Friday, July 21, 2006
Face of the Franchise, part 2
Now, from one face of the franchise to another. Prior to the start of the free agency period, the Vancouver Canucks declined to exercise their $1.52 million option on Trevor Linden's contract. Trevor doesn't have a contract yet for the upcoming season, though media reports suggest that Dave Nonis isn't too worried.
The fact is, Trevor is still a serviceable forward, albeit in a much more limited role. He is also an integral part of the team's core of veterans and is now the lone remaining member of the team to have ever played in the Stanley Cup Finals.
Probably most importantly, with assistant captains Ed Jovanovski and Todd Bertuzzi now gone and the team wanting to incorporate more of their young prospects into the lineup, Trevor's leadership becomes more valuable. Remember that when young guys like Ryan Kesler, Alex Burrows and the now-departed Fedor Fedorov first broke into the Canucks' roster, that he was skating alongside them.
Wonder why?
Any young player would see what Trevor has accomplished in this league and what he has meant to this team and have no choice but to listen.
Dave Nonis should as well.
______________
Comments/Questions: Feel free to post in the comments section or email me at gocanucksgo10 (at) hotmail (dot) com.
Technorati Tags: NHL, hockey, Vancouver, Canucks, Trevor+Linden
"We'll sit down with Trevor in the next week and he's very aware of our situation and what our expectations are," Nonis told TEAM 1040 AM on Wednesday.It is hard to imagine the team fielding a roster without no. 16. It will be equally hard to see him don another jersey. Call me sentimental, but it wasn't right when he left in 1998; it's not right now either, even with all the turnover the Canucks have had this offseason.
"And I still expect that Trevor will be in our lineup when we open up next year."
The fact is, Trevor is still a serviceable forward, albeit in a much more limited role. He is also an integral part of the team's core of veterans and is now the lone remaining member of the team to have ever played in the Stanley Cup Finals.
Probably most importantly, with assistant captains Ed Jovanovski and Todd Bertuzzi now gone and the team wanting to incorporate more of their young prospects into the lineup, Trevor's leadership becomes more valuable. Remember that when young guys like Ryan Kesler, Alex Burrows and the now-departed Fedor Fedorov first broke into the Canucks' roster, that he was skating alongside them.
Wonder why?
Any young player would see what Trevor has accomplished in this league and what he has meant to this team and have no choice but to listen.
Dave Nonis should as well.
______________
Comments/Questions: Feel free to post in the comments section or email me at gocanucksgo10 (at) hotmail (dot) com.
Technorati Tags: NHL, hockey, Vancouver, Canucks, Trevor+Linden
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