 He was selected ninth overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 1973 NHL Amateur Draft from the Toronto Marlboros, where he had won the Memorial Cup as a junior.He immediately stepped into the Canucks roster as one of their top defenders, registering 7 goals and 24 points as a rookie in 1973–74.In 1974–75, Dailey registered 12 goals and 48 points to lead Canuck defenders and was named the club's top blueliner.