The 2015–16 Vancouver Canucks season was the 46th season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on May 22, 1970. The season began its regular games on October 7, 2015, against the Calgary Flames with a 5−1 win. On March 25, 2016, the Canucks lost 4−0 to the St. Louis Blues and were eliminated from playoff contention. The Canucks missed the playoffs for the second time in three years.

Off-season Off-season changes began in late June at the 2015 NHL entry draft. Due to the Canucks having three goaltenders requiring waivers, goaltender Eddie Lack was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes (for a third-round pick at the draft and a seventh-round pick in 2016) to make room on the roster for Jacob Markstrom. This trade was disliked as fans saw the two draft picks as very little compensation for Lack. The Canucks would draft seven players at the draft. A few days later, long-time Canucks defenceman Kevin Bieksa was traded to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for a second-round pick in 2016.

On July 1, Zack Kassian and a fifth-round pick in 2016 were traded to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Brandon Prust. Jim Benning continued by signing various free agents, including former Boston Bruins defenceman Matt Bartkowski and prospects Taylor Fedun and Richard Bachman, coming from the San Jose Sharks and Edmonton Oilers, respectively.

The following day, Hockey Operations Staff Laurence Gilman, Lorne Henning and Eric Crawford were released by the Canucks.

On July 28, the Canucks traded centre Nick Bonino, defenceman Adam Clendening, as well as the second-round pick acquired in the Bieksa trade, to the Pittsburgh Penguins for centre Brandon Sutter and a conditional third-round pick. One week later, the Canucks resigned Sutter to a five-year contract extension, lasting until the 2020–21 NHL season.

Training camp The Canucks held their training camp at CN Centre in Prince George, British Columbia, from September 18–20.

Training camp consisted of various activities, such as power-play drills, strength and conditioning exercises, and intra-squad scrimmages.

Head coach Willie Desjardins was unable to attend training camp. Desjardins was forced to have surgery on September 8 (a mere 10 days before training camp was due to begin), due to a flare-up of a chronic hip condition. While Desjardins wanted to be in attendance, the Canucks medical staff was unable to give him clearance to head to Prince George. In his place, assistant coach Glen Gulutzan (former Dallas Stars head coach) stepped up to run the training camp. Assistant coaches Perry Pearn and Doug Lidster were also in attendance.

Many Canucks prospects and minor-league players were invited to training camp. Some, such as Nicklas Jensen, Jake Virtanen and Alexandre Grenier were fighting for roster spots on the NHL club. The preseason came to an interesting end when the Canucks placed centre Linden Vey and defensemen Alex Biega and Frank Corrado on waivers in favour of defenceman Ben Hutton and forwards Jake Virtanen and Jared McCann. Corrado was claimed by the Toronto Maple Leafs the following day. Biega and Vey cleared waivers and were sent to the Utica Comets. Both were called up in December and would finish the season with the Canucks.

Standings

Schedule and results The Canucks set a franchise record with a goal drought of 234 minutes and 52 seconds beginning after the Daniel Sedin goal at 12:00 of the first period on March 16 against Colorado and ending with the Bo Horvat goal at 6:52 of the first period on March 24 against Nashville.

Pre-season Pre-season game log: 4–3–1 (Home: 3–1–1; Road: 1–2–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Recap 1 September 21 San Jose 0–1 Vancouver OT Bachman 2,800 (approx.) 1–0–0 Recap 2 September 22 San Jose 4–0 Vancouver Miller –– 1–1–0 Recap 3 September 25 Vancouver 1–4 Calgary Bachman 19,289 1–2–0 Recap 4 September 26 Calgary 4–3 Vancouver OT Miller –– 1–2–1 Recap 5 September 28 Arizona 0–1 Vancouver Markstrom –– 2–2–1 Recap 6 September 29 Vancouver 1–2 San Jose Miller 14,165 2–3–1 Recap 7 October 1 Vancouver 5–2 Edmonton Markstrom 16,839 3–3–1 Recap 8 October 3 Edmonton 2–3 Vancouver OT Miller 18,448 4–3–1 RecapNotes: Game was played at The Q Centre in Colwood, British Columbia (Kraft Hockeyville game).

