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Rangers sign Markus Naslund

Associated Press

Latest comment posted at 5:20 PM EST 03/07/08

Former Vancouver Canucks captain heading to the Big Apple ...Read the full article

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  1. Howard Young from Canada writes: They also signed Dmitri Kalinin.
  2. Montgomery C. Burns from Springfield, Canada writes: I guess he saw the writing on the wall when the 'Nucks made their offer to Mats. Good luck in NY, Markus.
  3. B.C. Expat from Ottawa-Hull, NCR, Canada writes: Saf day for Canuck fans. Naslund brought Vancouver some of its best seasons, leaves as the highest scoring (and goal-scoring) player in club history, and was a class act the whole way through.

    When he started his decline -- both due to age and the infamous hit from Steve Moore -- the fans gave him nothing but grief and disrespect, as though he was solely responsible for the team not winning the Cup every season. Yet he stayed a class act, never complained, and continued to be a solid player regardless of what the armchair coaches had to say.

    I can understand a decision not to re-sign him -- it is the GM's job to make difficult decisions. But the circumstances of his departure simply don't reflect well on the Canuck community. Any other player who led his team all-time in most relevant statistical categories, who won the Pearson Trophy, who brought far more fame, exposure and excitement to the franchise than it had often ever seen, and led it to some of its best seasons (remember what we had before him?) would retire happy with his number in the rafters.

    The fact that a huge number of Canuck fans denigrate him so routinely is unfortunate, in my opinion. Good luck Markus, stay classy.
  4. Ed Long from white Rock, Canada writes: I tend to agree with B.C. Expat except ...

    As a Captain it is his job to lead, and in the last two years Naslund has been anything but a leader.

    I think of Yzerman, a scorer, asked by Bowman to change roles to checking and leading and he did it, and the team excelled. Naslund had the opportunity to changes roles and lead .... he did not.

    Maybe the organization, maybe his chemistry, whatever ... he and Linden were great in the community but they were paid to perform and lead on the ice. The team underachieved. Naslund can put his talents under the limelight in New York and enjoy his two years.

    They should both be gone and the Twins should follow. Cycling the puck does not win Stanley Cups.

    It was a failed experiment, the Canucks will not turn around in one year whoever they sign, might as well start with a clean deck and build up.

    The concept of buying a winner with a few big names will not work in Vancouver because they cannot attract enough talent. Gillis' choice of Moneyball as the template is wise.

    I believe his pursuing Sundin is just show because Gillis knew Naslund was gone. For the 'gotta have a nice star for the community' fans, he can say he tried.

    For people who want a winner, it will be careful choice of undervalued role players in a very well run system. It is the system that wins ....

    I don't care if they ever show up for a community event, just win.
  5. Clay O. from Vancouver, Canada writes: Sad day.... Nazzy was a true captain and class act. I was hoping he could be brought back to van in a different role without the pressure of living up to his large contract. I hope he does well in New York and I know the rest of the city of Vancouver wishes him the best. Thanks for the good years!
  6. D Burgess from Vancouver, Canada writes: Yikes...time to put up or shut up Gillis!

    Morrison is next. After that we'll have Kyle Wellwood and some goon to show for the trade deadline and draft day, unless Mats makes up his mind in our favour come August or September. (Good luck)

    Maybe we can commiserate with long-suffering Leaf fans and end the flame wars :-)
  7. RONNY TALBOT from Yahk BC, Canada writes: Even as an ardent Flames fan (and Caknucklehead despiser), I know class when I see it---and Markus is a first class individual. The West is worse for his departure, and worse for the arrival of Mssrs. Avery and Tucker. D Burgess' post above explains why Canucks GM, MG looks so bulgey-eyed and somewhat constipated. With so few positive movements, he'd better hope he can work it out with help from Mats and the twins.
  8. Michael Sharp from Victorious, Canada writes:
    When Bertuzzi left, so did Naslund's heart.
    He's done.
    He'll do nothing in NY.

    Luv ya Markus, but you've lost the eye of the tiger.

    Now, to get rid of the Sedins.
  9. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: Michael Sharp..... Don't be surprised if Bertuzzi shows up in New York as well.

    Will be strange not seeing Naslund on game two Saturday nights.

    BTW; Whatever ever happened to Alek Stojanov. :)

    answer.... 45 games with the Pens and 2 goals.... lol

    Cheers
  10. Coach rich from vancouver, Canada writes: Good luck Markus

    No way Sundin is going to show.

    Canucks will loose more then they will gain in this seasons Free Agents spending spree w/ no sense.
  11. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: Coach rich.... your Canucks have 16m in cap space and only have Morrison to sign. The UFA market this year sucked.

    Expect some offer sheets to come out of Vancouver to some RFA's and if nothing happens they will have plenty of space for trades.

    Cheers
  12. Rob C from Canada writes: I think this is a questionable signing - unless Naslund rejuvenates his career with a change of scenery- the culture on the canucks has been toxic the last few years - Crawford was poison for that team and his imprint has not left...
  13. boom boom from Canada writes: Methinks he'll break out nicely again with NYR, there's a guy who needed a change of scenery. And I sure can't blame him.
  14. R. M. from Regina, Canada writes: Perhaps Sundin was aware of this impending signing hence is lack of interest to sign with Vancouver right now.....possible???
  15. R. Carriere from Maritimes, Canada writes:

    Jagr was a pig, and left a lot of crap behind him. Mario could control him way back then, but ever since, he was a cancer every place he went.

    GO BACK TO RUSSIA YOU LOUSY LEECH CREEP!

    Markus Naslund? He was NO captain...he wil be lost in the back pages, with Gomez and Drury in the New York spotlight! Maybe a good thing. He looks like a superb 2nd line player, and a great PP guy! With less pressure, watch for him to excell......during the regular season..Playoffs? All bets are off!

