Naslund's 1000th Game

I'm sure you all know about it, but his 1000th game is coming up against Detroit in 2 days, and considering he's one of my favorite players in the league, I figured it deserved it's own thread...

I've got a bad feeling about this thread...

EDIT: Congrats, Nazzy. A great achievement in this league.

Let's just hope his 1000th game is better than his 999th.

hopefully its a game to remember...

a hat trick or else fail

Lets leave him in Detroit after the game, so he can finish his career in dignity and provide Vancouver with a player that actually fits our system.

I personally would love to replace Naslund with Mikael Samuelsson and draft pick. That way Naslund could play with Zetterberg and complete his season and career with an offensive juggernaut.

Congrats Nazzy.

Lets leave him in Detroit after the game, so he can finish his career in dignity and provide Vancouver with a player that actually fits our system.

I personally would love to replace Naslund with Mikael Samuelsson and draft pick. That way Naslund could play with Zetterberg and complete his season and career with an offensive juggernaut.

How does that improve the Canucks? Or is the Canucks goal just to improve rival teams?

How does it make the team any worst, it removes a large salary from the cap, brings a RH shot and size to the top 6 of the lineup, and someone who has had success playing with the Sedins. PP companion for the Sedins.

Those are three things that Naslund has been unable to do, despite still being a very talented player. The move would also remove the C from his jersey and allow the team to make Mitchell the captain with Ohlund and Kesler as assistants. The new identity of this team

Samuelsson > Naslund

Sad, but true.

How does it make the team any worst, it removes a large salary from the cap, brings a RH shot and size to the top 6 of the lineup, and someone who has had success playing with the Sedins. PP companion for the Sedins.

Cap space doesn't mean all that much during the season. Who are the Canucks going to go out and acquire with the cap space and what assets are they going to use to acquire said player? The Canucks will have to go and spend top assets just to acquire a player that can produce at Naslund's level. The off-season is different when UFA's can be signed for nothing, but it's easier said then done to do the same at this point.

And Samuelsson is a marginal top 6 forward at best who is slightly bigger than Naslund, not that it matters considering he's just as soft if not softer. I'm sure his 7 goals so far this season and career best of 23 would really improve the Canucks offense at the expense of Naslund...:shakehead

Samuelsson > Naslund

Sad, but true.

Care to explain how? Samuelsson is a lesser version of Naslund.

Is Mikael a better offensive player? Uh, nope, not even close. Is he grittier? Neither are. Better defensively? Perhaps slightly. Really, how is he a better player?

I am not saying Samuelsson is more talented or the better player, but he is a better fit for this team. He brings more grit, size, defensive awareness and overall a better fit for this current team.

Naslund is terrible. I hope he retires after this season. What a waste.

I am not saying Samuelsson is more talented or the better player, but he is a better fit for this team. He brings more grit, size, defensive awareness and overall a better fit for this current team.

The Canucks need offense, how do they benefit by trading away one of the few players that has provided in a top 6 role for someone that will most likely struggle to put up 40 points?

I could see the logic if the Canucks had another trade lined up to replace Naslund's offense, but the odds of that are very slim. Trading Naslund for Samuelsson is nothing but a big downgrade offensively, something the Canucks can't afford.

Naslund is not a top 6 player anymore. His stats (when with the Sedins) were inflated because of the open nets he saw.

Too bad Naslund can't play defensive hockey for the life of him. He pretty much fits nowhere on this team.

Give credit where it is due, 1000 games is no easy feat. Being a first liner during the majority of that time is not easy either. He's our all-time leading scorer. Yeah, father time has his eyes on him, and he's not nearly the threat he used to be, and the Canucks may do well to part with him after the year. But let's wait until the playoffs are done before decding that for sure. I personally think he'll come back at a much reduced salary. But whatever you think of his future, he does deserve a lot of respect for his accomplishments

We gotta be pushing Naslund for Sundin before JFJ is booted out. One last one for his legacy...

Because a 3rd-to-last place Leafs team can REALLY use a soon-to-be UFA Naslund... :sarcasm:

The debate between Naslund and Samuelsson is ridiculous. The grass ISN'T always greener!! Really, all that's happened the last little while is a run of bad luck with injuries (Ohlund, Pyatt getting hit in the face, Salo possibly hurt again), not to mention the long-term guys we're already missing, and some admittedly odd roster decisions by the guys up top.

Maybe now Nonis and Vigneault will realize Raymond should stay up...

How is it ridiculous when the majority of Naslund's goals are a result of being setup perfectly by the Sedins, given the same scenario whats to say Samuelsson couldn't do the same.

Naslund has proven nothing without the Sedins, so how in world do you consider him all that much better than Samuelsson. Just because he has more goals in a role with a couple of proven setup men, recall that Anson Carter scored 33 alongside the Sedins as well, doesn't prove that he is that much of a better player now. He was a much better player in the past, and has more talent than Samuelsson, but he has not proven that this year.

