The Vancouver Canucks have re-signed perhaps the most popular player in its history today, signing Trevor Linden to a one-year contract.
Financial terms weren’t disclosed but reports out of Vancouver suggest Linden has agreed to the league minimum $475K, down from the $600K he earned last season, in order to give Canucks management a bit of cap flexibility for the upcoming season.
I have to be honest, folks, by the midpoint of last season I consider Linden a spent force and said as much, yet he proved he still had a bit left in the tank with a strong finish down the stretch and tying for the team’s playoff points lead.
There’s been some suggestion that the reason it took so long for the Canucks to re-sign Linden was perhaps the team’s unwillingness to have him on the roster when the results of the NHLPA’s internal investigation into the hiring of former executive director Ted Saskin are reported.
Linden was the NHLPA president during the lockout, worked closely with Saskin and was considered responsible for firing Bob Goodenow as executive director and replacing him with Saskin.
However, I believe the reason it took so long to sign Linden was perhaps more due to management’s desire to bolster it’s offensive depth and Linden’s potential role with the team than anything to do with his role in the Saskin affair.
Linden’s best days are behind him but he’s still a proven leader on and off the ice and valuable in a checking line role. This, however, is likely his swan song as an NHL player so Canucks fans should enjoy every game that Linden plays this season.
The Los Angeles Kings further bolstered their blueline depth recently by signing former Dallas Stars defenseman Jon Klemm to a one-year, two-way contract.
Klemm is obviously a replacement for Oleg Tverdovsky, who bolted for Russia rather than face the possibility of starting next season in the minors.
His experience and defensive skills should make him a valuable addition to the Kings defense corps, plus his two-way contract makes him an affordable pickup. It remains to be seen if he’ll start the season with the Kings but if not he should see ice time with them as a call up when injuries inevitably strike.
Scratch defenseman Daniel Tjarnqvist off the list of available unrestricted free agents.
Swedish sports paper Expressen reported Tjarnqvist has signed a contract with Ak Bars Kazan of the Russian Super League apparently worth $2 million for the upcoming season.
Understandable that Tjarnqvist would opt for the possibility of earning that much in Russia since he likely wasn’t going to earn that in the NHL.
No word if he’s got an “escape clause” that would allow him to return to the NHL.
Good for Linden. He was great in the playoffs last year ... and actually played a strong role down the stretch as the coveted right hand shot to park to the goalies right and #### in cross crease passes from the Sedins on teh PP.
Finally the Canucks sign Linden! The city's been buzzing about this for days, though I don't agree with some of the folk getting prematurely upset with Nonis. Sounds like Linden, Nonis & Vigneault have mutually worked out reasonable expectations about Linden's role with the team.
I still think given more ice time he could be more productive. He looked good when he received a little power play time last year. And he's a playoff warrior with heart to match just about anyone in the league. But a time will come when he has to retire - might be as early as next season. Hopefully he'll go on his own terms, with a Cup raised above his head.
2 million for Tjarnqvist is a lot, but hey, that's why these guys no longer get signed in the NHL. Gone are the salad days when every sixth defenseman and fourth-line grinder could merit that type of salary. And the game's the better for it as far as I'm concerned.
On the Linden front, good for him. He's always struck me as the type of player who'd take less money to make a statement, and he clearly has had a great return to Vancouver and stepped up his game at the exact times he's had to. Difficult to say if the Nucks are close enough to make him a Cup winner (I'd say no), but it's a nice story nonetheless.
No need for an escape clause if signing if Russia. With no transfer agreement, the Russkies don't seem to recognize NHL contracts and the NHL is not obligated to recognize theirs either. The Russian's are working on changing the labour laws, but for now the Malkin precedent says you're free and clear after giving a two weeks notice.
I'm Lyle Richardson, also known as Spector, Foxsports.com 's "Prince of Pucks".,which is based on the fact I live in Prince Edward Island, Canada and I couldn't think of a better byline. I've been an NHL hockey commentator since 1998 on my website, Spector's Hockey, and I'm a contributing writer for Foxsports.com , The Hockey News and Eishockey News. I'm also a regular on The Faceoff Hockey Show and a frequent guest on "The Late Crew" on The Team 1200 Ottawa.
