I sent Markus a letter when I was 10 years old, during one of his last seasons in Vancouver. He was my favourite player and I asked him if he could autograph a card and send it back to me. Well, I get the card back a while later in the mail and still have it today.
Markus Naslund was a very skilled hockey player at an very early age. He was better then older kids at hockey growing up and was early on showing rare promises of a PRO hockey career. A skilled player who worked hard at all times. His childhood rivalry with Peter Forsberg was legendary as both grew up in the minor town of Ornskoldsvik in Sweden and both would grow up to become Hall of Fame level players! Just a bit sad for him that he never managed to win any kind of major championship in his career with any team. No Stanley Cup, No IIHF World Championship Gold medal, No Olympic Gold medal and No Swedish championship
And I LOVE the awesome jerseys the Vancouver Canucks had during his era. Just the one our friend The Hockey Guy wears in this video. The design, the colors ALL just looks so great. Miss them....
@@WarioSaysSo That would include the gradient jersey where the torso of the jersey changed from blue to red and was the one they did the Reverse Retro jersey on where it went from blue to green. When I bought my RR jersey, I got it customized with the captain of the Canucks at the time of the original jersey (2001-06), Markus Naslund's name and #19.
Agree they had it. Even with that back breaker goal the game was tight in the 3rd with Bertuzzi missing a penalty shot. The game was tied 1-1 late in the second when Lidstrom scored that goal. They were playing exceptionally well, the WCE was good in Detroit and they were one of the hottest teams heading into the playoffs (they were terrible in first half, forcing a Burke ultimatum and had the second best record in the nhl in the second half just to qualify in 8th). They had everything going for them until that goal. Detroit was under so much pressure to avoid falling behind 3 games to none. Scoring that goal was massive for them. When vancouver failed to come back in game 3 reality set in. Worse, the WCE failed to score setting the stage for perennial under performance in upcoming playoffs.
On his career season he’s 2nd place in total points, only beaten by his childhood friend and teammate Peter Forsberg. Number one and two in the league from the same town in Sweden with 30.000 residents. INSANE! And when he leaves Vancouver, the Sedins (from the same town) takes over. Crazy talent that has come out of that town and MoDo Hockey.
YES!!!!!! Nazzy was my favourite player back in the day. I even played like him. He’s the reason I love wrist shots so much. He was so good in his prime. Appreciate the love for Markus by doing this video.
I'm surprised you haven't done one for Trevor Linden, the face of the Canucks for 20 years, even when he wasn't here - unless I've managed to miss it. Trevor was a perennial 30 goal scorer until he was traded. But Markus is a good choice, too. I remember the year he tried so hard, he was even throwing body checks in the playoffs. It might have been the year he also said "we choked." As much as I like Dan Cloutier as a person and rooted for him, the guy was injury prone and cost the team games when they mattered most, not that the rest of the team didn't have something to do with that, too.
Greatly underrated through his early career. Most memorable for his minor part in "Sudden death" as a Penguin before really coming into his own as a Canuck. And perhaps more proof that Mike Keenan had a very short shelf life as a progressive coach.
Fun fact: Markus Näslund, Peter Forsberg, Henrik and Daniel Sedin and Victor Hedman all comes from the same town in northern Sweden with only 50000 residents.
Naslund was one of my favourite players in the early 2000s. Always thought he was underrated. Also was the cover athlete of probably one of the best EA sports NHL games.
So many great hockey players from back then really was the golden age for me loved that style of hockey and for some reason I think of Petr Nedved like a Naslaud type
My father's cousin got traded for naslund, yep Stojanov is my father's cousin that was in one of the most lopsided trades in history. Great video on naslund
Here’s a fun video idea i came up with for ya Shannon, thought it would be pretty cool. - Minor League Mondays - Go back in time and research a historic Minor league hockey team to make a video on for every Monday. Whether it be from the AHL, ECHL, or even defunct leagues like the historic IHL. The teams can either still be active or can have suspended operations years ago, all that matters is that the team has some interesting and fun history behind them. Teams like the Fort Wayne Komets, Columbus Chill, and especially the Hershey Bears are rarely talked about anywhere on the internet despite having such rich and storied histories, and it would be super cool if you made videos going over their history. (Whether it be just stats like W-L-OTL, the variation in fan attendance over the years, or innovative marketing tactics that make hockey purists shiver. *Looking at YOU Columbus Chill...*)
Hi Sir, I know you probably hated him, but it's about time you do a career video for MATS Naslund 😄 Afterall he made that strange comeback with Boston in the 94-95 shortened season (along with another player I can't recall right now). Love your work, I'll likely join the channel before season starts. All the best from Qc City!
