Sportsnet.ca —Trevor Linden will have to get accustomed to riding the pine while head coach Alain Vigneault figures out what the best role for the long-serving Canuck is.
Vigneault is happy with the current makeup of his team, writes the Vancouver Sun, and he doesn’t see where Linden could be a good fit on any of his lines.
“We have to look at our team identity right now,” Vigneault said. “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.”
Linden has sat out eight games this season and will likely sit out many more as the team’s mandate is to give its younger players more ice time to see how they perform with an increased role.
“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.”
Feedback
Whether he fits or not, out of respect, Trevor ought to be played during home games. There are still a lot of us in Vancouver who come out to see #16.
waters
You should hear the Vancouver media over this one. Some are saying that Trevor should be playing because of all he has done for the team and the city. One guy even called him one of the greatest leaders ever. Personally I think he has played too long. the Canucks could and should use him for PR and around town, but get on with life Trev.
Bob T.
I would prefer if we could keep Trevor in the line up full time and slide Alain in and out. Linden is a first class hockey player and deserves his ice time. The Canucks need his experience and his timely goals. I do not know what the coaching staff is thinking. Just my two cents.
RJ
PUT LINDEN ON WAIVERS, HE IS TOO OLD TO PLAY AND WE NEED TO START DEVELOPING OUR PROSPECTS NOT IN MANITOBA BUT HERE IN VANCOUVER. BYE BYE TREVOR DONT LET THE DOOR HIT YOU ON THE WAY OUT.
TERRY ADAMS
Good to see Alain not giving in to fan reaction and doing what’s best for the team. Do fans want to see Trevor’s 6 minutes of ice time or do they want to win hockey games?
I have the utmost respect for Linden and think he’s probably the classiest player ever to play in my lifetime. He deserves a cushy job within the organization when he retires. But no coach should give in to sentiment when he’s got great young players waiting for their chance in the big league.
John
