▁the ▁best ▁checking ▁lines ▁in ▁the ▁league ▁alongside ▁Craig ▁R ams ay ▁and ▁Ric ▁Se iling . ▁In ▁ 1 9 8 2 – 8 3 , ▁he ▁set ▁career ▁high s ▁of ▁ 1 3 ▁goals ▁and ▁ 2 4 ▁ass ists ▁for ▁ 3 7 ▁points , ▁while ▁establish ing ▁himself ▁as ▁a ▁top - not ch ▁penalty ▁k iller ▁and ▁face - off ▁special ist . ▁ ▁After ▁four ▁years ▁with ▁the ▁Sab res , ▁Pet erson ▁was ▁claimed ▁by ▁the ▁V ancouver ▁Can uck s ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 9 8 5 ▁N HL ▁W ai ver ▁D raft . ▁In ▁ 1 9 8 5 – 8 6 , ▁he ▁registered ▁ 9 ▁goals ▁and ▁ 2 2 ▁ass ists ▁for ▁ 3 1 ▁points ▁with ▁the ▁Can uck s , ▁including ▁a ▁career - high ▁ 3 ▁sh orth and ed ▁goals . ▁His ▁ac quisition ▁would ▁be ▁a ▁key ▁factor ▁in ▁a ▁ 6 8 - goal ▁reduction ▁in ▁the ▁team ' s ▁goals ▁against ▁from ▁the ▁previous ▁year . ▁In ▁ 1 9 8 6 – 8 7 , ▁Pet erson ▁recorded ▁ 7 ▁goals ▁and ▁ 1 5 ▁ass ists ▁for ▁ 2 2 ▁points ▁in ▁ 6 9 ▁games ▁for ▁the ▁Can uck s . ▁ ▁Pet erson ▁was ▁claimed ▁by ▁the ▁Hart ford ▁Wh al ers ▁in ▁the ▁w ai ver ▁draft ▁on ▁the ▁e ve ▁of ▁the ▁ 1 9 8 7 – 8 8 ▁season , ▁and ▁would ▁suffer ▁through