For a few years there, for offence you had Naslund,Daniel, Henrik. Good first line, but nothing else. Teams would load up defensive line, with top 2 dmen. Only alternative was throw a plug on sedin's line, and throw two plugs on Naslund line Amazing he still able to produce
I remember when the Canucks made the trade for Naslund. It was at the deadline around the same time that they got Belanger and Sillinger in other trades. I didn’t know much about any of the three at the time and at first I liked Naslund the least of the three because Belanger could at least score sometimes, Sillinger was good in a checking role, at faceoffs and could kill penalties whereas all Naslund did it seemed at first was take penalties. It was one instance where I was very glad to have been proven so wrong. Naslund turned out to be a very good player and to this day is my 4th favourite all time Canuck, behind Bure, Linden and Mogilny.
Bure was an instant hit, but Vancouver also got the Sedin twins who had growing pains the way Naslund had. Well, even Tood Bertuzzi took some time, although a power forward typically takes more time to peak.
Ahhh, the good ole West Coast Express power play. It worked good until the refs caught on. Mo and Nazzy would play catch while Bert got into position in front of the net. Bert would crosscheck his defender to the ice, turn around, and tap in the incoming pass.
Naslund is my favourite player all time I remember always pretending to be him as a kid lol. Wish he had more success. I agree the teams round him weren’t good enough but he also didn’t elevate his play when team needed him too
I think Markus has a case for the Hockey Hall of Fame and welcome to the THG Hall of Fame, good sir 🏒 🇸🇪 I'm guessing another Canuck captain be joining him soon 😉
When are you planning on making that video (that you teased 4 years ago) where you look over all the THG Hall of Fame members? Maybe after first 50 inductees?
What was the famous line the lawyer representing the Canucks said about Morrison in his arbitration hearing? "A mouse riding on the back of two elephants" (?)
@@zilvertron What about with Bertuzzi? Lemieux and Bertuzzi are both considered ‘unicorns’ in having great size and amazing hands. On the other hand with Forsberg, when they were both in their prime around the same time, they were compared to each other as the best power forwards if not the best players in the game at that point (around 2003).
My unpopular opinion as a lifelong Canuck fan is that his jersey should not have been retired, Ring of Honour? Absolutely. He's the only jersey we retired that either did not Captain the Canucks to the Cup finals or play a very large contributing role (D. Sedin, Bure). Naslund's light burned bright, but it burned too short.
That is just weird to reflect players skills by looking who he is playing with. Player needs to have certain skill set ragardless who he plays with. Kurri, Jagr and Kariya to name a few. They really had one of the best tandems in history of hockey, but made ecxelent results without Gretzky, Lemieux or Selanne. Same here. Markus Näslund was a star player on his own right.
If that Olympics was in Nagano, it did not happen. No we did not have Ulf Samuelsson bawling and almost not allowed to play due his dual citizen situation, and no we didnt have Tommy Salo in net that year getting the dogs head for letting in the worst softie against Belarus in swedish hockey history in the quarter finals. It, did, just, not, happen!
