Farwell Captain Canuck

Wednesday’s retirement of Trevor Linden marks a sad day for both the Vancouver Canucks and the National Hockey League. Linden’s contributions to the league and its players include his long tenure as President of the NHLPA, which was prefaced by eight years as a player rep to the union, as well as numerous charitable efforts. He was recognized by the NHL for his community involvement with the King Clancy Memorial Trophy in 1997 and the NHL Foundation Player Award this year, however the impact he had on community members, such as the many children he visited at Canuck Place, stands as a much greater legacy of his character.

Linden’s contributions to the Canucks organization have been huge. He joined the Canucks at age 18, and immediately had a huge impact on the club. He finished second to Brian Leetch in Calder Trophy voting and earned a berth on the NHL’s All-Rookie Team. In his third season Linden became one of the youngest captains in NHL history when the retirement of Stan Smyl left a vacancy that was filled on a rotating basis by Linden, Dan Quinn and Doug Lidster. By his fourth season Linden had already emerged as the team’s undisputed leader and one of its brightest stars. His selection to 1991 and 1992 All-Star Games confirmed his status as one of the Canucks’, and the NHL’s, finest players.

After two of the Canucks best seasons on record, campaigns in which Linden played an integral role, the team entered the 1993-94 season with high expectations. Though they disappointingly failed to capture their third consecutive Smythe Division title, their amazing playoff run ensured that the season would go down as the greatest in franchise history. Linden played a huge part in that memorable Cinderella run, finishing with 25 points in 24 games, and would have been considered, along with Kirk Mclean and Pavel Bure, a favourite for the Conn Smythe Trophy had the Canucks not fallen agonizingly short to the New York Rangers in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

In the first round of the ’94 playoffs the Canucks fell behind 3-1 to the favoured Calgary Flames. After escaping Calgary with a Game 5 overtime win, the Canucks returned to a raucous Pacific Coliseum with a chance to send the series back to Calgary for a decisive Game 7. When the game went to overtime, it was their captain that delivered the Canucks a victory when he slid the puck under a prone Mike Vernon. The Canucks eventually won Game 7 in a double-overtime thriller, before steamrolling the Stars and Maple Leafs in five games each to reach the Finals. After again clawing back from a 3-1 series deficit, the Canucks were unable to overcome the Rangers in-front of a packed Madison square Garden, and lost the game 3-2 despite two goals by Linden. Sadly that was as close as Linden would ever come to winning the biggest prize in hockey.

In 1997 the Canucks acquired one-time nemesis Mark Messier. Despite being the undisputed leader of the Canucks Linden voluntarily handed his captaincy to the new-arrival, an act which demonstrated his selfless devotion to the team. Sadly that loyalty was poorly repaid when new bench boss and Messier-buddy Mike Keenan turned Linden into his whipping boy. After several ugly incidents between the two men, Keenan orchestrated the mid-season departure of Linden and shipped him to the New York Islanders.

It is a mark of the great respect commanded by Linden that, upon arriving in Long Island, he was handed the captaincy of his new team. However, Linden never flourished away from the Canucks, racking up only 134 points in 242 games with the Islanders, Montreal Canadiens and Washington Capitals. It was therefore with great excitement both for Linden and the Canucks community that on November 10, 2001 he was traded by the Capitals to the Canucks. The city re-embraced its favourite athlete and his first game back was the source of much fanfare. Linden himself admits to being unable to sleep the night before owing to his excitement.

It is most fitting that Linden played out his 19-year career with 6 seasons in Vancouver. Accepting that age and declining skill had limited his offensive prowess, Linden was content to focus on the defensive side of his game and to help the team in whatever way possible. Though he never managed more than 41 points in his final six seasons, fans will remember Linden’s second stint with the Canucks as one in which he was a great leader and mentor to younger players, and an excellent penalty-killer and faceoff man. That being said Linden did show flashes of his old offensive abilities, such as in the 2007 playoffs when he led the team with 7 points in 12 games and scored the series-winner in Game 7 of the Canucks first round defeat of the Dallas Stars.

Trevor Linden retires as the greatest Canuck in the team’s 38 year-old history. He holds club records for games played (1140) and assists (415), and though Markus Naslund has eclipsed his record for goals and points, Linden stands alone as Captain Canuck – a moniker that embodies not just his on-ice accomplishments, but also his tireless and unselfish devotion to the Canucks organization and the city of Vancouver. We will miss you Trevor, and on behalf of Canucks and hockey fans everywhere, thank you for everything you have given to the organization, the city and the sport.