The Canucks wore this patch to honour their longtime general manager John "Jake" C. Mildorf who died on December 24th, 1984. Mildorf was general manager of the Los Angeles Kings for 4 years before he went to Vancouver to manage the Canucks (1977-1982), leading them to the Stanley Cup finals appearance in 1982. After 1982 he was promoted to Senior Vice-President, a position he held until his death in 1984.
John C. Milford was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1984.