Naslund, Lindros, Kariya, and more were all negatively impacted by concussions because the NHL didn't bother to punish head hunters. Really took Crosby losing almost 2 prime seasons for the NHL to finally change their tune.
does not exist since theres 2 of Austin Matthews in both 20 and 22, and the guy still put up points. Its kinda shit since in Sweden on the cover its Alien, but when the disc is in the console, its Matthews again
Also, Näslund shouldn't have won that Lindsay... should've gone to Forsberg, who had 2 more points than Näslund in 7 fewer games. Also they kind of grew up together, playing on the same team for quite some time as juniors
I think it was influenced by Forsberg coming on later in the season. Naslund was leading in points and goals until the final game of the season when they got shutout 2-0 by LA cueing his famous "we choked" line. In Colorado's final game, Forsberg had a multipoint game and Hejduk scored 2 goals and Colorado won the division. That ultimately sealed the Hart for Forsberg but for many, Naslund was the favourite for most of the season. We had the split because it was that close. If Naslund wins the art Ross, Maurice Richard and division then he also wins the Hart. I agree with you that Forsberg was clearly better and had a slightly better season that year but it really came down to that final game.
After "the hit" he couldn't quite step off the boards and snap it one inch below the cross bar, and over the goalies shoulder, the way he used to. Instead of hitting that "bullseye", it was more of a good shot, not one of the all-time snap shots
I sent Markus a letter when I was 10 years old, during one of his last seasons in Vancouver. He was my favourite player and I asked him if he could autograph a card and send it back to me. Well, I get the card back a while later in the mail and still have it today.
Loved scoring goals with him on EA Sports NHL 2004 as a kid.
It was NHL 2002 for me
For me it was 2005. I remember comentator line about his wooden stick
nhl 04 the greatest game of all time
NHL 04 was the game that got me into hockey living in the UK. Players like Naslund, Sakic and Forsberg all seemed like superhuman to me.
"Naslund's on a team going through... some stuff." That may be the biggest understatement of the year. :)
My favorite player of all-time, alongside Jovanovski. Awesome!
Jovanovski was a favourite of mine as well. Loved his style
Now that's a pair
Odgie! :D
Mats Zuccarello, Näslund's teammate from Modo, is having a career year this year at 34 years of age. Pretty impressive!
Markus Naslund was a very skilled hockey player at an very early age. He was better then older kids at hockey growing up and was early on showing rare promises of a PRO hockey career. A skilled player who worked hard at all times. His childhood rivalry with Peter Forsberg was legendary as both grew up in the minor town of Ornskoldsvik in Sweden and both would grow up to become Hall of Fame level players! Just a bit sad for him that he never managed to win any kind of major championship in his career with any team.
No Stanley Cup, No IIHF World Championship Gold medal, No Olympic Gold medal and No Swedish championship
And I LOVE the awesome jerseys the Vancouver Canucks had during his era. Just the one our friend The Hockey Guy wears in this video.
The design, the colors ALL just looks so great. Miss them....
@@WarioSaysSo That would include the gradient jersey where the torso of the jersey changed from blue to red and was the one they did the Reverse Retro jersey on where it went from blue to green. When I bought my RR jersey, I got it customized with the captain of the Canucks at the time of the original jersey (2001-06), Markus Naslund's name and #19.
@@dustman820 Yeah I even liked that 3rd jersey with wine-red color. Not as good as there regulars but still fine!
Small Swedish town growing up together and somehow they place first and second in points in the NHL, it’s astounding
@@snowfloofcathug Yeah I agree with that!!!
The NHL not punishing Moore on that hit fucked over not only the Canucks, but Moore too.
I still can’t understand how Vancouver hired Marc Crawford after that incident🤮
Cloutier getting scored on from the other side of the rink still haunts me today. They had that series.
Naa, they never had it. Detroit just turned it on.
I mean if one goal just unravels everything like a light switch, they never had it.
Agree they had it. Even with that back breaker goal the game was tight in the 3rd with Bertuzzi missing a penalty shot. The game was tied 1-1 late in the second when Lidstrom scored that goal. They were playing exceptionally well, the WCE was good in Detroit and they were one of the hottest teams heading into the playoffs (they were terrible in first half, forcing a Burke ultimatum and had the second best record in the nhl in the second half just to qualify in 8th).
