The problem with Naslund is not that he isn’t grace with amazing talent. He is the most talented player on the Canucks. There is something else going on. Some say it was the hit by Moore and fiasco afterwards. Some say it was the on ice speech after they lost the division title. I don’t buy it.

Something else is going on.

The Canucks need a new captain. If you take the C away from Nazzy he has to go. Period.

He has the potential to go somewhere else and come alive, and the team will probably get him on the cheap so make sure he goes east.

I’d place my bets on Kesler or Mitchell with the C next year.

Posted by Laker from dapuddle on 03/11/08 at 06:30 PM ET

I don’t have much to say other than I hope to God they don’t give Kesler the C.

Why not give it back to Linden?

Posted by LOUiE from Cowtown on 03/11/08 at 06:43 PM ET

A defenseman is a very good bet to be the next Captain.  Mitchell is a good guess, definitely, but my money is on Kevin Bieksa.

Can’t really say why, just always had a feeling.

Posted by Alanah McGinley from British Columbia on 03/11/08 at 06:51 PM ET

Linden is done after this year.

I think Mitchell over Bieksa because Bieksa has a lot of development yet to come. A ‘C’ might get in the way of that. Mitchell is what he is.

Posted by Laker from Dapuddle on 03/11/08 at 07:47 PM ET

Seems like the armchair GMs in Vancouver have been writing Naslund off for at least two years, mostly because his decline in production made his contract look so bad. I agree with Simpson’s assessment of his value and talent, but not with his prescription for Naslund having to leave to thrive.

Vancouver should keep Naslund if he wants to stay (at a discount, sure), but they also still need to get him one top-notch line-mate...the same top-line (or at least top-6) forward they’ve needed for two years. Someone fast and smart enough to set up plays at full speed. At $3 million and 35 goals, Naslund would be gold, and I don’t think he needs to remain the captain—in fact he might do better without that pressure (and minus the salary pressure). Let him have fun again and make Mitchell the captain (Bieksa’s not ready yet).

I’d probably keep Morrison too, if he wants to stay for somewhere around the same salary—I don’t believe Nonis can replace his skill set on the open market for the same dollars. He’d also benefit from a rejuvenated Naslund and a legitimate high-skill winger. Although the Canucks weren’t great before Christmas, and he was playing injured some of the time, I really liked his game back then.

Just my two cents…

Posted by Jeremy from Summerland, BC on 03/11/08 at 07:53 PM ET

You think Naslund will stay for 3 million?

He could go UFA and get more than that. So if he stayed it would be a home discount. I can see him staying for around 5 million but 3?

At 3 he is worth keeping for sure. Without the C.

Posted by Laker from Dapuddle on 03/11/08 at 08:14 PM ET

Good point. Wishful-thinking fan delusion again on my part.

I wouldn’t sign him for $5 million, though. Maybe 4ish? I suppose he could probably get over $4 million on the open market. That seems high for his recent production, but who else would they get in that range who would be better?

I guess my main point was still that they have to find him a linemate if he stays. The less money he takes, the better his linemate (purely in the realm of theoretical, I suppose).

Posted by Jeremy from Summerland, BC on 03/11/08 at 08:35 PM ET

Yeah, Linden will be wearing the “C” on his shirt on a houseboat next year! I think Mitchell is a shoe-in.

Naslund is the kind of player that we DON’T need right now. We need more size up front. You could see it against the Kings where he tries his spin move and the small Kings d-man just pushed him over.
Naslund may have more offensive output with different linemates, but he is not the kind of guy that will lead a team to a Cup.
I bet Nonis would offer him $2.5 million MAX and he won’t take it. Then he’ll take his ball and go home.
As mean as it sounds, I won’t miss him. I’d gladly trade his $6 million salary for 3 $2 million or 2 $3 million North American players who have more size and grit and put the puck in the net more frequently, which is a lot of players actually!

Posted by Zanstorm from Smithers on 03/11/08 at 08:38 PM ET

The thing that gets me, and you really notice it when you see it live, is that if he is challenged when he has the puck he stops skating and either dishes it off or turns it over.

Must has been made about him not going to the ‘dirty’ areas already, by others. I agree.

How about Shawn Avery? probably could get him for just under 4 mill. They could probably even chain the water bottles in the penalty box down so no fans get hurt.

Posted by Laker from Dapuddle on 03/11/08 at 09:26 PM ET

I REALLY hate to do this (becuase I hate the Flamers) but having a guy like Iginla in Vancity would be ideal.  I’m not in the Cancuks dressing room, but I get the feeling that if Nazzy signs with another team there won’t be too many tears.  That said, if Iggy gets traded (unlikely) it seems like the Flamers’ whole organization would crumble (maybe a slight exaggeration).

I remember when Iron Mike traded Linden away (I was probably still an embryo back then) but I was devastated and couldn’t envision the near future of the franchise.

Anyways, what I’m trying to say is...we need a captain who can put the team on his back and win games.

Of course we could always go the route of the BoSox and throw a C on Bobby Lou…

Just a (passionate) thought

Posted by LOUiE from Cowtown on 03/11/08 at 09:30 PM ET

Louie,

I agree totally. Iginla is a great leader. And trust me, no one has a Flamer hatred more than me.

I’ve heard a couple sportstalk shows mention that the flames dressing room is getting tired of Phaneuf’s ego though, that could prove interesting.

Posted by Laker from Dapuddle on 03/11/08 at 09:34 PM ET

I think Naslund would stay with the Canucks, for $3 million.  (At least as opposed to going somewhere else, anyway.  But personally, I think that if he doesn’t re-sign with the Canucks, he may retire.)

As for other matters you guys bring up, here are my two-bits:

-- I think Morrison should stay. (He’s unreasonably written-off by people since the end of the West Coast Express, but for what he does for the the team, he’s always seemed like a good value to me.)

-- My theory about Beesak-as-Captain is probably premature (Mitchell is indeed the more obvious choice) But geez… when it comes to big games when he’s healthy, Bieksa’s always looked like a ferocious leader to me.  One day, it’s comin’… I’m telling ya…

-- About Avery, I’d take him - I love defending indefensible players—but only for about $3 million.  And no water bottles.

-- as for Iginla: definitely an amazing player, but I believe the Flames just signed up his rights till he turns like 85 years old, or something?? I’m pretty sure they’re keeping him.

Posted by Alanah McGinley from British Columbia on 03/11/08 at 09:41 PM ET