Trevor Linden: Forever a Canuck

"BUT THERE WILL BE A GAME SEVEN...THEY'LL HOPE THAT THEY CAN GET LINDEN PATCHED UP FOR THAT ONE... HE WILL PLAY, YOU KNOW HE'LL PLAY... HE'LL PLAY ON CRUTCHES...HE WILL PLAY, AND HE WILL PLAY AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN ON TUESDAY NIGHT!!!!!" – Jim Robson after Game Six of the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals

Trevor Linden is a rare breed.

He may not have been one of the best players to ever play this game, but he certainly was one of the best leaders. Coming out of a small Albertan town, nobody in the province of British Columbia knew what to expect when the lanky kid was drafted by the Canucks second overall in the 1988 Draft.

Yet, as soon as he stepped out onto the ice at the Pacific Coliseum the fans in Vancouver fell in love with him. They could see that this young kid would do great things for this team and he didn’t disappoint.

Vancouver hockey fans have gloomed over the fact that our team has not won a Stanley Cup in 38 years of existence, but Trevor brought us that close. He was the key component in that 1994 Stanley Cup Run. The man broke his nose twice, but wouldn’t give up. 

He scored both goals in Game Seven of the finals. Stan Smyl had this to say about Trevor: "That's why he wears the C. He does it quietly. He does it best when he does his talking on the ice. His scars will show it." - Stan Smyl on Trevor Linden  Trevor scored, he hit, he passed , but most importantly he led. He was and always will be Captain Canuck.

In lieu of his jersey retirement, I’m sure that many people will remember Trevor for his play and leadership on the ice, but what he did off the ice is what truly makes him an exemplary human being. 

Back in 1997, Trevor was playing in the Telus Skins Game in Whistler, BC. He had promised a terminally ill boy that he could be his caddy. The boy died four days after the tournament, but his parents said that helping out his idol Trevor Linden was what kept him alive.

The love from the fans of Vancouver to Trevor was returned. Trevor Linden loves this city and he showed it by all of the work that he did in the community. He constantly would go to the Canuck Place which is a home for terminally ill children.

When he walked in the room, the children smiled. He donated money to numerous charities. Yet, Trevor giving back to others was not limited to the city of Vancouver.  Trevor Linden served as the President of the NHLPA (National Hockey League Players Association) from 1998-2006.

It isn’t just the people of Vancouver that respect Trevor Linden it is the entirety of the NHL. After his last game against the Calgary Flames last year, Flames Captain Jarome Iginla had all of the Flames come and shake his hand.  Aside from the class shown by Iginla this act shows the respect that Linden received. 

He never meant to do any harm to other players off the ice and he did nothing, but good for this Canucks team. Unfortunately that good will towards the Canucks by Linden was not reciprocated. In the late '90s Trevor was traded due to the ‘Dynamic Duo’ of Mike Keenan and Mark Messier who had seemed to run this team into the ground. 

Trevor spent three years away from Vancouver, but it made his return even sweeter.  He came back fired up and ready to be a Canucks once again.

Trevor’s playing career is over and I highly doubt that he will attempt to make a comeback. He was one of the great leaders in this game and I can’t stand that someone like him was never to win a Stanley Cup, while someone such as Darren McCarty has won four and sold three of his Stanley Cup Rings.

But, I think he will win one. Either as a coach or in management. Trevor was a stallion in the Vancouver Canucks organization. When his No. 16 goes up into the rafters it will bring back happy and sad memories to not only him, but to all Canucks fans. There can be many leaders who help their teams, but there can only be one Trevor Linden.

No. 16: Forever a Canuck