He never brought the city a Stanley Cup but Markus Naslund played a role in saving the Vancouver Canucks franchise.
Naslund's contributions on the ice helped transform the Canucks from laughable losers playing before empty seats to a respected NHL team that sells out all its games. His charitable work in the community continued a tradition Canucks management uses as a yardstick when deciding on what players to acquire.
By choosing to retire Naslund's No. 19, the Canucks honoured not only their former captain's accomplishments, but the man inside the sweater.
"For me it's the highest honour you can get, for your number not to be worn again," Naslund said Saturday, prior to the ceremony hoisting his to the rafters at Rogers Arena. "It's pretty special."
The Naslund who came to the arena with his wife and three children Saturday didn't look much different than the player who spent over a decade in a Canucks uniform and remains the team's leading points scorer. He was soft spoken, almost shy. Yet the 36-year-old talked with passion and honesty. His blue eyes flashed the same old intensity.
"I was part of a team that went from a few years when the franchise was struggling to being a contender," said the quiet Swede.
"We never got all the way, which was the goal, but we still got to be part of the whole hockey hype coming back to the city. That was such an enjoyable ride to see the stadium going from half full to full every night."
Being back in Vancouver was something Naslund wanted to savour.
"I'm going to try to slow down so I can remember it all," he said. "It's going to be the highlight of my career.
"Looking back at it, this is probably going to be the most lasting memory. I think it's important to try and get all the snap shots and enjoy it all."
Naslund spent parts of three seasons playing for Pittsburgh before being traded to the Canucks in March 1996 for Alek Stojanov. He spent the next 11 seasons in Vancouver and was the Canucks captain from 2000 to 2008.
He led Vancouver in scoring for seven seasons, scored 30 or more goals six times and enjoyed three consecutive seasons with 40 or more goals. The left-winger scored 346 goals as a Canuck and remains Vancouver's leading scorer with 756 points.
His best season was in 2002-03, when he had 48 goals and 56 assists for 104 points and won the Lester B. Pearson Award, which is now known as the Ted Lindsay Award. The honour goes to the league MVP as voted by the players.
Naslund was part of a core group of Canucks that included Brendan Morrison, Todd Bertuzzi, Mattias Ohlund, Ed Jovanovski and twins Daniel and Henrik Sedin. The team played an exciting, fast-skating, high-scoring game.
Henrik Sedin, now the Canucks captain, praised the confidence Naslund showed in the young brothers.
"He was huge," said Henrik. "When we had those tough times he was there for us. It meant a lot to us."
Naslund left the Canucks as a free agent in the summer of 2008 and signed with the New York Rangers. He retired after one season there.
Naslund joins former captains Trevor Linden and Stan Smyl as the only Canucks to have their numbers retired. All three were on hand when the Canucks unveiled their Hall of Heros on Saturday morning, an interactive display at Rogers Arena dedicated to players who have had their numbers retired.
"To be joining that company is really special to me," said Naslund. "I know them both. I know what kind of personalities they are."
While Naslund chatted with reporters, his son Alex and daughters Isabella and Rebecca watched highlights of their father on the ice. They grinned and pointed at pictures of their father when he was much younger.
The Canucks were a bad team when Naslund came to Vancouver. They would miss the playoffs for the next four years.
The arena was over half empty on many nights. There even was talk of the franchise moving.
With Brian Burke as general manager, Mark Crawford as coach, and Naslund serving as captain, the Canucks rebuilt themselves on the ice. The team also reconnected with the community.
Linden said Naslund was an important building block in that reconstruction.
"He was a guy that picked this franchise up when it really needed it," said Linden. "When you look back to the late 1990s, the franchise had gone through a lot of turmoil.
"Markus was named captain and that was the starting point of a very exciting and fun era. He gave a lot of himself to this organization. He really put his heart and soul into what he was doing here."
Naslund always had the respect of the dressing room, but didn't always win the hearts of the fans. While Linden was revered, Naslund was often jeered.
His reserved manner was sometimes mistaken for indifference.
The decision to retire Naslund's jersey has been fodder for sports talk radio programs. Critics point out he never led the Canucks past the second round of the playoffs.
Goaltender Roberto Luongo said Naslund deserves the honour.
"He's one of the faces of this franchise," said Luongo. "When you think of the Vancouver Canucks, there are a handful of guys you think of. Markus is definitely one of them."
