play goal to tie the game and six minutes later, capitalized on a Sharks turnover to put Vancouver up 2–1.
In overtime, a blocked shot led to an odd man rush for the Sharks, resulting in Raffi Torres scoring the game-winning goal.
[112][133] At an end of the season press conference, GM Mike Gillis stated the Canucks would "hit the reset button on a number of different fronts.
[137] Vigneault left as the all-time winningest coach in Canucks history, while winning two Presidents' Trophies and six Northwest Division titles.
[142] However, in a surprise move, Schneider was traded to the New Jersey Devils for the ninth overall pick in the draft, which Vancouver used to select Bo Horvat.
Bold/italics denotes franchise record [146] During the off-season, Vancouver signed defenceman Jason Garrison to a six-year contract worth $27.6 million.
[195] source:[196] The Canucks completed their second season with the Chicago Wolves as American Hockey League affiliate, the final one under the two teams' contract.
