Maybe the seven points in 28 games that he had for the Caps back in 2001 left a bad taste in my mouth, but forgive me for not joining in the Trevor Linden Retirement Lovefest.Don't get me wrong, I don't begrudge Canucks fans (and Western Canadians generally) one bit for feeling a sadness today as the face of the franchise retires. But here's a guy who hasn't topped 41 points or scored 20 goals or had a plus rating in any season this decade and had just 144 goals in his last 771 NHL games. There's something to be said for longevity and his consecutive games streak, but that something doesn't carry very far outside the province, much less across the continent. Perhaps fittingly,then, when the unsung Linden broke the Canucks all-time scoring mark, the achievement wasn't even the game's top headline.
So chalk it up to East Coast bias or disappointment at the brief glimpse we got of him playing for the local squad here in D.C., but this may very well be the last time I think about Linden. That is, unless I someday find myself once again playing NHL94... not many pivots could score this goal:
7 comments:
Have some respect for one of the great players to play the game. He didn't perform well for us but he is one of those players that is tied to a particular place like Luc Robataille. They just don't do that well outside of the place they were drafted. I am a big Trevor Linden fan despite his performance with us.
Luc Robitaille scored nearly 700 goals, more than 100 of which came for teams other than the Kings.
Like I said, I get it with Linden's local appeal, but it just doesn't translate as well outside of that market in much the same way that people outside of the Mid-Atlantic think that Cal Ripken was over-rated and was little more than his Iron Man Streak.
If you'll recall, Linden became the Canucks all time points leader at the game we attended in Vancouver. Of course that was overshadowed by Bertuzzi's attempt at murder, but was still a nice milestone to witness.
I just want to throw this out there - when no NHL team steps up this summer and signs him, do you think anyone outside of Washington will care when Ollie the Goalie retires?
I would think so, if only for his dedication to his position and his charity work. And the same goes for Linden, who actually got his team closer to a Cup than Ollie did ...
I agree, to an extent. But Kolzig also has a major award (Vezina), a minor award (Clancy), and a huge milestone (300 wins) under his belt, not to mention he's never played for another team.
With all that said, I'm willing to bet that the sentimentality we feel in D.C. (which will be diminished because of the last few months that have "softened the landing" somewhat)far exceeds anything you see outside of the area.
If I recall correctly, wasn't the Capitals a bad team when Linden was there?
...as for the Vancouver "lovefest" of Linden, he led the team in scoring last year when the Canucks made the playoffs...just one of many reasons he is a local hero! Not to mention all his charity work...
Learn the facts before you spout off!
aside from the heart trevor displayed in vancouver and throughout the 94 cup run(which is why he is so beloved in BC) you need to ask players in the league about trevors work with the NHLPA to understand his full contribution to the game.
Post a Comment