Don Lever (NHL 1972-1987, Canucks 1972-1980) | 10/9 | C/LW

[Kevin Biestra]

I think it's a bit of a tragedy that some Canucks fans will read the name "Don Lever" and say, "Who?"

 

Lever was one of our team captains, he was the team's ironman record holder for consecutive games (400-something) before being edged out by Trevor Linden, and left the team as one of its all time leading scorers for his career.  He is very much a name that should at least receive a bit of discussion for the Ring of Honour.  I would probably have him at around 7th or so for the names that are on the outside looking in.  As some may know, I think Richard Brodeur, Gino Odjick, Tiger Williams and Andre Boudrias should all be in already.  And then there are players like Cliff Ronning, Doug Lidster and Don Lever where there should be a bit of discussion at the very least.

 

Lever scored 186 goals and 507 points in 593 games as a Canuck.  He played in the 1982 All Star Game and was named the 6th best LW in the NHL when he scored 38 goals and 68 points in 1974-75, as one of the main pieces of the team's first regular season division championship (and only one in the team's first 20 years).  He followed that up with 65 and 57 point seasons in Canuck colors.

 

When the Canucks did part ways with this very good player, they acquired a great deal for him, landing both Ivan Boldirev (35 goal and 80 point player) and Darcy Rota (40 goal and 80 point player).  Both of these guys were significant pieces of the 1982 run to the Stanley Cup Final.

 

Don Lever played 1020 games in the NHL and scored 313 goals and 680 points.  He was also the first team captain in New Jersey Devils history.

 

In 1985 near the end of his career he was made to experience the same indignity that befalls aging B-level legends like Tiger Williams.  He was traded by those same New Jersey Devils to the Buffalo Sabres "for cash."

 

To Don Lever, an excellent hockey player and a very significant and underrated part of Canucks history...

 

[NewbieCanuckFan]

2 hours ago, Kevin Biestra said:

I think it's a bit of a tragedy that some Canucks fans will read the name "Don Lever" and say, "Who?"

 

Lever was one of our team captains, he was the team's ironman record holder for consecutive games (400-something) before being edged out by Trevor Linden, and left the team as one of its all time leading scorers for his career.  He is very much a name that should at least receive a bit of discussion for the Ring of Honour.  I would probably have him at around 7th or so for the names that are on the outside looking in.  As some may know, I think Richard Brodeur, Gino Odjick, Tiger Williams and Andre Boudrias should all be in already.  And then there are players like Cliff Ronning, Doug Lidster and Don Lever where there should be a bit of discussion at the very least.

 

Lever scored 186 goals and 507 points in 593 games as a Canuck.  He played in the 1982 All Star Game and was named the 6th best LW in the NHL when he scored 38 goals and 68 points in 1974-75, as one of the main pieces of the team's first regular season division championship (and only one in the team's first 20 years).  He followed that up with 65 and 57 point seasons in Canuck colors.

 

When the Canucks did part ways with this very good player, they acquired a great deal for him, landing both Ivan Boldirev (35 goal and 80 point player) and Darcy Rota (40 goal and 80 point player).  Both of these guys were significant pieces of the 1982 run to the Stanley Cup Final.

 

Don Lever played 1020 games in the NHL and scored 313 goals and 680 points.  He was also the first team captain in New Jersey Devils history.

 

In 1985 near the end of his career he was made to experience the same indignity that befalls aging B-level legends like Tiger Williams.  He was traded by those same New Jersey Devils to the Buffalo Sabres "for cash."

 

To Don Lever, an excellent hockey player and a very significant and underrated part of Canucks history...

 

My memory is a bit hazy but I seem to recall Bill LaForge's ill-fated "Pride Hustle Desire" scrimmages/practices led to Rota getting pasted along the boards (& shortened his career).

[Gurn]

12 minutes ago, NewbieCanuckFan said:

My memory is a bit hazy but I seem to recall Bill LaForge's ill-fated "Pride Hustle Desire" scrimmages/practices led to Rota getting pasted along the boards (& shortened his career).

42 goals in 73 games

start of next season LaDuffus had him skate through the  "gauntlet"

payed 59 games, getting  a very respectable 28 goals

 

and that was career over.

[Kevin Biestra]

19 minutes ago, NewbieCanuckFan said:

My memory is a bit hazy but I seem to recall Bill LaForge's ill-fated "Pride Hustle Desire" scrimmages/practices led to Rota getting pasted along the boards (& shortened his career).

 

4 minutes ago, Gurn said:

42 goals in 73 games

start of next season LaDuffus had him skate through the  "gauntlet"

payed 59 games, getting  a very respectable 28 goals

 

and that was career over.

 

 

Yeah Rota was cut down in his prime.  At age 29 he suddenly went from a 25 to a 40 goal scorer, kind of like the JT Miller career trajectory (imagine him having to retire due to injury right after his 99 point season).  Rota was really just getting started and it seemed like the 40 goal season was not an anomaly and that this was the new Rota (he had always been good but now he was an All Star).  He was named to the All Star Game during his final season in 1983-84, right after his 40 goal season in 1982-83 where he was named the 5th best LW in the league.  Heck of a player.  Was twice traded with the also great Ivan Boldirev, including his joining the Canucks.  He definitely had a bit of Glenn Anderson in him.

 

[Jess]

I always tried to think of greatest Canucks in the 70s and Lever's name definitely comes to mind as one of the top contenders.

[Kevin Biestra]

16 hours ago, Jess said:

I always tried to think of greatest Canucks in the 70s and Lever's name definitely comes to mind as one of the top contenders.

 

 

Andre Boudrias, Don Lever and Gary Smith would be the big three and maybe Orland Kurtenbach.

 

Some other very good ones...  Bobby Lalonde (the original Cliff Ronning and 3x most exciting player), Cesare Maniago (2x team MVP), Charlie Hodge, Bobby Schmautz, Dale Tallon and Jocelyn Guevremont had one great season each on the blueline, Chris Oddleifson, Dennis Kearns, HAROLD SNEPSTS of course as he covered two decades (1977 and 1982 All Star Games), Dennis Ververgaert, Ron Sedlbauer.

 

Maybe John Gould and Rick Blight.  And I suppose Wayne Maki and Mike Walton had their moments.

 

Anyway that would be my 70s Canuck legends lineup.

 

 

Edited Friday at 09:03 PM by Kevin Biestra

[Jess]

25 minutes ago, Kevin Biestra said:

 

 

Andre Boudrias, Don Lever and Gary Smith would be the big three and maybe Orland Kurtenbach.

 

Some other very good ones...  Bobby Lalonde (the original Cliff Ronning and 3x most exciting player), Cesare Maniago (2x team MVP), Charlie Hodge, Bobby Schmautz, Dale Tallon and Jocelyn Guevremont had one great season each on the blueline, Chris Oddleifson, Dennis Kearns, HAROLD SNEPSTS of course as he covered two decades, Dennis Ververgaert, Ron Sedlbauer.

 

Maybe John Gould and Rick Blight.

 

Anyway that would be my 70s Canuck legends lineup.

 

Yeah Boudrias and Lever were the big two in my mind, but Smith was great for a short time too. Kearns comes to kind as well.