FORMER CANUCK NASLUND HUMBLED BY PLANS TO RETIRE HIS JERSEY ASSOCIATED PRESS

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1 FORMER CANUCK NASLUND HUMBLED BY PLANS TO RETIRE HIS JERSEY ASSOCIATED PRESS VANCOUVER -- In the year since he retired from the NHL, former Vancouver Canucks captain Markus Naslund has had a chance to reflect on the good times and the disappointments. He's thought about the friends he's made and the opportunities that slipped through his fingers. During his 15-year career, Naslund wore the uniforms of three clubs, but the team that had the most impact on his life was the Canucks. That's why Naslund was so appreciative when Vancouver general manager Mike Gillis called to say the Canucks had decided to retire his sweater. "I felt humbled and proud," Naslund, 36, said Thursday during a telephone conference call from his home in Ornskoldsvik, Sweden. "When you are done, and you reflect on everything that has been going on throughout your career, getting a phone call like that means a lot." Naslund's No. 19 will be hoisted to the rafters at the Rogers Arena on Dec. 11 when Vancouver plays the Tampa Bay Lightning. The ceremony will be part of the Canucks' plans to celebrate 40 seasons in the NHL. Naslund will join Trevor Linden and Stan Smyl as the only three Canucks to have their jerseys retired. Gillis said the Canucks "don't want to be in the sweater retirement business," and have established a high set of criteria for retiring a number. Naslund meets that standard by combining great skill on the ice with a devotion to community service. "He was an exciting player who, in the community, was outstanding," said Gillis, who was Naslund's former agent. "He had all the attributes we were looking for." 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.

2 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 , 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 award 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. "Probably the fondest memory I have is we had a bunch of guys that were the same age that grew up together in the early 2000's," Naslund said. "We created a pretty strong personal bond with each other because we had a lot of fun together." Watching Henrik Sedin develop from a wide-eyed rookie to the player that won this year's Hart Trophy as league MVP after winning the scoring race was a joy for Naslund. "I've seen the potential all along," said Naslund. "It's been a maturity that's gotten him to this point. "I'm proud and happy for what he's done." During Naslund's tenure, the Canucks produced 100-point seasons and won division titles, but never advanced past the second round of the playoffs. That was his biggest regret. "The disappointment of not getting to the point where I firmly believe we had an opportunity to get, that being the Stanley Cup," he said. "Losing the way we did, especially the '02-'03 and '03-'04 seasons were tough ones. "At that point, I felt we were close but just couldn't get over the hump." Naslund was soft-spoken, almost shy, but often brutally honest when dealing with the media. Few people outside the dressing room saw his dry sense of humour. His circumspect nature was often misread by fans. Many questioned if he had the proper attitude to be captain. "It's a lot of responsibility to be a captain in a Canadian city," Naslund said. "When you want to do well, and things are not going well, you are faced with some tough questions."

3 Naslund left the Canucks as a free agent in the summer of 2008 and signed with the New York Rangers. He had 24 goals and 46 points before retiring at the end of the season. Getting out of the fish bowl of Vancouver was a refreshing change for Naslund. "It wasn't expected for me to have a certain role," he said. "I was new to the team, new to my teammates and the media. "I thought that was exciting to go through that again. It was almost like you were a rookie again. I wasn't in a rookie's body unfortunately." Naslund played about 30 games with his old Swedish team MoDo last year but says he's now hung up his skates for good. Returning to Sweden has been an adjustment for Naslund, his wife and three children. "There's a lot of things I miss about playing and miss about living in North America," he said. "That being said, I'm very happy with my decision and have no regrets about that." Some of Naslund's best years as a player came wearing a Vancouver uniform. He would have loved to end his career a Canuck. "I always envisioned retiring as a Canuck," he said. "To find the right way of finishing your career is not an easy thing to do. "You see a lot of players go out the wrong way. I found I didn't. I had a chance to go to a team that wanted me and gave me a new view of what it's like to play for another team. By playing in New York, I appreciate a lot of stuff I went through in Vancouver and the years I had there." Nazzy has regrets, good memories 'It's going to be emotional, exciting; a special night; great honour' By Jim Jamieson, The Province Markus Naslund says the night they hoist his No. 19 jersey into the rafters at Rogers Arena will be right up there with his wedding and other milestone events in his life. In a conference call with reporters on Thursday from his hometown in Ornskoldsvik, Sweden, Naslund said he was both "humbled and proud" when he received the phone

