Canucks Mount Rushmore: The 4 greatest defencemen in Vancouver Canucks history

On today’s edition of Canucks Mount Rushmore, we’ll be going over the top 4 defenders in Vancouver Canucks history, along with a few honourable mentions.

Ed Jovanovski

Ed Jovanovski, or “Jovocop,” best known for his physical style and offensive abilities, was one of the most significant defencemen in Vancouver Canucks history. Drafted first overall by the Florida Panthers in 1994, Jovo made his way to Vancouver in 1999 as part of the blockbuster trade that sent Pavel Bure to Florida. 

From 1999 to 2006, Jovanovski anchored the Canucks’ blue line and was a key contributor during the “West Coast Express” era. His best season came in 2001-02 when he scored 17 goals and recorded 48 points, earning him his first NHL All-Star appearance.

While Jovanovski was a consistent force in the regular season, his leadership and skill were most apparent in the Canucks’ playoff runs. However, injuries plagued the later years of his Vancouver tenure, limiting his play, particularly during the 2005-06 season. Despite these setbacks, Jovanovski’s time with the Canucks remains highly regarded. He played 434 regular-season games for Vancouver, amassing 253 points and becoming a fan favourite for his intensity and commitment to the team.

Jovocop left Vancouver in 2006, signing with the Phoenix Coyotes as a free agent.

Mattias Öhlund

Öhlund spent the majority of his NHL career with Vancouver, establishing himself as a steady and reliable presence on the blue line. Drafted 13th overall by the Canucks in 1994, Ohlund made his debut in 1997 after spending a few years developing his game in Sweden. His immediate impact was undeniable — he finished second in Calder Trophy voting for NHL Rookie of the Year and quickly became one of Vancouver’s top defenceman.

Known for his intelligence, positioning, and physical play, Öhlund was a rock on the back end for the Canucks for 11 seasons from 1997 to 2009. Like Jovocop, he became an important cog in the “West Coast Express” machine and helped the team make multiple playoff appearances. Öhlund truly was a shutdown defenceman who was rarely on the ice for a goal against. His best offensive season came in 2001-02 when he scored 36 points, including 13 goals — impressive for a defenceman known primarily for his shutdown abilities.

Öhlund was also a leader both on and off the ice. He regularly logged heavy minutes and played against the toughest competition. He was highly respected in the locker room, eventually being named an alternate captain. His leadership helped guide younger players, like Kevin Bieksa and Alex Edler, who followed in his footsteps as key Canucks defencemen.

In total, Öhlund played 770 games with Vancouver, recording 325 points (93 goals, 232 assists), which was the franchise record until Alex Edler surpassed him. Ohlund’s tenure with the Canucks came to an end in 2009 when he signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning, but his legacy in Vancouver was already cemented.

Alexander Edler 

Alexander Edler, also known as “Steady Eddie,” was a cornerstone of the Canucks’ blueline for over a decade. Signed as a relatively unknown Swedish prospect in 2004, Edler made his NHL debut with the Canucks during the 2006-07 season. Over the next 15 seasons, he would go on to play 925 games for Vancouver, making him the franchise’s all-time leader in games played by a defenceman. Edler also became the all-time leading scorer among Canucks defencemen, finishing his tenure with 409 points (99 goals, 310 assists).

Edler’s two-way ability, combined with his calm and reliable play, was crucial to Vancouver’s success with the team. He was a key part of the Canucks’ dominant 2011 team that reached the Stanley Cup Final, contributing both defensively and offensively throughout the playoffs. Edler’s big shot from the point and physical presence made him an all-around threat. His consistency earned him two team honours: the Canucks’ best defenceman award and several seasons as an alternate captain.

While he never garnered major NHL awards, Edler earned his place as one of the franchise’s most valuable defencemen. His career in Vancouver ended in 2021 when he signed with the Los Angeles Kings, but his legacy remains secure.

Quinn Hughes

Hughes has quickly become one of the most dynamic defencemen in Vancouver Canucks history. Drafted seventh overall in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, he made his debut late in the 2018-19 season, immediately showcasing his elite skating, vision, and playmaking abilities. He became a full-time player in the 2019-20 season, and by the end of his rookie campaign, he had already set new franchise records for points by a defenceman in a season, finishing with 53 points (8 goals, 45 assists) in 68 games.

Hughes’ ability to control the game from the blue line revolutionized the Canucks’ offence. His poise under pressure, particularly on the power play and in tight spaces, and his ability to carry the puck out of the defensive zone with ease have made him one of the NHL’s premier offensive defencemen. In his first full season, he was named a finalist for the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie, finishing second in the voting.

Over the next few seasons, Hughes continued to solidify his place as a franchise cornerstone. He became the fastest Canucks defenceman to reach 100 career points, and by 2023, he was named the team’s captain — the first defenceman in Canucks history to wear the “C” since Doug Lidster in 1990.

Over the 2023-24 regular season, Hughes put up 92 points (17 goals and 75 assists) in 82 games and recorded a plus-minus of plus-38. He led all defencemen in points and assists and was fourth overall in the league in assists. This incredible performance earned Hughes the Norris Trophy, the first Canuck in history to win the award, which recognizes the NHL’s best defenceman. 

Hughes continues to rise in the Canucks’ record books, well on his way to being the franchise’s all-time leader in points by a defenceman. While still early in his career, Hughes has already earned a spot on the Canucks Mount Rushmore of defenceman. 

Honourable Mentions

Sami Salo

Salo was one of the most reliable and underrated defencemen in Vancouver Canucks history. Acquired by the Canucks in 2002 from the Ottawa Senators, Salo became a mainstay on the Canucks’ blue line for nearly a decade. His ability to contribute on both ends of the ice made him a key player, especially on the power play, where his booming shot was a constant threat. He also became known for taking incredibly short shifts, sometimes taking the ice for no longer than 15 seconds before returning for a line change. 

Despite struggling with numerous injuries throughout his career, Salo played 566 games for Vancouver, contributing 74 goals and 162 assists. His quiet leadership and defensive reliability made him a fan favourite and an integral part of the Canucks’ defence during their run to the 2011 Stanley Cup Final. 

Kevin Bieksa

Bieksa was a fan favourite during his time with the Canucks, known for his toughness, grit, and leadership on the blue line. Drafted in the fifth round of the 2001 NHL Draft, Bieksa exceeded expectations and became a vital part of the Canucks’ defence corps for over a decade, playing from 2005 to 2015. He was known for his physical play, willingness to drop the gloves, and ability to contribute offensively, tallying 241 points (56 goals, 185 assists) in 597 games for Vancouver.

Among others, Bieksa’s most memorable moment came in the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs, when he scored the series-clinching “Stanchion goal” in double overtime against the San Jose Sharks to send the Canucks to the Stanley Cup Final.

Jyrki Lumme

Lumme was a key player for the Vancouver Canucks throughout the 1990s, establishing himself as one of the franchise’s top offensive defencemen. Acquired from the Montreal Canadiens in 1990, Lumme spent nine seasons with the Canucks where he recorded 83 goals and 321 points in 579 games, ranking him among the team’s all-time leaders in points by a defenceman.

The Finn was particularly valuable during the Canucks’ 1994 Stanley Cup Final run, playing a significant role in their deep playoff push. He left Vancouver as the franchise’s all-time leading scorer among defencemen in goals with 83 and points with 321, but both records have since been surpassed.