They had everything going for them until that goal. Detroit was under so much pressure to avoid falling behind 3 games to none. Scoring that goal was massive for them. When vancouver failed to come back in game 3 reality set in. Worse, the WCE failed to score setting the stage for perennial under performance in upcoming playoffs.
Was a huge Markus naslund fan growing up. He was a huge reason I became a Canucks fan at around 7 or 8
West coast express was my childhood, what a career
A video on a fellow swede, especially Näslund, thumbs up straight away
Naslund and Morrison were my favourite Canucks back in that era so exciting to watch that west coast express line.
On his career season he’s 2nd place in total points, only beaten by his childhood friend and teammate Peter Forsberg.
Number one and two in the league from the same town in Sweden with
30.000 residents.
INSANE!
And when he leaves Vancouver,
the Sedins (from the same town) takes over.
Crazy talent that has come out of that town and MoDo Hockey.
YES!!!!!! Nazzy was my favourite player back in the day. I even played like him. He’s the reason I love wrist shots so much. He was so good in his prime. Appreciate the love for Markus by doing this video.
I'm surprised you haven't done one for Trevor Linden, the face of the Canucks for 20 years, even when he wasn't here - unless I've managed to miss it. Trevor was a perennial 30 goal scorer until he was traded. But Markus is a good choice, too. I remember the year he tried so hard, he was even throwing body checks in the playoffs. It might have been the year he also said "we choked." As much as I like Dan Cloutier as a person and rooted for him, the guy was injury prone and cost the team games when they mattered most, not that the rest of the team didn't have something to do with that, too.
Greatly underrated through his early career. Most memorable for his minor part in "Sudden death" as a Penguin before really coming into his own as a Canuck. And perhaps more proof that Mike Keenan had a very short shelf life as a progressive coach.
Fun fact: Markus Näslund, Peter Forsberg, Henrik and Daniel Sedin and Victor Hedman all comes from the same town in northern Sweden with only 50000 residents.
Must be something in the "frozen" water. 😊
Also Niklas Sundstrom who played 750 NHL games and Victor Olofsson of the Buffalo Sabres.
Sweden's version of Warroad Minnesota
@@IHateMyAccountName How about Viking, AB, Canada?
@@RIUUI007 Central city has around 30k, metro/municipality around 50k
Favourite player all time!
Naslund was one of my favourite players in the early 2000s. Always thought he was underrated. Also was the cover athlete of probably one of the best EA sports NHL games.
Has there been a Bobby Holik career video yet? If not you should do one.
Too bad Naslund and the Sedins didn't peak at the same time, the Canucks would have had 2 killer lines
All three from the same town in Sweden: Örnsköldsvik
Even before that. Imagine Bure + Mogiliny followed by Naslund + Bertuzzi.
World juniors -93 7 GP 13 G 11 A 24 P.
13 goals is still the record.
24 points is second to only Peter Forsberg (31).
The reason Peter has that many points is (partially) due to him too, that line was deadly
Definitely blongs in the THG HoF!
02-03 Peter Forsberg scored 3 points in the last game and passed Markus.
I always remember that one. Was so excited for Naslund to win the Art Ross.
And both from the same town in Sweden: Örnsköldsvik
They were best friends. Always trained together. A fantastic duo before NHL time. I think they still have a points record in jwc.
Nazzy off the half boards snipe!
i love your videos, thanks for your dedication shannon ! Your childs have a really good role model !
Fell in love w chel with him on the cover. NHL 05 was elite
Nazzy made me fall in love with hockey
So many great hockey players from back then really was the golden age for me loved that style of hockey and for some reason I think of Petr Nedved like a Naslaud type
Well the only thing close would be playing for Van Pit and NYR other then that wow point totals aren't even close years played close as well
This guy was so awesome on like nhl 99 or whatever it was
I remember having like 200 point seasons with him in nhl 2004
@@xNeo64 that was NHL 05 I think where the players just scored like insane amounts of points
West Coast Express was the reason Canucks became one of my favorite teams.
My father's cousin got traded for naslund, yep Stojanov is my father's cousin that was in one of the most lopsided trades in history. Great video on naslund
That's cool!
