Throwback Thursday: This week in 1989, Vancouver Canucks Trevor Linden becomes first rookie in team history to score 30 goals

This week in 1989, Vancouver Canucks rookie Trevor Linden became the club’s first rookie to score 30 goals in a season.

The goal which gave him 30 came against the LA Kings when the Canucks lost 6-4 on April 1st.

The 18-year-old Linden got his goal at the 13:37 mark with the assists going to Jim Sandlak and Garth Butcher.

It was the first of many 30 goal campaigns for Linden. He tallied 30 five more times, but never scored more than 33 in a season — a number he reached twice.

He finished his rookie campaign having scored a total of 59 points — just one shy of Ivan Hlinka’s Canucks record of 60 points. Linden came second in Calder trophy voting to Rangers defenceman Brian Leetch.

Linden spent a total of 16 years with the Canucks and spent two years each with the New York Islanders, Montreal Canadiens, and Washington Capitals during the middle of his career.

On Twitter: @zjlaing