    The Sedin 'Twinzees' in VAN. need to step up-but can they do it without 'Markus?'

    While many place 'Burkie' in the unheld position somewhere between the Pope and JC, that is really his BS legacy-NOT the Cup winning Ducks where momma Pronger decided California was were they NEEDED to be!

    Interesting to note in that same Draft of 1999, Detroit took the following fella, while BURKIE and his loud mouth ways took the TWINZEES.

    Recognize this name?

    7th Round 210th choice- Detroit- Henrik Zetterberg
    .
  16. Pat Billings from CDN, Canada writes: Great move for Habs fans.

    I don't think it makes the Rangers that much stronger because he'll essentially be replacing Jagr.

    Plus, it basically leaves only Montreal as a destination if Sundin decides to grace the league with its presence. If of course, he wants to play for a winner......
  17. Rob C from Canada writes: Vancouver would be good for Sundin if they were closer to contending - for now, it's very far from Toronto, the travel is a challenge and they are far from contending (and you know, nice city, but too much rain) - He'll sign on the east coast and take a cab to three visiting arenas...
  18. bill d from Canada writes: That chicken heap of dung is now in New York. Good! If only Naslund could stand up for himself and take on that non-fighter Moore, that other loser Bertuzzi might not look so bad. The sooner Naslund retires the better! On another note, any talent that New York ever seems to get seems to rot and stink to high heaven once they don a Rangers uniform.
  19. Chris B from Canada writes: Hey R. Carriere - it seems a little disingenuous to blast Burk for not taking Zetterburg, since EVERY OTHER GM in the league also failed to take him.
  20. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: I'm sensing a bit of venom on this thread..... I thought everybody loved New York :)

    Cheers
  21. J K GALBRAITH from Canada writes: The logical next step for Mike Gillis is to try to sign Jaromir Jagr. He certainly has enough money but it is hard to tell how much Jagr still has left in him.
  22. Mariposa Belle from Leacockland, Canada writes: It seems to me that NYR is stepping back a decade to assemble a team that has to win Stanley this year.

    If it doesn't, it won't for another decade, when they try to repeat the process.
  23. tim smith from Canada writes: This one could go either way. Marcus has clearly been playing hurt/tired/uninterested, but he's also been playing in a defensive system for a low-scoring team. He could break out, or he could be yet another beached hull on the shores of New York.
  24. Gawd Knows from Canada writes: There goes a very nice multi-millionaire. It must be our wet coast weather. Even before the salary cap we only seemed to have half a team at the best of times.

    Too many skaters collecting huge welfare cheques, and putting out very little.

    I can no longer be bothered to watch the over paid, watered down mediocrity of the NHL.
  25. Ed Long from white Rock, Canada writes: Zetterburg was put into the Scottie Bowman Montreal/Detroit/Stanley Cup system of role players in a total team concept.

    I believe Euros feel comfortable in this system because it is based on the great Tikhonov teams, and North Americans simply have to park their egos at the door.

    Naslund and Bertuzzi were poison to a team concept.

    Canucks still have some house cleaning to do before getting serious ... if they can attract real players.

    Sundin offer is just to look good to the locals. It'll never happen. And Gillis would be no further ahead with less money in his pocket.
  26. Jeff Gulley from Toronto, Canada writes: Hey Carriere.

    Jagr ain't no Russian, bud.
  27. Ed Long from white Rock, Canada writes: Naslund and Madonna.
  28. Duncan McCockenue from Canada writes: No Jeff, he ain't Russian... but that's where he played during the lockout.
  29. Jimmy's Lunch from Canada writes: NY wasted $4M mc/year on this has been. He was once great but hasn't maintained the strength needed to compete as a 35 year old.

    Last summer I was booted off the HF and CDC boards for saying we need to rebuild this team from scratch, and let's start by trading the Sedin girls, Naz and Morrison. Now the talk in Canuck camp is exactly that and expect to see them clean the slate as stated above.
    The Sedin girls will never be a plus on any team come the playoffs-they are missing something called 'nerve' when the pressure is turned up to high, and experience won't install that quality.
    Luongo will now underperform below his ability because of the fact he presently has a bunch of deadbeats in front of him, and he'll play out his contract and leave for a contender, unless they act fast to improve the roster. He showed us that already in this past year.

    I'm calling the shots that nobody can stand to hear if they're cheerleaders who never played the game such as the clowns at the two BB's mentioned above. I called Detroit exactly right this playoff, maybe the G&M should hire me to write the hockey news.....eh?
  30. Dave The Rave from Ottawa, Canada writes: Scot Loucks...Gillis does indeed have money to spend. But who's he going to spend it on? And what assets does he have to bargain with besides Luongo (and maybe Kevin Bieksa)?

    http://forecaster.faceoff.com/faceoff/hockey/depthchart.cgi?Van

    Doesn't look pretty in Canuckland. Ten million smackers or no, I would be shocked if Sundin decided to hitch his Bentley to this wagon train.
  31. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: Agreed DTR... as I said above the UFA market this year was crap.

    He may put out some offer sheets to RFA's though...... and I don't know what kind of assets he has in the minors.... not that up on their farm system.

    Cheers
  32. Real Name from Toronto, Canada writes: D Burgess from Vancouver, Canada writes: Yikes...time to put up or shut up Gillis!

    Morrison is next. After that we'll have Kyle Wellwood and some goon to show for the trade deadline and draft day, unless Mats makes up his mind in our favour come August or September. (Good luck)

    Maybe we can commiserate with long-suffering Leaf fans and end the flame wars :-)

    ___________________________________________________________

    Longer suffering Leaf fans, ha...

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