Markus Näslund
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| Position | Left Wing |
| Shoots | Left |
| Nickname | Nazzy |
| Height Weight | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 195 lb (89 kg) |
| NHL Team F. Teams | Vancouver Canucks Pittsburgh Penguins |
| Nationality | Image:Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden |
| Born | July 30, 1973, Örnsköldsvik, SWE |
| NHL Draft | 16th overall, 1991 Pittsburgh Penguins |
| Pro Career | 1990 – present |
</div></div> Markus Näslund (born July 30, 1973, in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden) is a professional Swedish ice hockey player currently playing for and captaining the Vancouver Canucks in the NHL. He is often referred to as "Nazzy" by Canucks fans, while he is nicknamed "Macke" and "Mackan" in his native Sweden.
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[edit] Playing career
Näslund has played 9 seasons for the Vancouver Canucks as of 2006. The Pittsburgh Penguins originally drafted Naslund in the first round, 16th overall, in 1991. He was acquired in exchange for Alek Stojanov on March 20, 1996. Näslund's first two complete seasons with the Canucks were largely uneventful, and he was not a favorite of coach Mike Keenan. At the start of the 1997-98 season, Keenan scratched a healthy Näslund. As a result, the winger asked the team to trade him. The request was denied.
The following season, Naslund surprised many by leading the Canucks in scoring during a period of rebuilding for the franchise. His 36 goals and 66 points were vast improvements over the 14 goals and 34 points from the previous season, and would serve as the starting point for Naslund's ascent to NHL stardom. This was the star that Pittsburgh hoped to see during his time with their organization. His breakthrough season would arrive in 2000-01 when, in a press conference at the Canucks' training camp held that year in Canada, he was appointed team captain by general manager Brian Burke. Naslund went on set personal highs that season in goals and points, and led the Canucks to their first playoff appearance since 1996. His 41-goal, 75-point campaign would be cut short late in the season, however, by a broken leg, and an already injury-decimated Canucks team would fail to make any headway in the post-season, losing their best-of-seven series against the Colorado Avalanche in 4 straight games.
Naslund returned from his injury the following season, breaking his personal record with a 90-point season which included 40 goals. This season also marked the emergence of new linemate Todd Bertuzzi. Once centreman Brendan Morrison became the normal third member of Naslund and Bertuzzi's forward line in 2002-03, the usual Vancouver top line was established, and was dubbed the West Coast Express (named after Vancouver's commuter rail service of the same name). The line earned the Canucks a great deal of attention, and Naslund finished 2002-03 with career highs of 48 goals and 104 points, to finish second overall in NHL scoring.
The 2002-03 season, stastically Naslund's best, culminated with him winning the Lester B. Pearson Award, and finishing as first runner-up for the Hart Trophy. The Canucks lost their final game of the regular season to the Los Angeles Kings, and along with it the Northwest Division Championship, which the Avalanche were awarded for an amazing ninth consecutive season. After the game in front of a sellout home crowd, Naslund apologized, going as far as to say that the team 'choked.' Vancouver won its first round playoff matchup against the St. Louis Blues in 7 games after trailing 3 games to 1. The Canucks then lost to the Minnesota Wild in the next round, failing to finish off a 3-1 series lead of their own.
Naslund led the Canucks in scoring again in 2003-04, the sixth straight season he has done so, finishing with 35 goals and 84 points.
In 2004-05 he represented his hometown team MODO Hockey of the Elitserien during the NHL labour conflict. His contract with the Canucks expired in 2005, but he re-signed for three more years.
In 2006, he chose not to join the Swedish national team at the 2006 Winter Olympics.
[edit] Off the ice
Markus and his wife Lotta have three children, Rebecca, Isabella, and Alex. Markus also has three birds and is an avid bird watcher.[citation needed] Markus is also a devout Christian and a registered Christian Speaker 1 2.
[edit] Movements
- June 22, 1991 - Drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1st round, 16th overall.
- March 20, 1996 - Traded to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for Alek Stojanov.
[edit] Awards
- Named to the NHL First All-Star Team in 2002, 2003 and 2004.
- Played in the NHL All-Star Game in 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004.
- Nominated for the Hart Memorial Trophy in 2003.
- Awarded the Lester B. Pearson Award in 2003.
