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Who’s the best one-hit wonder in Canucks history?
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Tyson Cole
Aug 29, 2025, 17:00 EDTUpdated: Aug 30, 2025, 18:31 EDT
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Earlier in the summer, we at CanucksArmy initiated a fan voting campaign on our social platforms, asking Vancouver Canucks fans numerous questions about their favourite and least favourite things in the franchise’s history.
For example, Pavel Bure was voted the best draft pick and favourite player, Alex Burrows was the best free agent signing, and Markus Naslund was the best trade in Canucks history. While Olli Juolevi was voted as the worst draft pick, Mark Messier was the worst free agent signing, and Cam Neely was the worst trade in franchise history.
Anywho, that gave us the idea to dive into who might have been the best one-hit wonder in franchise history.
We conducted a similar exercise back in 2023, but that article highlighted flash-in-the-pan moments and spark seasons of Canuck vets. However, today, we’ll just be going over the true one-hit wonders; the Ice-Ice Baby by Vanilla Ice, and the 2012 Linsanity run type of one-hit wonders of the world – but, you know, a Canucks version.
We’re deciding to look into the players who only played one season in Vancouver.
There are a few names we left off the list. Players like Jussi Jokinen (10 points in 14 games) and Tyler Toffoli (10 points in 10 games) had short stints but produced at a high level. Jimmy Carson (17 points in 34 games), Claire Alexander (26 points as a defenceman in 34 games) and Tom Kurvers (27 points as a defenceman in 32 games) all put up impressive point totals, but were toward the tail-end of their careers and had inconsistent defensive lapses that, in the end, probably hurt the team.
However, there are eight other Canucks who made a difference in their short stint in Vancouver.

One-hit wonders

Anson Carter
Games Played: 81, Goals: 33, Assists 22, Points: 55
It seemed like Anson Carter’s time in Vancouver lasted longer than one season; however, his brief impact played a role in helping the Canucks mould the next wave of successful seasons.
Carter signed a one-year deal with the Canucks following the lockout season. He was immediately paired on the right wing with Daniel and Henrik Sedin, and they immediately gelled. Pairing Carter with the twins was the missing piece the Sedins needed to fully blossom into the superstars they became.
Before Carter arrived, Daniel and Henrik usually hovered around the 35-45 point range. However, when they played with Carter, the twins exploded offensively, both eclipsing the 70-point threshold for the first time in their careers.
It just seemed fitting that Carter would finish the year with 33 goals and 22 assists in his one season with the Sedins in Vancouver. Carter paved the way for Alex Burrows to succeed in the same role years down the line.
Carter would not re-sign with the Canucks that offseason as he was seeking a bigger contract than Vancouver was willing to offer. He bounced between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Carolina Hurricanes over the next two seasons, yet never hit the same heights. Carter called it a career shortly after.
Anatoli Semenov
Games Played: 62, Goals: 10, Assists: 34, Points: 44
The Canucks acquired Semenov from the Tampa Bay Lightning early in the 1992-1993 season. Despite playing in just 61 games, the Russian playmaking centre produced behind players like Pavel Bure, Trevor Linden, Geoff Courtnall, Greg Adams and Cliff Ronning. Semeov’s passing ability stood out with his 34 assists, and helped the Canucks win the Smythe Division for the second year in a row. However, his one goal and four points in 12 postseason games weren’t enough to get the Canucks past the Los Angeles Kings in the second round.
After the season, the Canucks left Semenov exposed in the 1993 Expansion Draft, and the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim picked him off the roster.
Thomas Vanek
Games Played: 61, Goals: 17, Assists: 24, Points: 41
Vanek was certainly on the back nine of his career when he joined the Canucks. After a strong 11-year career with the Buffalo Sabres, the Austrian winger bounced around with the New York Islanders, Montreal Canadiens, Minnesota Wild, Detroit Red Wings and Florida Panthers before finding his way to the Pacific Northwest in 2017-2018.
Inking a one-year, $2 million deal in Vancouver in early September, Vanek was signed as a veteran presence to play with a young Brock Boeser. His leadership helped Boeser finish runner-up for the Calder Trophy. Vanek had a successful season himself, scoring at a 0.67 point-per-game pace at 36 years old.
With the Canucks on the outside looking in on the playoff picture, they shopped Vanek at the trade deadline. While they were hoping to aim for a mid-round pick, they struck a deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets for Tyler Motte and Jussi Jokinen. His mentorship with a young Boeser still has a lasting impression on the Canucks today.
Raffi Torres
Games Played: 80, Goals: 14, Assists: 15, Points: 29
After terrorizing Vancouver from 2003 to 2008 as a member of the division rival Edmonton Oilers, Torres signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Canucks in 2010.
