BlakChamber 8 Report post Posted May 3, 2009 I thought he was already retired. Former Vancouver Canuck captain Markus Naslund plans to retire after a disappointing season with the New York Rangers, according to a report in the New York Post, and will walk away from the final year on his contract. Full Story. He was a stud in the first half of the decade, and really helped my fantasy team a couple years. I guess not everyone can be like Chelios. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChelisChick 174 Report post Posted May 3, 2009 I hate that. I always liked Nazzy. Oh well, time marches on. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest DetroitBoy313 Report post Posted May 4, 2009 Naslund retires after 15 years Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hockeytown_Ryan 122 Report post Posted May 5, 2009 Is his name on the Cup?? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OsGOD 3 Report post Posted May 5, 2009 just a good ol' boy never doing no harm... or anything on the ice lately. Best of luck in the post hockey life! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
going_top_shelf 6 Report post Posted May 5, 2009 I wonder why he decided to hang em up. Anyone know? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OsGOD 3 Report post Posted May 5, 2009 I wonder why he decided to hang em up. Anyone know? he was rendered useless via old age prolly Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
YoungGuns1340 1 Report post Posted May 5, 2009 No offense, but Naslund really lost his killer instinct. If he ever had one. Not to bash the guy or anything, but he really never seemed to have the drive of a champion. Maybe personal issues. Or just a natural, strange disposition. I remember when Ziggy Palffy retired at age 33 or 34, and Mathieu Schneider, who played with him on LA, called him "a strange bird." Naslund could be similar. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Number19 159 Report post Posted May 5, 2009 Make it happen Kenny. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dat's sick 1,002 Report post Posted May 5, 2009 No offense, but Naslund really lost his killer instinct. If he ever had one. Not to bash the guy or anything, but he really never seemed to have the drive of a champion. Maybe personal issues. Or just a natural, strange disposition. I remember when Ziggy Palffy retired at age 33 or 34, and Mathieu Schneider, who played with him on LA, called him "a strange bird." Naslund could be similar. Naslund has always seemed like a great guy to me, and the way he decided to end his career is a evidence of that. But I think you may be right that he didn't have the "drive of a champion". I can't remember ever seeing him really agitated during a game, he's always seemed so cool and composed and maybe that's not always a good thing. Anyway, I will miss him. He's one of those players that I feel probably should have had a greater career than he ended up having, but for a couple of years he was one of the top players in the league. And btw, I don't think Palffy is retired yet. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GMRwings1983 8,804 Report post Posted May 5, 2009 His stats are slipping because of his age. Happens to pretty much every player. I guess unlike 99.9% of players, he didn't feel like staying past his prime and being half the player that he once was. Interesting move just because we don't see it very often. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204 Report post Posted May 5, 2009 Classy move by Nazzy, check out Puck Daddys blog for the breakdown of what he did. By retiring he saves the Rangers the money (2million) on the cap by buying him out this year and 1 million for the next 2 years. Nice career Markus, always liked ya. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
puckloo39 5,686 Report post Posted May 5, 2009 Add me to the list of those who appreciated Naslund. Happy retirement, Markus. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ChelisChick 174 Report post Posted May 5, 2009 Ditto Loo. Classy guy all the way. The NHL was a better place having him in it. Enjoy your retirement Markus. You've definetely earned it! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
miller76 463 Report post Posted May 5, 2009 Curious to see what Vancouver does, now that he has decided to retire. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kylee 727 Report post Posted May 5, 2009 Make it happen Kenny. lol. poor naslund. no Cup for you. seemed like he peaked with Bertuzzi on his line before Todd went off the deep end. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SweWings 45 Report post Posted May 5, 2009 Oh ye people... This guy was one of the only good things on a Canucks team for more than a couple of seasons and even won the Lester B. Pearson Award back in 02-03. He lost his step and his drive the last couple of years but his "killer instinct" was still good enough for him to score 24 goals this past season. Oh and he decided to retire instead of playing out the last year of his contract which would have paid him $3M and thereby solving at least some of the Ranger's cap problems. Classy? - Yeah. Btw, it's still a little weird to me that they have a goalie for a captain. Not that unusual in soccer but in hockey it's just strange. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gordie Howe hat trick 110 Report post Posted May 5, 2009 Oh ye people... This guy was one of the only good things on a Canucks team for more than a couple of seasons and even won the Lester B. Pearson Award back in 02-03. He lost his step and his drive the last couple of years but his "killer instinct" was still good enough for him to score 24 goals this past season. Oh and he decided to retire instead of playing out the last year of his contract which would have paid him $3M and thereby solving at least some of the Ranger's cap problems. Classy? - Yeah. Btw, it's still a little weird to me that they have a goalie for a captain. Not that unusual in soccer but in hockey it's just strange. The way I understood it a goalie can't be a captain. I also thought that it was weird when I read it when they announced that he was...although I think it is an honorary thing. Either way, happy retirement Naslund, always liked you. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OsGOD 3 Report post Posted May 5, 2009 Curious to see what Vancouver does, now that he has decided to retire. Are you talking retiring the number? for me he has been the face of the canucks (even after he left)... But then again i don't think they did anything for their other "face" Bure after he retired Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
miller76 463 Report post Posted May 5, 2009 Are you talking retiring the number? for me he has been the face of the canucks (even after he left)... But then again i don't think they did anything for their other "face" Bure after he retired You would think it would be an obvious gesture by the Canucks. But they could just sit there and do nothing as well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevkrause 1,247 Report post Posted May 5, 2009 (edited) You would think it would be an obvious gesture by the Canucks. But they could just sit there and do nothing as well. he was only months away from turning 35, which per the CBA, automatically locks in his contract... even following retirement and thus, a cap hit... very classy move by Naslund to help them free up cap space, when he could have just sat back and collected a pay check Edited May 5, 2009 by stevkrause Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