Regular season 2015–16 game log October: 5–2–4 (Home: 1–2–3; Road: 4–0–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 7 Vancouver 5–1 Calgary Miller 19,289 1–0–0 2 Recap 2 October 10 Calgary 3–2 Vancouver OT Miller 18,570 1–0–1 3 Recap 3 October 12 Vancouver 2–1 Anaheim SO Miller 17,174 2–0–1 5 Recap 4 October 13 Vancouver 3–0 Los Angeles Miller 18,230 3–0–1 7 Recap 5 October 16 St. Louis 4–3 Vancouver Miller 18,362 3–1–1 7 Recap 6 October 18 Edmonton 2–1 Vancouver OT Miller 18,261 3–1–2 8 Recap 7 October 22 Washington 3–2 Vancouver Miller 18,188 3–2–2 8 Recap 8 October 24 Detroit 3–2 Vancouver OT Miller 18,312 3–2–3 9 Recap 9 October 27 Montreal 1–5 Vancouver Miller 18,570 4–2–3 11 Recap 10 October 29 Vancouver 3–4 Dallas OT Miller 17,664 4–2–4 12 Recap 11 October 30 Vancouver 4–3 Arizona Bachman 12,166 5–2–4 14 Recap November: 4–7–3 (Home: 2–2–0; Road: 2–5–3) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 12 November 2 Philadelphia 1–4 Vancouver Miller 18,264 6–2–4 16 Recap 13 November 4 Pittsburgh 3–2 Vancouver Miller 18,570 6–3–4 16 Recap 14 November 7 Vancouver 2–3 Buffalo Miller 19,070 6–4–4 16 Recap 15 November 8 Vancouver 3–4 New Jersey OT Miller 14,896 6–4–5 17 Recap 16 November 10 Vancouver 5–3 Columbus Markstrom 14,148 7–4–5 19 Recap 17 November 12 Vancouver 2–3 Ottawa Miller 19,229 7–5–5 19 Recap 18 November 14 Vancouver 2–4 Toronto Miller 19,798 7–6–5 19 Recap 19 November 16 Vancouver 3–4 Montreal OT Markstorm 21,288 7–6–6 20 Recap 20 November 18 Vancouver 1–4 Winnipeg Miller 15,294 7–7–6 20 Recap 21 November 21 Chicago 3–6 Vancouver Miller 18,570 8–7–6 22 Recap 22 November 22 New Jersey 3–2 Vancouver Markstorm 18,268 8–8–6 22 Recap 23 November 25 Vancouver 3–2 Minnesota Miller 18,877 9–8–6 24 Recap 24 November 27 Vancouver 2–3 Dallas SO Miller 18,532 9–8–7 25 Recap 25 November 30 Vancouver 0–4 Anaheim Miller 14,006 9–9–7 25 Recap December: 5–6–2 (Home: 3–3–0; Road: 2–3–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 26 December 1 Vancouver 1–2 Los Angeles OT Markstrom 18,230 9–9–8 26 Recap 27 December 3 Dallas 4–2 Vancouver Miller 18,910 9–10–8 26 Recap 28 December 5 Boston 4–0 Vancouver Markstrom 18,570 9–11–8 26 Recap 29 December 7 Buffalo 2–5 Vancouver Miller 18,278 10–11–8 28 Recap 30 December 9 NY Rangers 1–2 Vancouver Miller 18,195 11–11–8 30 Recap 31 December 13 Vancouver 0–4 Chicago Miller 21,711 11–12–8 30 Recap 32 December 15 Vancouver 2–6 Minnesota Miller 18,804 11–13–8 30 Recap 33 December 17 Vancouver 0–2 Philadelphia Markstrom 17,943 11–14–8 30 Recap 34 December 18 Vancouver 4–3 Detroit SO Miller 20,027 12–14–8 32 Recap 35 December 20 Vancouver 4–5 Florida SO Markstrom 13,459 12–14–9 33 Recap 36 December 22 Vancouver 2–1 Tampa Bay Markstrom 19,092 13–14–9 35 Recap 37 December 26 Edmonton 1–2 Vancouver OT Markstrom 18,785 14–14–9 37 Recap 38 December 28 Los Angeles 5–0 Vancouver Markstrom 18,570 14–15–9 37 Recap January: 6–4–2 (Home: 3–2–1; Road: 3–2–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 39 January 1 Anaheim 1–2 Vancouver SO Markstrom 18,570 15–15–9 39 Recap 40 January 4 Arizona 3–2 Vancouver Markstrom 18,377 15–16–9 39 Recap 41 January 6 Carolina 2–3 Vancouver Markstrom 18,364 16–16–9 41 Recap 42 January 9 Tampa Bay 3–2 Vancouver OT Markstrom 18,335 16–16–10 42 Recap 43 January 11 Florida 2–3 Vancouver OT Markstrom 18,570 17–16–10 44 Recap 44 January 14 Vancouver 1–4 Washington Miller 18,506 17–17–10 44 Recap 45 January 15 Vancouver 3–2 Carolina OT Markstrom 11,657 18–17–10 46 Recap 46 January 17 Vancouver 2–1 NY Islanders SO Miller 15,795 19–17–10 48 Recap 47 January 19 Vancouver 2–3 NY Rangers OT Miller 18,006 19–17–11 49 Recap 48 January 21 Vancouver 4–2 Boston Markstrom 17,565 20–17–11 51 Recap 49 January 23 Vancouver 4–5 Pittsburgh Miller 18,539 20–18–11 51 Recap 50 January 26 Nashville 2–1 Vancouver Miller 18,570 20–19–11 51 Recap February: 4–6–1 (Home: 2–5–1; Road: 2–1–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 51 February 4 Columbus 2–1 Vancouver SO Miller 18,199 20–19–12 52 Recap 52 February 6 Calgary 4–1 Vancouver Miller 18,570 20–20–12 52 Recap 53 February 9 Vancouver 3–1 Colorado Markstrom 14,436 21–20–12 54 Recap 54 February 10 Vancouver 2–1 Arizona Miller 12,255 22–20–12 56 Recap 55 February 13 Toronto 5–2 Vancouver Miller 18,570 22–21–12 56 Recap 56 February 15 Minnesota 5–2 Vancouver Markstrom 18,437 22–22–12 56 Recap 57 February 18 Anaheim 5–2 Vancouver Miller 18,435 22–23–12 56 Recap 58 February 19 Vancouver 2–5 Calgary Markstrom 19,289 22–24–12 56 Recap 59 February 21 Colorado 1–5 Vancouver Miller 18,431 23–24–12 58 Recap 60 February 25 Ottawa 3–5 Vancouver Miller 18,570 24–24–12 60 Recap 61 February 28 San Jose 4–1 Vancouver Miller 18,570 24–25–12 60 Recap March: 4–11–1 (Home: 2–7–0; Road: 2–4–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 62 March 1 NY Islanders 3–2 Vancouver Markstrom 18,264 24–26–12 60 Recap 63 March 3 San Jose 3–2 Vancouver Miller 18,422 24–27–12 60 Recap 64 March 5 Vancouver 4–2 San Jose Markstrom 17,562 25–27–12 62 Recap 65 March 7 Vancouver 1–5 Los Angeles Miller 18,230 25–28–12 62 Recap 66 March 9 Arizona 2–3 Vancouver OT Markstrom 18,374 26–28–12 64 Recap 67 March 12 Nashville 2–4 Vancouver Miller 18,570 27–28–12 66 Recap 68 March 14 Winnipeg 5–2 Vancouver Markstrom 18,361 27–29–12 66 Recap 69 March 16 Colorado 3–1 Vancouver Miller 18,427 27–30–12 66 Recap 70 March 18 Vancouver 0–2 Edmonton Markstrom 16,839 27–31–12 66 Recap 71 March 19 St. Louis 3–0 Vancouver Miller 18,402 27–32–12 66 Recap 72 March 22 Vancouver 0–2 Winnipeg Markstrom 15,294 27–33–12 66 Recap 73 March 24 Vancouver 2–3 Nashville SO Miller 17,113 27–33–13 67 Recap 74 March 25 Vancouver 0–4 St. Louis Markstrom 19,580 27–34–13 67 Recap 75 March 27 Chicago 3–2 Vancouver Miller 18,570 27–35–13 67 Recap 76 March 29 San Jose 4–1 Vancouver Markstrom 18,315 27–36–13 67 Recap 77 March 31 Vancouver 4–2 San Jose Miller 15,689 28–36–13 69 Recap April: 3–2–0 (Home: 2–0–0; Road: 1–2–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 78 April 1 Vancouver 3–2 Anaheim Markstrom 16,331 29–36–13 71 Recap 79 April 4 Los Angeles 2–3 Vancouver Miller 18,415 30–36–13 73 Recap 80 April 6 Vancouver 2–6 Edmonton Markstrom 16,839 30–37–13 73 Recap 81 April 7 Vancouver 3–7 Calgary Miller 19,289 30–38–13 73 Recap 82 April 9 Edmonton 3–4 Vancouver SO Markstrom 18,570 31–38–13 75 RecapLegend:

