Linden Is To Vancouver As Recchi Is To Pittsburgh
Matt Bodenschatz | National Hockey League
Dec 4, 12:03 PM | Hype this story!
The Pittsburgh Penguins have had their share of issues with unproductive, aging players. In recent years, such players include Mario Lemieux, John Leclair, and now Mark Recchi.
But the phenomenon is not exclusive to players in the Steel City.
Veteran forward Trevor Linden, who is the heart and soul of the Vancouver Canucks, has found himself in a similar situation to the one currently brewing in Pittsburgh with Recchi.
Linden has found himself in the press box for eight of the team’s games, and head coach Alain Vigneault likely will keep him there for the foreseeable future.
“We have to look at our team identity right now,” Vigneault said to the Vancouver Sun. “We have one offensive line, we have a good checking line, we are getting some identity now on that fourth line as far as grit, grind and in-your-face-type hockey … So that’s where we are right now.
“Where does Trevor fit? If we want to be an in-your-face type team on a fourth line, Trevor doesn’t fit there. We’re in that little dilemma now.”
Part of the reason is that Linden is best-served playing when he is well-rested. The other part has to do with the performance of those taking his spot in the lineup.
“Trevor might have a couple of more years in front of him or this might be his last one, I don’t know. But I do know that part of our mandate is to see where everybody can fit in in the big picture.
“We know what Trevor can bring and we feel, and he might not totally agree with this, he is better when he is fresh. But that being said, we still have to see what some of these young guys in that third- and fourth-line role can do. Right now, the way everything is working out, he seems to be the guy we can slide in and slide out.”
The difference between this situation and the one with Recchi is that Linden likely will play for no team other than the Canucks. Recchi, on the other hand, hopes to find a new home that will play him on a nightly basis.
There have been few – if any – developments in the Recchi situation, but word around the league is that the Anaheim Ducks may have an interest. If such a trade were to happen, look for the Penguins to accept a player with a decent-sized contract in return, as the Ducks have little cap space to work with.
Comments
DaBich
Dec 4, 12:18 PM
It’s a shame. Recchi, Linden, both are good guys. But, being a good guy doesn’t always fit with what the team needs/wants.
I’ve always admired Linden, and Recchi as well.
Matt Bodenschatz
Dec 4, 01:38 PM
Bingo. It’s a shame to see such well-respected and likable players in such crappy situations. The fact is, though, that players need to learn to hang them up before it’s too late. Situations such as these are embarrassing, to say the least.
DaBich
Dec 4, 02:19 PM
Yeah, well, who wants to admit they’re “too old” to play hockey? Look at Chris Chelios. It can’t be too long before he’s in the same situation. What is he? 45?
Matt Bodenschatz
Dec 4, 02:27 PM
No one does, but when your legacy is on the line, its not smart to hang around. Recchi could have gone out on top (or at least on his own will) last year. He had respectable points, but it was clear the game passed him by during the second half of the season. I don’t blame him for wanting to come back, but he didn’t have it toward the end of last year, and this year he is just tainting his name.
Chelios is a different story. He clearly still has it — and he should keep playing until signs are there that he doesn’t. Those signs appeared for Recchi midway through last year and continued into this season. Those signs have not shown up in the least for Chelios, who remains a legitimate defender.
DaBich
Dec 4, 03:03 PM
True that. Chellie still has good legs.
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