4 call from Vancouver Canucks GM Mike Gillis, informing him that he would be joining Stan Smyl and Trevor Linden as the only other players in franchise history to have their numbers retired. "It's not something as a player you think about in your active career," said Naslund. "When you're done and you reflect on what been going on in your career, obviously when you get a phone call like this it means a lot. I'm very grateful to Mike [Gillis] and the Aquilinis [team owners] and Vancouver for giving me this great honour." Naslund, 36, said he expects the ceremony, which will take place before the Canucks host Tampa Bay and former teammate and longtime friend Mattias Ohlund on Dec. 11, to be emotional. "I don't know what to expect," he said. "I know it's going to be emotional and exciting because I'm going to have the chance to have both my family and a bunch of my closest friends there at the same time with me. It's definitely one of those special nights, along with your wedding, a big event that I'm going to remember the rest of my life." Naslund wore a Canucks uniform for 12 seasons and was team captain for seven. During his time in Vancouver, he was the recipient of the Lester B. Pearson Award as the league's most outstanding player (as voted on by the players) in and was a first team NHL all-star in three consecutive seasons. But Naslund -- who was also very active in the community -- said his biggest regrets in Vancouver were opportunities missed in the and seasons. "The disappointment of not getting to the point where I believe we had a chance to get to the Stanley Cup," said Naslund. "Losing the way we did [in the and playoffs] was tough. At that point, I felt we were close and just couldn't get over the hump." Naslund said the things he'll remember most about his time with the Canucks are about being part of a group of young players growing up together. "You remember a lot of things -- on the plane, at the rink," he said. "Probably the fondest memories I have is when you have a bunch of guys about the same age that almost grew up together. We formed a pretty strong personal bond with each other." Naslund retired a year ago after signing with the New York Rangers as a free agent. Naslund said he found not being in the spotlight in New York refreshing, but retired after playing one year of a two-year, $8-million-US contract. "It was almost like being a rookie again," he said. "Unfortunately, I wasn't in a rookie's body.

5 "[Being captain] can be tough. You want to have all the right answers, but sometimes you don't." He was asked if he wished he'd ended his NHL career in Vancouver. "[Going to New York] ended up being the right thing," he said. "I'd always envisioned myself retiring as a Canuck because I spent such a big part of my life there. It's a difficult thing when you do get older and you can't perform the way you used to. "To find the right way to finish up your career is not the easiest thing to do. You see a lot of players go out the wrong way and I had a chance to go to a team that wanted me. To play in New York also gave me a chance to appreciate what I had when I played in Vancouver." Blueliner Andersson 'just like Edler' Accelerating defenceman calm with puck and makes good first pass By Ben Kuzma, The Province Peter Andersson doesn't have a big command of the English language, but he does have big aspirations to measure up to Alex Edler as another look-what-we-found blueliner for the Vancouver Canucks. At least that's what the NHL club has told its fifth-round pick from the 2009 entry draft. Andersson made a major leap last season by playing in the world junior tournament and the Swedish Elite League, so comparisons to his countryman are only natural. Maybe they're not fair, but his rapid rise is rare and familiar, and most noticeable at the Canucks' development camp at Rogers Arena. "I'm just like Edler -- they said it," the 19-year-old Andersson chuckled of the comparison made by Dave Gagner, the Canucks' director of player development. "That's good." What will be good in the accelerated learning curve for the 6-foot-3, 194-pound Andersson is the opportunity to play a full elite season with Brynas where he had six points (2-4) in 10 games after amassing five points (1-4) with Vastra Frolunda in 21 games. And with the Canucks making long-term commitments to veterans like Dan Hamhuis and Keith Ballard, and expected to extend the contract of Christian Ehrhoff, they can

6 also be patient. No need to rush anybody because the cupboard appears to be finally stocked with other bona fide NHL prospects like Yann Sauve, Kevin Connauton, Chris Tanev and Evan Oberg. That doesn't mean that Andersson won't push to play pro in a year. Much like Edler, getting his legs under a fast-growing frame has been a challenge and nobody wants to be a deer in the headlights. But Andersson impressed enough to be the final player added the Swedish roster for the worlds last season, a team that included Canucks prospect Anton Rodin. Andersson had three assists in six games, including an 11-4 romp of Switzerland in the bronze-medal game, and could be like Edler. He needed just one WHL season in Kelowna before jumping to the AHL Manitoba Moose. "It was so big for me to come over and play that tournament," said Andersson, who broke a wrist two years ago. "It was good for me to go in and do what I'm good at." What Andersson is good at is what Edler has become known for after being a thirdround pick in Excellent at the outset from making a good first pass, he has had 20-, 37-and 42-point NHL seasons and learned to lean on people. Andersson looks to have that potential. "He's calm with the puck like Alex and that's why he reminds us of him and that's where the comparison is drawn," said Gagner. "And he really adjusted well to the elite league level and was ahead of everybody's expectations. What we like about him is that he's very athletic and playing a bigger role next year with men at that level of skill is going to be huge for him. "We have competition from within with the next wave of D-men and that seems to project well." Another seasoning year for Rodin in Swedish Elite League Chance for way more ice time By Jim Jamieson, The Province Canucks prospect Anton Rodin will return to his Swedish homeland to play another season with Brynas of the Swedish Elite League. The fleet, left-shot right-winger had a tough time in his first season in the SEL, getting five minutes or less of ice-time in the first half of the season, but had a

