Every Canucks player who's had multiple stints in Vancouver
When the Vancouver Canucks hit the ice later this month, Luke Schenn will join rare company.
The 36-year-old defenceman signed with the Canucks in free agency for his third stint with the team. Returning for round three was something Schenn himself didn’t expect.
“Getting the chance to play here one time and then getting a second opportunity was a bit of a dream come true,” Schenn told the media Tuesday.
“I would have never predicted ever a third time around would come to get this opportunity.”
Of course he wouldn’t have, because how many players manage to have three separate stints in Vancouver?
Well, it’s only happened one other time in Canucks history.
Here’s a list of 1the 19 Canucks players who’ve had multiple stints with the organization.
1. Luke Schenn
It’s no surprise that Schenn has a soft spot for Vancouver.
The former fifth overall pick in the 2008 NHL Draft essentially revived his career in Vancouver during the 2018-19 season. He was waived earlier that year by the Anaheim Ducks before being traded to the Canucks, along with a seventh-round pick, in exchange for Michael Del Zotto.
Schenn showed enough during his 18 games with Vancouver to get a contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning, where he went onto win two Stanley Cups.
The Saskatoon native then returned to Vancouver as a free agent, where he spent two seasons before being dealt at the 2023 trade deadline.
In 2026, he signed a one-year contract with the Canucks worth $2.25 million.
1. Nolan Baumgartner
He’s the only other player who’s had three separate stints in Vancouver as an NHLer.
Nolan Baumgartner signed with the Canucks in 2002. He played eight NHL games before being claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2003. Baumgartner played five games for the Pens before being re-claimed by the Canucks on waivers in the same season.
After leaving as a free agent in 2006, Baumgartner returned to Vancouver for stop No. 3 in 2008; however, he didn’t actually play at the NHL level again until 2010, when he was called up by the Canucks due to a Sami Salo injury.
2. Trevor Linden
Trevor Linden has two game-winning goals for Vancouver in the 2007 playoffs. (Rick Scuteri/US Presswire)
Even though trading Trevor Linden ended up being a massive benefit for the Canucks, from an emotional standpoint, the heart-and-soul captain never should have left.
After Mark Messier awkwardly took over the captaincy, Linden was dealt to the New York Islanders on Feb. 6, 1998, for Todd Bertuzzi, Bryan McCabe, and a third-round pick, which Vancouver used to draft Jarkko Ruutu.
More than three years later, Vancouver reacquired Linden in exchange for first and third-round picks. The beloved former captain spent the remaining seven years of his NHL career with the Canucks.
3. Harold Snepsts
When Harold Snepsts wasn’t re-signed as a free agent back in 1984, he left as the franchise-record holder for games played and penalty minutes.
The Edmonton native spent 10 seasons in Vancouver before his 1984 departure, setting an organizational standard for steady defensive hockey. He had two All-Star Game appearances and helped the Canucks reach the 1982 Stanley Cup Finals.
In 1988-89, Snepsts returned as a free agent, and fans ate it up with frequent chants of “Har-old” throughout the Pacific Coliseum. He was traded to the St. Louis Blues in 1990, where he spent the final two years of his career.
4. Bobby Schmautz
One of the original Canucks snipers, Bobby Schmautz signed with Vancouver as a free agent in 1970. After leading the team in scoring in 1973, along with two All-Star Game appearances, Schmautz was traded to Don Cherry’s Boston Bruins in 1974.
He returned to the Canucks in 1980-81, posting an impressive 27 goals and 61 points in 73 games. Schmautz wasn’t re-signed as a free agent and retired in 1981, missing the Canucks’ 1982 Cup run by one year.
5. Brent Sopel
Brent Sopel’s return to the Canucks was underwhelming after a solid first stint with the team. (Rick Scuteri/US Presswire)
Although Brent Sopel endured some rough times with the Canucks, he eventually flourished as a legitimate top-four defenceman.
After a career-best season in 2003-04, with 10 goals and 42 points in 82 games, the 2004-05 lockout hit. As players were set to finally return in 2005-06, the free agent Sopel was traded to the New York Islanders on Aug. 3, 2005.
Two years later, the Canucks re-acquired Sopel at the 2007 deadline, but his return was underwhelming. The second-round pick Vancouver traded then turned into Wayne Simmonds.
6. Jim Sandlak
Poor Jim Sandlak.
The Canucks former fourth overall pick in 1985 was dealt to the Hartford Whalers on May 17, 1993, missing out on the Canucks’ 1994 Cup run.
Sandlak returned to the Canucks in 1995-96, but he was largely ineffective as injuries had taken their toll.
