mr.x
Jun 11, 2008, 7:14 PM
January 23, 1989, Vancouver BC. Trevor Linden posing in the parking lot of the Pacific Coliseum in front of his red 1965 Mustang.
http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/media.canada.com/gallery/trevorlindenrecap/19890123mustangn.jpg
Linden hangs up his blades after 19-year career
Peter James, Canwest News Service
Published: Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Vancouver Canucks forward Trevor Linden has retired from hockey, ending a 19-year National Hockey League career.
The 38-year-old made a formal announcement at GM Place in Vancouver on Wednesday afternoon, but the move was expected after Linden was given a standing ovation during a farewell lap after the Canucks final regular-season game this season.
"As I step away from the game today and move into the next chapter of my life, I definitely have mixed emotions," Linden said. "I know the time is right, but there is sadness. Where did 20 years go?
"I will miss the game, all of the people involved in the game and definitely the buzz of game day."
Linden's announcement came 20 years to the day he was selected second overall in the 1988 NHL entry draft by the Canucks.
Linden played in 1,382 NHL games with the Canucks, New York Islanders, Montreal Canadiens and Washington Capitals. He scored 375 goals and added 492 assists.
Linden had instant success in the NHL, scoring 30 goals and 29 assists as an 18-year-old rookie with the Canucks in 1988-89. He quickly became the face of the franchise and was named the team's captain when we was 21 years old.
He was a fan favourite in Vancouver, with some hockey fans naming their children in his honour.
"I've met some of these kids named Linden. They're getting a little old now, some of them are in high school," Linden said. "That's possibly a hint it's time to move on."
After spending the first 10 years of his career with the Canucks, Linden was traded midway through the 1997-98 season to the New York Islanders for forward Todd Bertuzzi, defenceman Bryan McCabe and a third-round draft pick.
After stops in Montreal and Washington, he returned to Vancouver midway through the 2001-02 season in a trade with the Washington Capitals.
"When I left Vancouver in February of '98, it was a very sad day for me. Even though I knew it had to be that way, it was still very difficult," Linden said. "When I received the call from (then Canucks general manager) Brian Burke in '01, telling me I was coming home, I did not know what to think.
"My 10 years had been so special, I was concerned it wouldn't be the same. Well, it wasn't the same; it was better."
Including both stints, Linden played 1,142 regular season games in Vancouver and helped the team reach the Stanley Cup final in 1994, losing to the New York Rangers.
"It's not something I dwell on. Certainly I would have loved to be part of a championship team here in Vancouver," Linden said. "I can say I performed as well as I could and tried to do what was right.
"It's a tough game, it's a tough sport. It takes a lot of things to go right."
He won a pair of Memorial Cup championships with the Western Hockey League's Medicine Hat Tigers in 1987 and 1988.
In 1997, he won the King Clancy Memorial Trophy for leadership on the ice and contribution to the community.
He was also known for his involvement with the National Hockey League Players' Association and was elected president of the organization in 1998. He led the organization through the 10-month lockout in 2004-05 and resigned from the top post in January 2006.
Linden's best offensive season was in 1995-96 with Vancouver when he scored 33 goals and 47 assists for 80 points in 82 games.
He saw a reduced role this season under head coach Alain Vigneault. He was a healthy scratch 23 times. He scored seven goals and five assists in 59 games.
Linden said he's spoken with the Canucks about continuing to work with the organization after his retirement, but described the talks as "very general."
"Time will kind of sort things out. Where my heart lies and what direction I see my future going," he said.
Vancouver, B.C. April 05, 2008. Trevor Linden shows his appreciation to the Canucks fans at the last game of the season GM Place. The Canucks lost to the Calgary Flames 7-1.
http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/media.canada.com/gallery/trevorlindenrecap/20080405wave.jpg
http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/media.canada.com/gallery/trevorlindenrecap/19890123mustangn.jpg
Linden hangs up his blades after 19-year career
Peter James, Canwest News Service
Published: Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Vancouver Canucks forward Trevor Linden has retired from hockey, ending a 19-year National Hockey League career.
The 38-year-old made a formal announcement at GM Place in Vancouver on Wednesday afternoon, but the move was expected after Linden was given a standing ovation during a farewell lap after the Canucks final regular-season game this season.
"As I step away from the game today and move into the next chapter of my life, I definitely have mixed emotions," Linden said. "I know the time is right, but there is sadness. Where did 20 years go?
"I will miss the game, all of the people involved in the game and definitely the buzz of game day."
Linden's announcement came 20 years to the day he was selected second overall in the 1988 NHL entry draft by the Canucks.
Linden played in 1,382 NHL games with the Canucks, New York Islanders, Montreal Canadiens and Washington Capitals. He scored 375 goals and added 492 assists.
Linden had instant success in the NHL, scoring 30 goals and 29 assists as an 18-year-old rookie with the Canucks in 1988-89. He quickly became the face of the franchise and was named the team's captain when we was 21 years old.
He was a fan favourite in Vancouver, with some hockey fans naming their children in his honour.
"I've met some of these kids named Linden. They're getting a little old now, some of them are in high school," Linden said. "That's possibly a hint it's time to move on."
After spending the first 10 years of his career with the Canucks, Linden was traded midway through the 1997-98 season to the New York Islanders for forward Todd Bertuzzi, defenceman Bryan McCabe and a third-round draft pick.
After stops in Montreal and Washington, he returned to Vancouver midway through the 2001-02 season in a trade with the Washington Capitals.
"When I left Vancouver in February of '98, it was a very sad day for me. Even though I knew it had to be that way, it was still very difficult," Linden said. "When I received the call from (then Canucks general manager) Brian Burke in '01, telling me I was coming home, I did not know what to think.
"My 10 years had been so special, I was concerned it wouldn't be the same. Well, it wasn't the same; it was better."
Including both stints, Linden played 1,142 regular season games in Vancouver and helped the team reach the Stanley Cup final in 1994, losing to the New York Rangers.
"It's not something I dwell on. Certainly I would have loved to be part of a championship team here in Vancouver," Linden said. "I can say I performed as well as I could and tried to do what was right.
"It's a tough game, it's a tough sport. It takes a lot of things to go right."
He won a pair of Memorial Cup championships with the Western Hockey League's Medicine Hat Tigers in 1987 and 1988.
In 1997, he won the King Clancy Memorial Trophy for leadership on the ice and contribution to the community.
He was also known for his involvement with the National Hockey League Players' Association and was elected president of the organization in 1998. He led the organization through the 10-month lockout in 2004-05 and resigned from the top post in January 2006.
Linden's best offensive season was in 1995-96 with Vancouver when he scored 33 goals and 47 assists for 80 points in 82 games.
He saw a reduced role this season under head coach Alain Vigneault. He was a healthy scratch 23 times. He scored seven goals and five assists in 59 games.
Linden said he's spoken with the Canucks about continuing to work with the organization after his retirement, but described the talks as "very general."
"Time will kind of sort things out. Where my heart lies and what direction I see my future going," he said.
Vancouver, B.C. April 05, 2008. Trevor Linden shows his appreciation to the Canucks fans at the last game of the season GM Place. The Canucks lost to the Calgary Flames 7-1.
http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/media.canada.com/gallery/trevorlindenrecap/20080405wave.jpg