Canucks to Re-Sign Linden

[canuckfan]

As per a report from TSN:

It looks like Trevor Linden will return to the Vancouver Canucks next year.

According to a report in the Vancouver Sun, Canucks general manager Dave Nonis will re-sign Linden when he returns from vacation next week.

Linden scored seven goals and dished out nine assists with a +3 rating in 82 games with the Canucks last year. In 1243 career NHL games with the Canucks, Capitals, Canadiens and Islanders Linden has amassed 356 goals and 474 assists.

Good news! Probably won't be for a lot of money, and although he doesn't score much anymore, he's still needed on this team and has good defensive skills and great leadership qualities. Not only is he my personal fave player of all time, but I'm glad he's going to get an oppurtunity to end things on his note with the franchise that he's been with for the majority of his career.

[IntoLegend]

Resigned? Great news

Re-Signed? Terrible News.

[HordiBrusk29]

Originally Posted by IntoLegend

Resigned? Great news

Re-Signed? Terrible News.

LOL. My thoughts exactly. Hopefully he is making close to the minimum. Anything more than that would be robbery...

[canuckfan]

Ah, I hear what you guys are saying and I expected these responses from you two, but IMO I still think Linden has lots to provide an NHL team, even at this stage of his career.

I agree though, hopefully it won't be any more than a million per.

[HordiBrusk29]

Originally Posted by canuckfan

Ah, I hear what you guys are saying and I expected these respones from you two

Now what's that supposed to mean? I almost find that insulting....

Linden at this point in his career is maybe worth $600,000 at the absolute most. He was invisible out there most games last year however he never got called out on it because he is Trevor Linden. While I can understand that on one hand I still disagree with it. Regardless of his age and status as a player if he's making $1.5 million he needs to do a lot more than kill penalties and take faceoffs...

[IntoLegend]

Arguably one of the softest canadians of all time that is listed at 6'4 220. Having him on the roster again will take up another spot of an up and coming youngster that wont be able to progress for another year at an NHL level.

[xTYRANTx]

Nucks shoulda saved their money

[Isles4life]

At least he's not NHLPA president anymore.

[canuck2]

He was a good player and a great leader but I agree he should retire. Did zip last year. Will do less this year.

[peacemaker]

At 500-600K max. Linden would be a good signing.
Anything approaching 1 mill is absurd at this point in his career.
Whomever called him one of the softest Cdn's of all time is an idiot. He was/is a bad fighter, but has always played a physical game. Maybe you are the one 'expert' that noticed otherwise..

At this point he has no hands, and very little to offer beyond leadership, experience, great wheels, and some defensive saavy...

That is not worth anything approaching 1 mill. To have the ooportunity to stay in Vancouver, where he prefers to be, he should be coming in at no more than 500-600K.

[peacemaker]

Originally Posted by canuck2

He was a good player and a great leader but I agree he should retire. Did zip last year. Will do less this year.

Agreed he did zip last yr, and is nothing much anymore, but he will not be worse than last year.
He was completely consumed by the NHLPA stuff and was nowhere near ready to start the season. Being prepared for camp this year will be good for him and the Canucks.

It is kind of BS that b/c of his NHLPA position he shortchanged the Canucks and collected his full paycheck...

Now that I think about it, just for that he should be paid no more than the league min for stealing from the 'Nucks last year.

[canuckfan]

Originally Posted by HordiBrusk29

Now what's that supposed to mean? I almost find that insulting...

Linden at this point in his career is maybe worth $600,000 at the absolute most. He was invisible out there most games last year however he never got called out on it because he is Trevor Linden. While I can understand that on one hand I still disagree with it. Regardless of his age and status as a player if he's making $1.5 million he needs to do a lot more than kill penalties and take faceoffs...

Oops, didn't mean to ruffle the feathers of everyone's favorite cynic(s). Still, I was under the impression that the Vancouver media was all over Linden all year long for his lack of production. Mind you, he didn't seem to find his legs until about halfway through the season and all the union crap seemed to be a bit of a distraction for him. Last year was definitley a forgettable one for him, but he still has some gas left in the tank.

I see it this way; considering how soft the Canucks third and fourth lines look right about now, Linden's physical play will be needed and I'm glad he'll be back. He may be an awful fighter, but he still takes the body and the Canucks will need that going into next season.

[GIANTSFAN]

Linden should've packed it in before the 03-04 season. He's making a mockery of his career, & because he's Linden, he gets away with what he brings to the game, which is pretty much f*ckall. It's not 1994, & people seem to forget that. Linden's always been a "soft" player in terms of fighting, but he's long since being a "power forward" that he once was. He's slow, soft & brings zero scoring. Bringing him back for one last hurrah is another poor move that an inexperienced GM does, along with all the other additions of big players who are softer than butter in the sun. Nonis is completely incompitent & never should've gotten this job. The Canucks won't make the playoffs & will once again be the laughing stock of the NHL West.

BTW, the best Captain in Canuck's history is without question Stan Smyl. He NEVER once bitched about all those sh*tty teams he was on, & took on guys like Jim Kyte & Dave Semenko if he had to stick up for a player. Linden's always been scared to drop the gloves with the Claude Lemieux's & Joel Otto's of the game win, lose or draw. Stan Smyl was the heart & sole of the Canucks & by a country mile the best Captain they've ever had. Too many people are too young to remember what Smyl brought to the game & see him play night in, night out. It was a complete embarrasment to see Linden scared to drop the gloves with Lemieux, a guy who isn't a fighter either & about 3 inches shorter. Otto ain't no heavyweight, & ragdolled Linden. Smyl would've gotten his nose dirty & took one for the team instead of standing there like an idiot scared to death.

[puffed up]

I agree up to a certain point with Giantsfan. Linden is soft and slow, doesn't score much and you wanna talk leadership! What with the mess in the NHLPA, I wonder how much "leadership" he brings to the table.
Furthermore as Intolegend pointed out he's stealing a kids job!!
Methinks Mr Linden's ever great relationship with the media surely helps him in the twilight of his carrer!!

[bengino]

while i do think he is.. wait, make that was pretty much the face of the Canucks, he was always revered as an idol in Van City, but with Roberto now in the fold, maybe Linden's glaring short comings will come to the fore front and he will do like Brett Hull and call it a career early in the season.

I always liked the guy, but once he left Vancouver, his game went south, he never did much of anything on the Island, in Montreal and in Washington... his best years are far behind him.