7. Jiri Slegr
Jiri Slegr was once a young Canucks defenceman who showed some early promise. However, he was pushed down the depth chart and didn’t play a single postseason game for the Canucks during their 1994 Cup run.
He was traded from the Canucks to the Edmonton Oilers in 1996-97, before returning to Vancouver in 2003 as a free agent. His return didn’t last long, as he fell out of favour with head coach Marc Crawford and was dealt after playing 16 games.
8. Geoff Sanderson
Congratulations to Geoff Sanderson, who cracked two of these wacky lists recently.
Sanderson was a stellar NHL forward. Unfortunately, none of his on-ice success really transpired in Vancouver.
He was acquired once by Mike Keenan in 1998, and was subsequently dealt a month later. Sanderson also joined the Canucks at the 2004 deadline, suiting up for all seven postseason games in a depth role.
9. Brad May
Speaking of Sanderson, his first nine-game stint with the Canucks in 1998 ended because he was shipped out for tough guy Brad May.
May brought some much-needed physicality during some tough Canucks seasons in the late 1990s.
Right as Vancouver was turning the corner, he was dealt to the Phoenix Coyotes in the 2000 offseason. May was reacquired three years later, playing another 93 combined regular season and postseason games for Vancouver.
10. Dunc Wilson
Goalie Dunc Wilson formed Vancouver’s first-ever goaltending duo, alongside Charlie Hodge. Although Wilson was the young protege, he never really lived up to being a legitimate starter and was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1973.
Wilson returned to the Canucks in 1978, playing 17 NHL games before calling it a career.
Oddly enough, Hodge also had two stints with the Canucks, leading Vancouver to a WHL championship in 1968-69.
Yes, in case you didn’t know, a hockey team named the Vancouver Canucks has won a championship before.
11. Brad Richardson
Brad Richardson’s NHL career ended with the Canucks in 2022. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)
Even though he’s one of the more recent names on this list, it’s easy to forget Brad Richardson’s second stint in Vancouver.
He originally signed with the Canucks in 2013, spending two years in the organization before departing as a free agent in 2015. Richardson was then claimed off waivers from the Calgary Flames late in the 2022 season, and he played the final 17 games of his NHL career in Vancouver.
12. Craig Coxe
There weren’t many NHLers who were tougher than Craig Coxe.
Known for participating in some of hockey’s most brutal fights, Coxe got his first NHL shot with the Canucks in the mid-1980s. He stuck around for four seasons due to his toughness.
Coxe was then traded to the Flames in 1988 before returning to Vancouver via waivers in 1990.
13. Peter Schaefer
Peter Schaefer’s legacy may be defined by being involved in one of the Canucks’ most underrated trades.
After a couple of solid seasons in Vancouver, Schaefer was dealt straight up to the Ottawa Senators for Sami Salo.
The Saskatchewan native returned to Vancouver in 2010-11, where he played the final 16 games of his NHL career.
14. Chris Joseph
Speaking of players who had forgettable stints with the Canucks, former fifth overall pick in 1987 Chris Joseph had two of them in Vancouver.
The Burnaby native was claimed off waivers twice by Vancouver. He played 63 games for them in 1996-97, and another 38 during the 1999-00 season.
15. Joseph LaBate
Joseph LaBate returned to the Canucks lineup last season, nearly a decade after his first appearance. (Perry Nelson/Imagn Images)
Joseph LaBate’s return to the Canucks lineup last season was a remarkable story.
Even though he played just one game, his return to Vancouver’s NHL lineup marked his first game for the Canucks in over 3,000 days.
16. Jere Gillis
A fourth-overall pick by the Canucks in 1977, Jere Gillis played 272 career games for the Canucks before being traded to the New York Rangers in 1980. He returned as a free agent in 1984-85 but was largely a non-factor.
First-round players drafted after Gillis in 1977 included Hall of Famers such as Doug Wilson and Mike Bossy.
17. Matt Pettinger
Matt Pettinger was at the tail end of his NHL career when he was acquired by the Canucks in exchange for Matt Cooke in 2008. After being claimed by the Tampa Bay Lightning on waivers at the beginning of the 2008-09 season, Pettinger returned for the Canucks in 2009-10.
During the 2010 playoffs, Pettinger played his first career NHL playoff game for the Canucks. It was the last NHL game he ever played.
18. Ralph Stewart
If you thought about Ralph Stewart being on this list, you belong among the top one per cent of Canucks fans.
Stewart was claimed in the 1970 expansion draft and played three NHL games for the Canucks in their first season. He bounced around the league before returning to Vancouver in 1976, where he’d play the final 50 games of his NHL career.