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Trevor Linden, OBC, (ancestrally "van der Linden") (born April 11, 1970 in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player. Standing at 6 ft 4 in and weighing 220 lb., he plays center and right wing, with a right-handed shot.
Playing career
Linden was instrumental in helping his hometown Medicine Hat Tigers win consecutive Memorial Cup titles as a junior hockey player in the WHL, winning in both 1987 and 1988. This helped him be selected as the Vancouver Canucks' 1st choice, 2nd overall in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft.
He made his NHL debut in the 1988-89 season, and finished second to Brian Leetch for the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year, but he was selected to the NHL All-Rookie Team as consolation. Linden's dedication to the team led to his being named the youngest captain in the NHL during 1990-91 season, a title he would hold for the next 7 years.
In what was easily the most memorable year for both Linden and the Canucks, 1993-94 was the first time in 12 years the Canucks made the Stanley Cup Finals, losing in a close 7 games to the New York Rangers. The team would not repeat their success of that year, however Linden continued to lead the team with his hard work and dedication, especially off the ice to young disadvantaged children. This would be recognized by the NHL with the King Clancy Memorial Trophy, given for humanitarian community contributions, in 1996-97. On December 3, 1996, his Canucks record of 482 consecutive games played ended. The streak began on October 4, 1990, and was the longest in the NHL at the time.
At the start of the 1997-98 season, with the addition of Mark Messier, Linden gave up his captaincy to Messier, ending his tenure after 7 years of leadership. After Mike Keenan was named coach during the year, Linden became one of the many original Canucks from 1994 to be traded during this time, going to the New York Islanders on February 6, 1998 for Todd Bertuzzi, Bryan McCabe, and the Islanders 3rd round choice (ultimately Jarkko Ruutu) in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft. He was named captain of the struggling Islanders franchise, but couldn't help the team improve themselves.
During February 1998, Linden was named to the Canadian Olympic ice hockey team, as part of the first group of NHL players to play. They would end up placing 4th in the tournament at Nagano. This disappointed many Canadians, who expected their all-star team to easily take home the gold medal at the Olympics. He did, however, score the only goal on Dominik Hasek in a 2-1 shootout loss to the Czech Republic in medal round play.
At the conclusion of the 1998-99 season with the New York Islanders, he was traded to the Montreal Canadiens for a 1st round pick in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft.
After a less than stellar tenure with the Canadiens, Linden was traded once again, this time to the Washington Capitals. He went with Dainius Zubrus, and New Jersey's 2nd round choice in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft in exchange for Richard Zednik, Jan Bulis, and Washington's 1st round choice in the 2001 Draft. After only 28 games with the Capitals spread over parts of two years, Linden was sent off, to rejoin his former team the Canucks. In exchange for Vancouver's 1st round choice in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft and a 3rd round choice in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, Linden went along with a 2nd round choice in either the 2002 or 2003 drafts on November 10, 2001.
On March 26, 2002, Linden played in his 1,000th NHL regular season game, and 758th with the Canucks. He scored his 263rd goal as a Canuck on November 25, 2002 against the Minnesota Wild, to lead the Canucks in all-time goals scored. This was furthered by scoring his 674th point with the Canucks on March 8, 2004. Both these records were previously held by Stan Smyl. He also has the Canucks record for games played, passing Smyl in the 2003-04 season.
Linden became the President of the NHL Players Association in June of 1998. At the NHL Players' Association July 2006 summer meeting the veteran forward announced he would not seek re-election as union president. Linden was actively involved in negotiations with Gary Bettman and the NHL on a new CBA that ended the lockout.
Linden's long tenure with the Canucks, deep attachment to the city of Vancouver and history of charitable community service and involvement have made him arguably the most beloved and respected player among fans in franchise history. His 2001 return to the Canucks was an emotional event for fans and player alike, with Linden admitting that he was unable to sleep the night before his first game back, due to excitement. He is still often referred to affectionately as 'Captain Canuck,' despite not having captained the team since 1997. Though he has not put up offensive numbers in the same order as many NHL players drafted as early as he was, most Canuck fans take it for granted that his #16 jersey will be retired by the franchise once Linden decides to end his playing career.