Detailed records

Western Conference Central Division Opponent Home Away Total Pts. Goals scored Goals allowed Chicago Blackhawks 1–1–0 0–1–0 1–2–0 2 8 10 Colorado Avalanche 1–1–0 1–0–0 2–1–0 4 9 5 Dallas Stars 0–1–0 0–0–2 0–1–2 2 7 11 Minnesota Wild 0–1–0 1–1–0 1–2–0 2 6 14 Nashville Predators 1–1–0 0–0–1 1–1–1 3 7 7 St. Louis Blues 0–2–0 0–1–0 0–3–0 0 3 11 Winnipeg Jets 0–1–0 0–2–0 0–3–0 0 2 11 Total 3–8–0 2–5–3 5–13–3 13 42 69 Pacific Division Opponent Home Away Total Pts. Goals scored Goals allowed Anaheim Ducks 1–1–0 2–1–0 3–2–0 6 9 13 Arizona Coyotes 1–1–0 2–0–0 3–1–0 6 11 9 Calgary Flames 0–1–1 1–2–0 1–3–1 3 13 20 Edmonton Oilers 2–0–1 0–2–0 2–2–1 5 9 14 Los Angeles Kings 1–1–0 1–1–1 2–2–1 5 8 14 San Jose Sharks 0–3–0 2–0–0 2–3–0 4 12 15 Vancouver Canucks – – – – – – Total 5–7–2 8–6–1 13–13–3 29 62 85