Samuelsson > Naslund

Sad, but true.

Comparing Naslund to Ulf Samuelsson is an insult to naslund.


:sarcasm:

It's Pyatts 431 game next game...Why doesn't he get recognition?

NAZZY, Congrats!!!!

999 games, 1000 tomorrow. In that time he's scored 361 G 443 A and is a +28. So he scored in 80% of the 999 games he's played in....not bad really. His production has slowed in recent years but it doesn't change who he is and what he has done in his career. I too am very frustrated with him these days/year but I also recall a guy named Yzerman who took somewhere in the neighborhood of 1200 games before he hoisted his first cup....;)

Congrats Marcus, most men would give their left buddy to play one game but a 1000! Good on ya!

Z

at this point in his career, his game has obviously changed. he's no longer a dominate goalscorer, but is still an elite passer. he needs to play with a trigger man, but we simply don't have any on the roster.

it might be time to put Kesler in an offensive role, and give Grabner a shot. naslund-kesler-grabner as a second line.

anyway, congrats on one grand, nassy!

if he doesnt score a goal or 2 its time to hang up the skates

We gotta be pushing Naslund for Sundin before JFJ is booted out. One last one for his legacy...

I was just thinking the same thing. We fleeced Keenan just before he was booted from Florida, maybe we can pull the same trick on the Leafs...

Care to explain how? Samuelsson is a lesser version of Naslund.

Is Mikael a better offensive player? Uh, nope, not even close. Is he grittier? Neither are. Better defensively? Perhaps slightly. Really, how is he a better player?

I think the two players are too different to be called 'versions' of each other. Näslund is a better hockeyplayer stilll though.

Mikael Samuelsson is grittier than Näslund. But thats about the only thing that he's better at. He's also a bit younger, not that much but he should have a few more years in him than Näslund.

Samuelsson qualities, he's right hand shot and a pretty hard wrist shot to that, so if you lack guys who shoots right he may be something for you.

He's can also decent shoot slaps from the blueline, so he has been used on the PP instead of a defenceman in Detroit.

He isn't an awful checker so I guess he can still be used if he doesnt make it as a top 6 forward (hes more like a thirdliner anyway).

He flaws, is that he makes to much mistakes, he's kind of overrating himselfs sometimes and make things too difficult for himself. And he's shoot timing cant be that good, his shooting % isnt very good, even though he shoots pretty hard.

Congrats, Nazzy!

It's funny that so many people think of Näslund when they're talking about overpayment/underachievement. Whenever I'm looking for a perfect example of that lethal combination I tend to look at the Rangers and keep wondering what the hell they're spending those $ 8,360,000.-- for...

Maybe that's just me.

Congrats, Nazzy!

It's funny that so many people think of Näslund when they're talking about overpayment/underachievement. Whenever I'm looking for a perfect example of that lethal combination I tend to look at the Rangers and keep wondering what the hell they're spending those $ 8,360,000.-- for...

Maybe that's just me.

Rags are actually only on the hook for half of Jagr's salary. Washington is still paying half.

Isn't the cap hit still all on the Rangers though?

Its amusing to me that in the main Canucks forum Nazzy's 1000th game thread and a Trade Naslund thread are right on top of each other.

Congrats on your 1000th Naslund.

Its amusing to me that in the main Canucks forum Nazzy's 1000th game thread and a Trade Naslund thread are right on top of each other.

Congrats on your 1000th Naslund.
And yet they're both talking about the same things.

Isn't the cap hit still all on the Rangers though?

nope
only half
well, according to NHLnumbers.com


and yes, go Nazzy
1000th game = 1000% effort = 1000 goals!

... or 1
i could live with just 1

Congrats to Nazzy. Lets hope he can contribute a bit down the stretch run and come back next season at a reduced rate.

He has been arguably the best Canuck forward ever. Bure was more exciting and talented, Linden meant more to the team, but Naslund really gave the Canucks an identity in the early 00's.

I know I (like others) bash him a lot around here, but looking back he has given us some pretty unbelievable highlights and exciting times.

The rush in game seven against Calgary.

The SNIPE against Detroit in the playoffs in '02 (still my favourite Nazzy goal).

The beauty end-to-ender against Ottawa.

Making countless opposing defensemen look like turnstiles.

:handclap::handclap:

Congrats Nazzy, tons of good memories...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Wxz6GNssfDs

Congrats Nazzy!

at this point in his career, his game has obviously changed. he's no longer a dominate goalscorer, but is still an elite passer. he needs to play with a trigger man, but we simply don't have any on the roster.

it might be time to put Kesler in an offensive role, and give Grabner a shot. naslund-kesler-grabner as a second line.

anyway, congrats on one grand, nassy!

Good. I'm not the only one. :handclap:

Congrats Nazzy, tons of good memories...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Wxz6GNssfDs

That goal really illustrates how badly Naslund's speed has declined. There's no chance in hell he could pull something off like that these days. Kind of depressing really.