Murray Bannerman (NHL 1977-1987, Canucks 1977-1978) | 1 | G

[Kevin Biestra]

Perhaps the briefest stay in a Canucks jersey ever was by Murray Bannerman, who played one period of NHL hockey for the Canucks in 1977-78, stopping all seven shots he faced for a perfect 0.00 GAA and 1.000 SPCT as a Canuck.  Then he was the future considerations that we sent away to acquired aging Hawks mini-legend Pit Martin.

 

And though he is a name not all that remembered now, Bannerman had an excellent run with the Blackhawks.  He appeared in back to back All Star Games in 1983 and 1984 when it was very hard to make those rosters, and in 1983 he was a Vezina Trophy finalist.  He is also the guy who unseated Hall of Famer Tony Esposito as the Blackhawks starting goalie after Tony's run of over a decade in the Hawks net.  The Canucks had to face both Esposito and Bannerman in the Hawks net in the 1982 Stanley Cup Semifinal on their way to meeting the dynasty Islanders in the big showdown at the end.

 

Bannerman had 116 career wins in 289 games.  288 of those games were for Chicago and one was for the Canucks.  Pit Martin was a terrific hockey player, and the Canucks had both Glen Hanlon and Richard Brodeur on the way to the Canucks net in the next couple years so there was a surplus of riches in goal, but at the same time the Canucks traded away a very good goalie, an All Star and Vezina Finalist, who had his entire career elsewhere.  He was one of a number of players with very bright futures - Rick Vaive, Brent Ashton, Don Lever, Bill Derlago etc. - that the Canucks parted ways with right around then and the Canucks were quite fortunate that the gamble to "win now" actually paid off with the 1982 Cup run.  A run where we crossed paths again with Mr, Bannerman.