Andre Boudrias (1943-2019) (NHL & WHA 1963-1978, Canucks 1970-1976) | 7 | LW

[Kevin Biestra]

Our own Andre Boudrias passed away five years ago now, and I thought perhaps a few on the forum might be interested in learning a bit more about one of the original 1970-71 Canucks, still one of the greatest Canucks of all time, our second ever captain after Orland Kurtenbach, and our record holder for assists in a season for decades until some guy called Henrik Sedin came along.  Also with one of the best nicknames in Canuck history, he was known as the Superpest.

 

Like Gino Odjick, I felt he should have been put in the Canucks' Ring of Honour and seen it while he was still alive.  Boudrias is pretty much as integral a part of the initial Canucks history as Orland Kurtenbach and one could argue moreso as he was here for more seasons and also was part of probably the biggest bit of history in the team's first decade, that being their first division championship (and playoff win - against the Mighty Montreal Canadiens) in 1974-75.

 

He had 78, 75, 70, 66 and 61 point seasons with the Canucks.  I would have to check but I would have to guess nobody had five 60 point seasons in a row again until Thomas Gradin and Stan Smyl.  Even Trevor Linden didn't quite manage to do it, at least not in a row.

 

One of the interesting things about Boudrias's career is the way in which the hockey world gets connected in strange fashions.  After Boudrias left the Canucks for the WHA and the Nordiques, he went with fellow Canuck Paulin Bordeleau.  On those WHA Nordiques, and particularly in the 1976-77 that won the AVCO Cup (the WHA's Stanley Cup) was Richard Brodeur, a few years away from heading TO the NHL and the Canucks, where he would take the Canucks to the 1982 Cup final.  On the 1977 Nordiques, those two former Canucks and one future Canuck combined to win the league championship, beating Bobby Hull's legendary Winnipeg Jets in the final.

 

Also on that Nordiques team were a few other interesting names...  Paul Baxter, who lead the NHL in penalty minutes with over 400 in the 1981-82 season (the year the Canucks went to the final) and holds the WHA record with more than 60 penalty minutes in ONE GAME.  Also on the team was JC Tremblay, who I have been championing for the Hall of Fame for several years, who was part of the Canadiens dynasty (five Stanley Cups, two time Norris finalist, five times in the top five for the Norris, etc.).  And then of course there were the WHA and Nordiques scoring legends Marc Tardif and Real Cloutier.  This was to some degree the lineup that the dynasty New York Islanders had to get by in the 1982 Stanley Cup semifinal to get to us...except that those 1982 Nordiques also had our own John Garrett in goal for part of the playoffs, right before he joined the Canucks himself.

 

Despite future players having since been given 50 years to catch up and pass him if they are up to the task, Boudrias is still 18th in career points and 11th in assists for the Canucks.

 

 

 

Edited November 23 by Kevin Biestra

[Wilbur]

With 464 meaningful GP, Boudrias is on page 5 of my Canucks binder (414-465 games played).  Ronning is an interesting comparable in this cohort of 9, stylistically at least.

 

Spoiler

 

Boudrias, while being that first stats leader on the Canucks, now ranks 18th in all-time Canuck scoring 50+ years later.

 

17	Brendan Morrison	C	543	136	257	393
18	Andre Boudrias	LW	458	121	267	388
19	Alexandre Burrows	RW	822	193	191	384
20	Petri Skriko	LW	472	171	202	373

[Boudrias]

I ws a Habs fan before the Canucks came to the NHL. Andre Boudrias was such a play driver with great skating and a wicked shot. Many of the earlier Canuck games were only available on radio with Jim Robson. Boudrias's name was always coming across the airwaves.