Luongo07

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Cap Getting To Tight For Aging Vet

With the Vancouver Canucks adding restricted free agent Ryan Shannon into their 07-08 line-up the club appears to be eching every so close to the $50.3 million salary cap.

Shannon's one-year contract of $550,000 pushes the Canucks over $45 million dollars with 20 players under contract. Throw in the expected pro debut of defencemen Luc Bourdon and the more permenant NHL stay for Alexandre Edler and the club is now at $47 million dollars plus. Add all that to the fact the GM Dave Nonis has spent almost to the cap for the past two seasons and it's safe to say that the Canucks are spent. Which means? No Trevor Linden?

Unless Ek is right and there is a trade (DON'T TRADE OHLUND) in the works to relieve some salary I don't see the All-Time best Canuck returning to the line-up when the season opens this coming October.

For Linden it will be a somber good-bye to a city that he has made is home. Several critics will say that Linden has done everything off the ice but nothing on the ice to which I disagree completely.

Yes, Trevor has not had the career that Mike Modano has but Trevor should be remembered for the consistent effort that he played with night after night and on the off nights, he was always the first to admit that he could have been better. Over the course of his career Trevor has been with this franchise time after time through the tough times and through the best of times. When management turned their back on him it never took away those memories of the spring of 1994.

A few moments I will never forget: (There are several more but these are coming to mind right now)

June 14, 1994

The look on his face that fateful night at Madison Square Garden. Game 7, Stanley Cup finals, Trevor with the only two Canuck goals that night, wearing the captain 'C', he probably played the game of his life that night but fell short.

February 6, 1998

A few hours before game time, Trevor Linden is traded the the NY Islanders in exchange for Todd Bertuzzi, Bryan McCabe and a 3rd Round Pick (Jarrko Ruttu). The trade that ended up helping the Canucks in the long run, shocked the locals and turned many fans away from GM Place.

November 10, 2001

I remember this as if it were yesterday... I wake up on a Sunday morning after a night at the bar. My mind is all fuzzy, I stumble to the door of my girlfriends apartment to find a copy of that mornings Vancouver Province. I flip to paper to the back to read the sports section and much to my joy is a picture of Trevor Linden and a caption indicating that he had been traded back the Canucks. The city was a buzz for days, Captain Canuck back in the fold.

April 23, 2007

The butterflies of game seven vs. the Stars were well documented. Trevor in a pre-game interview admitted to feeling them all day long and questioned "How could you not? It's game seven!" Trevor laced up the skates that night an played the best game I have seen him play since that June 14, 1994. He led the team with 1 goal and 2 assists, battled physically and left the arena with 18,000 screaming his name.


To Trevor,

I would like to say that there has never been a more influencial hockey player in this market than you. There has to be a way to get you back into this line-up because the team is not the same without you in there. If the decision not to return is your decision I wish you the best. Please return to the club in whatever aspect you can and feel comfortable with. You are an inspiration to your fans and to your critics, you are and all ways will be a Vancouver Canuck.

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