[edit] Career Statistics
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1988-89 | Ornskoldsvik | SEL-3 | 14 | 7 | 6 | 13 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 1989-90 | MODO Jr. | SEL-2 | 33 | 43 | 35 | 78 | 20 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 1990-91 | MODO | SEL | 32 | 10 | 9 | 19 | 14 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 1991-92 | MODO | SEL | 39 | 22 | 18 | 40 | 54 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 1992-93 | MODO Jr. | SEL | 2 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 2 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 1992-93 | MODO | SEL | 39 | 22 | 17 | 39 | 67 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0 | ||
| 1993-94 | Pittsburgh | NHL | 71 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 27 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 1993-94 | Cleveland | IHL | 5 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 4 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 1994-95 | Pittsburgh | NHL | 14 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 1994-95 | Cleveland | IHL | 7 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 8 | ||
| 1995-96 | Pittsburgh | NHL | 66 | 19 | 33 | 52 | 36 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 1995-96 | Vancouver | NHL | 10 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 | ||
| 1996-97 | Vancouver | NHL | 78 | 21 | 20 | 41 | 30 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 1997-98 | Vancouver | NHL | 76 | 14 | 20 | 34 | 56 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 1998-99 | Vancouver | NHL | 80 | 36 | 30 | 66 | 74 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 1999-00 | Vancouver | NHL | 82 | 27 | 38 | 65 | 64 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 2000-01 | Vancouver | NHL | 72 | 41 | 34 | 75 | 58 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| 2001-02 | Vancouver | NHL | 81 | 40 | 50 | 90 | 50 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | ||
| 2002-03 | Vancouver | NHL | 82 | 48 | 56 | 104 | 52 | 14 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 18 | ||
| 2003-04 | Vancouver | NHL | 78 | 35 | 49 | 84 | 58 | 7 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 2 | ||
| 2004-05 | MODO | SEL | 13 | 8 | 9 | 17 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 10 | ||
| 2005-06 | Vancouver | NHL | 81 | 32 | 47 | 79 | 66 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | ||
| NHL Totals | 1259 | 583 | 929 | 1512 | 550 | 162 | 82 | 96 | 178 | 78 | ||||
Correct as of November 10th, 2006
[edit] International play
| Medal record | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Men's ice hockey | |||
| World Championships | |||
| Bronze | 2002 | Team | |
| Bronze | 1999 | Team | |
| Silver | 1993 | Team | |
Näslund has played for Sweden in the following competitions:
- 1992 World Junior Championships (silver medal)
- 1993 World Junior Championships (silver medal)
- 1993 World Championships (silver medal)
- 1996 World Championships
- 1996 World Cup of Hockey (semi-final)
- 1999 World Championships (bronze medal)
- 2002 World Championships (bronze medal)
- 2002 Winter Olympics
- 2004 World Cup of Hockey
[edit] International statistics
| Year | Team | Event | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Sweden | WJC | 7 | 8 | 2 | 10 | 12 | |
| 1993 | Sweden | WJC | 7 | 13 | 11 | 24 | 33 | |
| 1993 | Sweden | WC | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 14 | |
| 1996 | Sweden | WC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1996 | Sweden | WCup | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | |
| 1999 | Sweden | WC | 10 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 16 | |
| 2002 | Sweden | Oly | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2002 | Sweden | WC | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2004 | Sweden | WCup | 4 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | |
| Junior int'l totals | 14 | 21 | 13 | 34 | 45 | |||
| Senior int'l totals | 31 | 10 | 11 | 21 | 32 | |||
Statistics as of November 26, 2006
| Preceded by: Mark Messier | Vancouver Canucks Captains 2000 – present | Incumbent |
| Preceded by: Jarome Iginla | Winner of the Lester B. Pearson Award 2003 | Succeeded by: Martin St. Louis |
| Preceded by: Dany Heatley & Joe Sakic | EA Sports NHL Cover Athlete NHL 2005 | Succeeded by: Vincent Lecavalier |
| EA Sports NHL Cover Athletes |
|
'94: Ray Bourque, Clark Donatelli, Andy Moog & Tomas Sandström | '95: Kirk McLean, Alexei Kovalev & background players | '96: Scott Stevens & Steve Yzerman | '97: John Vanbiesbrouck | '98: Peter Forsberg | '99: Eric Lindros | '00: Chris Pronger | '01: Owen Nolan | '02: Mario Lemieux | '03: Jarome Iginla | '04: Dany Heatley | '04: Joe Sakic | '05: Markus Näslund | '06: Vincent Lecavalier | '07: Alexander Ovechkin |
[edit] See also
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Categories: Articles with unsourced statements | 1973 births | Cleveland Lumberjacks players | Lester Pearson Award winners | Living people | MODO Hockey players | National Hockey League first round draft picks | National Hockey League 100-point seasons | Natives of Ångermanland | Pittsburgh Penguins players | Pittsburgh Penguins draft picks | Swedish ice hockey players | Christian people | Vancouver Canucks players | Olympic competitors for Sweden