Torres was brought in to provide physicality, grit and energy to the Canucks’ bottom-six. The Toronto, Ontario native was a wrecking ball on the forecheck, stopping at nothing to throw his body at anybody standing in his way. While his 29 points were a little below his season average, his impact was felt more during their 2011 Stanley Cup playoff run.
Getting paired on the left with Maxim Lapierre and Jannik Hansen, the trio formed an energy line, instilling fear in opposing defencemen on the forecheck. But what he will be remembered by is his goal in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals, breaking the scoreless tie with 18.5 seconds remaining.
Despite falling one game short of hockey’s ultimate glory, Torres got a raise in free agency, signing a two-year, $3.5 million deal with the Phoenix Coyotes.
Mats Sundin
Games Played: 41, Goals: 9, Assists: 19, Points: 28
After months of speculating on whether to hang the skates up or return for an 18th season, Mats Sundin decided to sign a one-year, $8.6 million contract with the Canucks in December of 2008.
Sundin did not make his debut until the new year, and even then, he took some time getting his feet under him. But by February, Sundin started clicking with linemates Ryan Kesler and Pavol Demitra, recording seven points over a three-game span. His veteran leadership helped the Canucks bounce back and win the Northwest Division.
In the playoffs, Sundin stepped up his game, scoring three goals and eight points in eight games. However, the Canucks would fall 4-2 to the Chicago Blackhawks, and Sundin called it a career. While he picked up his game as the season progressed, the idea of signing 37-year-old Sundin shone brighter than the actual outcome.
Mike Santorelli
Games Played: 49, Goals: 10, Assists: 18, Points: 28
After struggling to find his footing in the NHL, Santorelli returned to his hometown team in 2013-2014. He signed with Vancouver to be a low-cost depth piece, but quickly became the season’s biggest surprise.
He impressed head coach John Tortorella enough in training camp that he played himself onto the opening night roster. Due to his speed and work ethic, Santorelli would earn himself top-six minutes. On pace to set new career highs, Santorelli had his breakout campaign cut short due to a season-ending shoulder injury in January.
There was no homecoming for the Vancouver native, as he chose to sign with the Toronto Maple Leafs later that summer.
Nikita Zadorov
Games Played: 54, Goals: 5, Assists: 9, Points: 14
In 2024, the Canucks were having their best season since winning back-to-back Presidents’ Trophies in 2010-2011 and 2011-2012. However, they were in need of a spark on the back-end. They addressed that need by trading with the Calgary Flames for Zadorov.
Zadorov made an impact immediately, picking up a primary assist in his Canucks debut against the team that traded him. His physical impact was also felt, as he racked up 19 hits and 26 penalty minutes in his first 10 games in the blue and green. Despite playing just 54 games for the Canucks, Zadorov finished first in penalty minutes (92) and sixth in hits (124).
However, when Canucks fans really began to fall in love with “Big Z,” was when they saw the impact he made in the playoffs. He scored some clutch goals for the Canucks, like when he weaved through Nashville defenders in the neutral zone and finished with a sharp-angle snipe. But his most memorable one came in Game 1 of the second round against the Edmonton Oilers, where his thunderous slap shot tied the game in what would result in a miraculous third period comeback.
The 6-foot-6 Russian defenceman worked hard to get a deal done that offseason, but unfortunately for Canucks fans, he would sign with the Boston Bruins in free agency.
His time was short, but Canucks fans will never forget Zadorov for his clutch goals and grit in the playoffs, as well as the fear he instilled in opponents.
Arturs Irbe
Games Played: 41, Record, 14-11-6, GAA: 2.73, S%: .907
As the Canucks transitioned to the disappointing Mark Messier era, the Canucks added Arturs Irbe to their plethora of netminders. The Canucks had long-time starter Kirk McLean heading that season, but as the season rolled on, Irbe started stealing starts from McLean. By January, the Canucks traded McLean to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for another goaltender, Sean Burke.
Burke became the starter for a while before Irbe worked his way back into a consistent rotation. While the Canucks as a whole struggled, finishing last in the Pacific Division, Irbe finished the year with the most starts and the best numbers.
That offseason, Irbe decided to move on. Oddly enough, Irbe joined McLean in Carolina, signing a one-year deal with the Hurricanes before extending for three more seasons in 1999.
To answer the question, the easy answer is Anson Carter, as he scored the most points and helped level up the Sedins. However, and this might be recency bias, but when Canucks fans look back on Nikita Zadorov’s postseason run, it’s hard not to think the towering defenceman could give Carter a run for his money.
What do you think, Canucks fans? Who was the best one-hit wonder in Canucks history? Let us know in the comments below!
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