7 terrific world junior tournament for his country and is going back to Brynas with the understanding that he'll get to play a more prominent role this season. Still just 19, Rodin managed just in 36 regular-season games, but the Canucks are nonetheless very high on the Stockholm native they selected in the second round (53rd overall) of last year's NHL entry draft. Vancouver got some business done in late May, signing Rodin to a three-year, entrylevel deal that will pay him $525,000-$575,000-$700,000 at the NHL level, but that won't kick in until after next season. Brynas will pay Rodin's salary in the upcoming season, so his NHL contract will "slide" and not come into effect until the season, according to Canucks director of player personnel Dave Gagner. Rodin, in town for the Canucks' annual prospects camp this week, said going from junior to Sweden's top pro league was a challenge last year -- especially for a player used to playing a ton and putting up lots of points. "It was tough, but I think it went better in the second half of the season and in playoffs," said Rodin. "A lot of games I would play five minutes or less and in juniors I would play a lot more. But I have no regrets. It was a good experience for me." Rodin's high-end skill set offset any concerns about his size when the Canucks drafted him. He was listed, generously, as 5-foot-11 and 174 pounds. He's now up to 6-feet and 178 pounds, which isn't too far off Mason Raymond's size. Rodin was one of Sweden's top players at the world juniors, producing in six games and it started off the New Year in the right direction for him. "I came out of it with a lot more confidence," he said. "I know I can produce goals and points." Although it was expected that Rodin would play for the Canucks' AHL affiliate in Winnipeg this season, Gagner said a return to Brynas makes more sense. "He had the experience last year of playing with Brynas, he's a year older, a year better," said Gagner. "They've made some recent changes where some of the older guys haven't been re-signed and he feels he's going to get a chance to play. "If he was to come over here and disrupt that we might be jeopardizing his chances of getting a lot of ice time this year." A night to remember for No. 19

8 Naslund 'humbled' by jersey honour, still treasures memories of Canuck days By Elliott Pap, Vancouver Sun During his playing days -- and his best days were with the Vancouver Canucks -- Markus Naslund rarely displayed his emotions. He had no need for mustard because he was never a hotdog. He didn't showboat or show up his opponents. Humility was his stock in trade. So it should come as little surprise that Naslund was a humbled man when he received word his No. 19 Canuck jersey would be retired in a ceremony Dec. 11 at Rogers Arena. General manager Mike Gillis broke the news to Naslund in a long-distance phone call, Vancouver to Ornskoldsvik, Sweden. "I felt humbled and proud," Naslund said Thursday. "It's not something as a player you think about during your active career. When you're done and you reflect on everything that's gone on throughout your career, obviously getting a phone call like that means a lot. I'm very grateful to Mike and to the Aquilinis and to Vancouver for giving me this great honour." Naslund's jersey retirement is part of the Canucks' 40th anniversary celebrations. He'll be just the third Canuck to be honoured in this fashion, joining franchise icons Stan Smyl and Trevor Linden. Naslund was a Canuck for 12 years, team captain for eight and remains the team's all-time leader in goals (346) and points (756). He captured the Ted Lindsay Trophy in 2003 when it was still known as the Pearson Award and was a three-time first-team NHL all-star. Naslund scored 40 or more goals three times and 30 or more six times. He led the Canucks in scoring for seven consecutive seasons. Naslund, who played one final NHL season for the New York Rangers in , intends to bring his wife Lotta and their three children, ages 12, 10 and 8, to Vancouver for the Dec. 11 ceremony. He expects it will be a highly emotional night and is keenly looking forward to it. "I know it's going to be emotional and exciting because I'm going to have the chance to have both my family and a bunch of my closest friends there with me," said Naslund, speaking in a conference call with Vancouver reporters. "It's definitely one of those special nights, along with your wedding and all those big events, and I'm going to remember it for the rest of my life. "A bunch of former teammates have ed me and it's great to see that you're still connected to the friends you played with."