On the good side, Stojanov did a lot for Vancouver through that trade!
So technically he's your Uncle!
Here’s a fun video idea i came up with for ya Shannon, thought it would be pretty cool.
- Minor League Mondays -
Go back in time and research a historic Minor league hockey team to make a video on for every Monday. Whether it be from the AHL, ECHL, or even defunct leagues like the historic IHL. The teams can either still be active or can have suspended operations years ago, all that matters is that the team has some interesting and fun history behind them.
Teams like the Fort Wayne Komets, Columbus Chill, and especially the Hershey Bears are rarely talked about anywhere on the internet despite having such rich and storied histories, and it would be super cool if you made videos going over their history. (Whether it be just stats like W-L-OTL, the variation in fan attendance over the years, or innovative marketing tactics that make hockey purists shiver. *Looking at YOU Columbus Chill...*)
Hi Sir, I know you probably hated him, but it's about time you do a career video for MATS Naslund 😄 Afterall he made that strange comeback with Boston in the 94-95 shortened season (along with another player I can't recall right now). Love your work, I'll likely join the channel before season starts. All the best from Qc City!
My favorite player of all time.
For a few years there, for offence you had Naslund,Daniel, Henrik.
Good first line, but nothing else. Teams would load up defensive line, with top 2 dmen.
Only alternative was throw a plug on sedin's line, and throw two plugs on Naslund line
Amazing he still able to produce
Great video as always! While you're with the Canucks, you should make a Hall of Fame video on the Sedin twins.
Great video! 👍 🇸🇪
I remember when the Canucks made the trade for Naslund. It was at the deadline around the same time that they got Belanger and Sillinger in other trades. I didn’t know much about any of the three at the time and at first I liked Naslund the least of the three because Belanger could at least score sometimes, Sillinger was good in a checking role, at faceoffs and could kill penalties whereas all Naslund did it seemed at first was take penalties. It was one instance where I was very glad to have been proven so wrong. Naslund turned out to be a very good player and to this day is my 4th favourite all time Canuck, behind Bure, Linden and Mogilny.
You should induct Dwayne Roloson.... or maybe a career video on him?
Love your vids Shannon
Bure was an instant hit, but Vancouver also got the Sedin twins who had growing pains the way Naslund had. Well, even Tood Bertuzzi took some time, although a power forward typically takes more time to peak.
Signed a jersey for my son. Markus Naslund is a stud, great player, nice guy !!
Ahhh, the good ole West Coast Express power play. It worked good until the refs caught on. Mo and Nazzy would play catch while Bert got into position in front of the net. Bert would crosscheck his defender to the ice, turn around, and tap in the incoming pass.
I think it was one Barry Trotz that complained to the refs about Bert’s push off the d-man in a game against Nashville that started that trend…
Naslund is my favourite player all time I remember always pretending to be him as a kid lol. Wish he had more success. I agree the teams round him weren’t good enough but he also didn’t elevate his play when team needed him too
I think Markus has a case for the Hockey Hall of Fame and welcome to the THG Hall of Fame, good sir 🏒 🇸🇪
I'm guessing another Canuck captain be joining him soon 😉
Oh Captain, my Captain.
Those Pitt teams during the early 90's...Naslund, Straka, Robert Lang, Nedved, in addition to Jagr, Francis and Lemieux.
"the canucks were going through some stuff" is the franchise's brand
His prime was so good for the dead puck era
When are you planning on making that video (that you teased 4 years ago) where you look over all the THG Hall of Fame members? Maybe after first 50 inductees?
What was the famous line the lawyer representing the Canucks said about Morrison in his arbitration hearing? "A mouse riding on the back of two elephants" (?)
I remember as a kid liking him and Bertuzzi. Liking him aged a little better than liking Bertuzzi...
You have not done Keith Tkachuk yet.
How much of his slow development was a result of being behind guys like Jagr, Tocchet, Stevens, Mogilny, and Bure for a while?
Who would have been the best contemporary center for Naslund/Bertuzzi? I'm thinking Forsberg or M. Lemieux.