Awards
- 1989 - Nominated for Calder Memorial Trophy
- 1989 - Voted The Hockey News Rookie-of-the-Year
- 1989 - NHL All-Rookie Team
- 1989 - Molson Cup (Most game star selections for Vancouver Canucks)
- 1989 - Cyclone Taylor Trophy (MVP of the Canucks)
- 1989 - Most Exciting Player (Canucks team award)
- 1991 - Played in NHL All-Star Game
- 1991 - Molson Cup
- 1991 - Cyclone Taylor Trophy
- 1991 - Cyrus H. McLean Trophy (Canucks leading scorer)
- 1991 - Most Exciting Player
- 1992 - Played in NHL All-Star Game
- 1992 - Cyrus H. McLean Trophy
- 1995 - Cyclone Taylor Trophy
- 1996 - Cyclone Taylor Trophy
- 1997 - King Clancy Memorial Trophy
- 2003 - Order of British Columbia
Records
- Vancouver Canucks franchise record for goals in career (299)
- Vancouver Canucks franchise record for points in career (693)
- Vancouver Canucks franchise record for consecutive games played (482)
Career statistics
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1985-86 | Medicine Hat | WHL | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 1986-87 | Medicine Hat | WHL | 72 | 14 | 22 | 36 | 59 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 1987-88 | Medicine Hat | WHL | 67 | 46 | 64 | 110 | 76 | 16 | 13 | 12 | 25 | 19 | ||
| 1988-89 | Vancouver | NHL | 80 | 30 | 29 | 59 | 41 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 8 | ||
| 1989-90 | Vancouver | NHL | 73 | 21 | 30 | 51 | 43 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 1990-91 | Vancouver | NHL | 80 | 33 | 37 | 70 | 65 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 2 | ||
| 1991-92 | Vancouver | NHL | 80 | 31 | 44 | 75 | 101 | 13 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 6 | ||
| 1992-93 | Vancouver | NHL | 84 | 33 | 39 | 72 | 64 | 12 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 16 | ||
| 1993-94 | Vancouver | NHL | 84 | 32 | 29 | 61 | 73 | 24 | 12 | 13 | 25 | 18 | ||
| 1994-95 | Vancouver | NHL | 48 | 18 | 22 | 40 | 40 | 11 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 12 | ||
| 1995-96 | Vancouver | NHL | 82 | 33 | 47 | 80 | 42 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 6 | ||
| 1996-97 | Vancouver | NHL | 49 | 9 | 31 | 40 | 27 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 1997-98 | Vancouver | NHL | 42 | 7 | 14 | 21 | 49 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 1997-98 | Islanders | NHL | 25 | 10 | 7 | 17 | 33 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 1998-99 | Islanders | NHL | 82 | 18 | 29 | 47 | 32 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 1999-00 | Montreal | NHL | 50 | 13 | 17 | 30 | 34 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 2000-01 | Montreal | NHL | 57 | 12 | 21 | 33 | 52 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 2000-01 | Washington | NHL | 12 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 14 | ||
| 2001-02 | Washington | NHL | 16 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 2001-02 | Vancouver | NHL | 64 | 12 | 22 | 34 | 65 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0 | ||
| 2002-03 | Vancouver | NHL | 71 | 19 | 22 | 41 | 30 | 14 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 10 | ||
| 2003-04 | Vancouver | NHL | 82 | 14 | 22 | 36 | 26 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | ||
| 2005-06 | Vancouver | NHL | 82 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 15 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| NHL Totals | 1313 | 356 | 474 | 830 | 846 | 112 | 32 | 60 | 92 | 98 | ||||
International play
- 1991 - World Ice Hockey Championships
- 1996 - World Cup of Hockey
- 1998 - Nagano Olympics
- 1998 - World Hockey Championships
See also
Note: the Canucks began the 1990-91 NHL season with tri-captains, (Trevor Linden, Doug Lidster & Dan Quinn). Quinn was traded during the season, leaving Linden & Lidster as co-captains. The following season (1991-92), Linden was named sole captain.
1970 births | Alberta sportspeople | Canadian ice hockey players | Living people | Medicine Hat Tigers alumni | Members of the Order of British Columbia | Montreal Canadiens players | National Hockey League first round draft picks | New York Islanders players | Olympic competitors for Canada | People from Alberta | Swedish Canadians | Vancouver Canucks players | Washington Capitals players
"Trevor Linden"