9 It was those friends who provided Naslund with his best memories in a Vancouver uniform. It wasn't one particular game, or season, he explained, but the experience of creating a bond with like-minded individuals. "You remember things that happen on the plane and away from the rink," he said. "But probably the fondest memories I have is when we had a bunch of guys who were about the same age and we kind of grew up together a little bit. We had a lot of fun." Unlike Smyl and Linden, Naslund was not an original Canuck. He came to the organization in a trade from the Pittsburgh Penguins on March 20, 1996, for the forgettable Alek Stojanov. Naslund struggled to make an impact in his first two Canuck seasons and then broke out in with 36 goals. His finest season, however, came in when he netted 48 goals and collected 104 points. He was the runner-up to fellow countryman Peter Forsberg in both the scoring race and Hart Trophy voting. Naslund's biggest regret as a Canuck, he noted, was not winning the Stanley Cup despite playing on some very good teams. The Canucks never made it past the second round during his captaincy. Their biggest failure came in 2003 when they had a 3-1 second-round series lead over the average Minnesota Wild and collapsed, losing it in seven games. He admitted that was his most difficult time as captain. "Losing the way we did, especially in the '02-03 and '03-04 seasons, were tough ones," said Naslund, who turns 37 on July 30. "At that point, I felt we were close but we just couldn't get over the hump." Naslund also conceded that he's missed the NHL and NHL life. He played 29 games last season for his hometown team, MoDo, in a Swedish Elite League swan song but claims he is "definitely done" this time. "It's been a big adjustment and I kind of anticipated that being the case," he said. "It wasn't only retiring but moving back to Sweden to a small city and, after living in Vancouver and New York, it's a drastic change. There are a lot of things I miss about playing and living in North America, That being said, I'm very happy with my decision. I have no regrets." Canuck fans will have their opportunity to give Naslund thanks on Dec. 11. Canucks have a Rai of hope Surrey native gets three-year audition

10 By Elliott Pap, Vancouver Sun Fifth-round picks are long shots to play in the National Hockey League, but sometimes they make it. They actually do. Kevin Bieksa was a Canuck fifth-rounder. So were Adrian Aucoin, Scott Walker and Gino Odjick. Prab Rai, the Canucks' fifth-round pick in 2008, isn't there yet, but at least he's in the conversation. The 20-year-old left-winger from Surrey and the Seattle Thunderbirds has an entrylevel contract, which means a three-year audition, and he'll be trying this fall to earn a spot on the American League's Manitoba Moose. According to the Canucks' director of player development Dave Gagner, Rai has some stuff to do to earn Moose antlers. "It's very much up in the air with Prab," Gagner said, not putting any sugar on this coat. "It's up to him and how he comes in September and competes. He's got a lot of skill, great 1-on-1 skill and he's an effortless skater. He's good enough to play in Manitoba. But it's going to be competitive so, it's up to Prab." Rai, a product of the Surrey Minor Hockey Association, is one of 36 players attending the Canucks' weeklong summer development camp. It's his third time around but first as a pro. He just completed his fifth season in the Western Hockey League, the last 3½ with Seattle. The T-Birds weren't very good but Rai still managed to score a career-high 41 goals on a team that won just 19 times. "I learned a lot this past season, a lot about myself and playing in situations that I haven't played before," Rai said. "It was interesting. I played every position in Seattle -- all the forward positions and a lot of defence, too. So I got to learn the defensive side of hockey, which is obviously something you need to know to play in the NHL. "My role changed a lot on Seattle with first being a supporting cast member and then, the past two years, being the go-to guy and being relied on to put the puck in the net. It was something I was good at when I was younger so it was good to see I still had it in me in a bigger league." Rai understands the size of the hill he must climb and is preparing himself. Pro hockey is another world and he'll be a rookie again, trying to make an impression and earn his spot. "It's going to be exciting," he said. "Obviously when you make the jump to pro, you're kind of just anxious but you have to be focused on what you can do in the off-season to get ready. You have to train and be mentally ready for the ups-and-downs and be

11 prepared for whatever is going to happen... What's in my control is going to camp and performing and that's what I'm looking forward to doing." ICE CHIPS: Canuck assistant GM Laurence Gilman still had not received Thursday any salary arbitration dates for Mason Raymond, Jannik Hansen and Tanner Glass. Cases must be heard between July 20 and Aug. 5.