Lemieux is the better player, but Naslund and Forsberg grew up together so they would have the best chemistry.
@@zilvertron What about with Bertuzzi? Lemieux and Bertuzzi are both considered ‘unicorns’ in having great size and amazing hands.
On the other hand with Forsberg, when they were both in their prime around the same time, they were compared to each other as the best power forwards if not the best players in the game at that point (around 2003).
For me Naslund is always hand in hand with Bertuzzi and Moore....
So.. He gets into the HHOF, but Roenick doesn't?
My unpopular opinion as a lifelong Canuck fan is that his jersey should not have been retired, Ring of Honour? Absolutely. He's the only jersey we retired that either did not Captain the Canucks to the Cup finals or play a very large contributing role (D. Sedin, Bure). Naslund's light burned bright, but it burned too short.
That is just weird to reflect players skills by looking who he is playing with. Player needs to have certain skill set ragardless who he plays with. Kurri, Jagr and Kariya to name a few. They really had one of the best tandems in history of hockey, but made ecxelent results without Gretzky, Lemieux or Selanne. Same here. Markus Näslund was a star player on his own right.
Brendan Morrison always reminded me of Kevin Stevens, a good center, but had line mates way above him.
Didn't he play for Sweden at 2006 Olympics? 🤔 And if he didn't I wonder why.. injuries?
If that Olympics was in Nagano, it did not happen. No we did not have Ulf Samuelsson bawling and almost not allowed to play due his dual citizen situation, and no we didnt have Tommy Salo in net that year getting the dogs head for letting in the worst softie against Belarus in swedish hockey history in the quarter finals. It, did, just, not, happen!
A GREAT!
🤣🤣🤣🤣 mr.september
It’s pathetic that Guy Carbonneau is in the HOF and Naslund is not, he’s got 3x 1st Team All Pro’s I think he’ll get in eventually
Naslund, Lindros, Kariya, and more were all negatively impacted by concussions because the NHL didn't bother to punish head hunters. Really took Crosby losing almost 2 prime seasons for the NHL to finally change their tune.
Maybe Ea sports cursed got to him cause he was on the cover nhl 05
does not exist since theres 2 of Austin Matthews in both 20 and 22, and the guy still put up points. Its kinda shit since in Sweden on the cover its Alien, but when the disc is in the console, its Matthews again
Loved Naslund. He earned me some money throughout the years :D From a flamers too haha.
Maybe the fact that other swedes out produces and outplayed him in stats and hardware like notably Niklas Lindstrom. Who did more with more. Well...
Would rather see Mats Naslund get inducted.
Y’all think Bergy will be a hall of Famer
Also, Näslund shouldn't have won that Lindsay... should've gone to Forsberg, who had 2 more points than Näslund in 7 fewer games. Also they kind of grew up together, playing on the same team for quite some time as juniors
No, the players knows best who's the best. 😃
@@SverigeiSverige Och Forsberg var bättre...
(and Forsberg was better)
@@elwizschold inte den säsongen. 😉
@@SverigeiSverige Jodå ;)
I think it was influenced by Forsberg coming on later in the season. Naslund was leading in points and goals until the final game of the season when they got shutout 2-0 by LA cueing his famous "we choked" line. In Colorado's final game, Forsberg had a multipoint game and Hejduk scored 2 goals and Colorado won the division. That ultimately sealed the Hart for Forsberg but for many, Naslund was the favourite for most of the season. We had the split because it was that close. If Naslund wins the art Ross, Maurice Richard and division then he also wins the Hart. I agree with you that Forsberg was clearly better and had a slightly better season that year but it really came down to that final game.
After "the hit" he couldn't quite step off the boards and snap it one inch below the cross bar, and over the goalies shoulder, the way he used to. Instead of hitting that "bullseye", it was more of a good shot, not one of the all-time snap shots
Moore really ended 3 careers in one play
Cat
Naslund was good no doubt but shouldn't be in the HoF.
Loved scoring goals with him on EA Sports NHL 2004 as a kid.