Retirement the `right decision' for Naslund.
By Jim Jamieson, Canwest News Service
July 26, 2009
Former Vancouver Canucks captain Markus Naslund says playing hockey at the peak of his NHL career was simply ``fun.''
That, says Naslund, describes the feeling when he was the key player on the West Coast Express line along with Todd Bertuzzi and Brendan Morrison in 2002- 03 when he was voted the league's top player by the NHL Players' Association.
Naslund, 35, who left the Canucks a year ago to sign with the New York Rangers, announced his retirement in May. In a wide-ranging interview with Canwest News Service from his hometown of Ornskoldsvik, Sweden, Naslund also spoke about his post-career plans, his decision to sign with the Rangers and being a target of media criticism in his last years in Vancouver.
Canwest: You have three children, two girls (Isabella, 9, and Rebecca 11) and a boy (Alex, 7). Do any of them play hockey?
Naslund: My boy plays hockey and has for a couple of years. We haven't picked a team yet. He seems to enjoy it. I'm not going to be a pushy parent.
Canwest: Are you going to coach him?
Naslund: I'm going to help out, but I'm not going to be the head coach. I'll be there and support whatever they need.
Canwest: Now that you've retired, have you thought about what you might pursue? We understand Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke offered you a scouting job, for one.
Naslund: There's been stuff that's been presented to me, both inside and outside hockey, but I want to take a little bit of time and figure out what I want to do first. I don't want to jump on the first thing.
Canwest: Your retirement announcement caught a lot of people by surprise. What made you decide to call it quits?
Naslund: I just felt it was time. I felt I couldn't play up to my capabilities and what I expect out of myself. That was the biggest thing. It's the frustration of not feeling you can perform at the level you want to be. I'd rather retire one year early than one year too late.
Canwest: How do you look back on your time in Vancouver?
Naslund: There were a lot of positives. The thing that bugs me is that those few years that we had teams that were good enough to win and for one reason or another we didn't. That's the thing that frustrates me. But I had a great time there. We went back (to Vancouver) for three or four days after our season was over for the kids to say goodbye to their friends. It's definitely a special place for me and my family.
Canwest: What did you think about the speculation in Vancouver about retiring your number?
Naslund: It's very flattering. If you ask any athlete, to have your number retired is one of the most flattering things you can have happen. It would be a great honour.
Canwest: When you signed with the Rangers year ago, had you made a decision it was time for a change or were you still open to returning to the Canucks?
Naslund: I hadn't made a decision prior to July 1. I was still talking with Mike (Canucks GM Gillis). I was hoping and expecting to have a choice about coming back. But after July came around, more and more I had the feeling it wasn't meant to be and it was time for a change. Looking back, it was probably the right thing. I had a great time in New York. I was treated like a king there.
Canwest: Was being in a secondary role in New York a relief in some ways?
Naslund: It was good for me to go to New York and not be the focal point and not have that media attention. I felt I could relax a bit.
Canwest: Did the criticism directed at you and your captaincy in the last couple of seasons in Vancouver leave a bad taste in your mouth?
Naslund: That comes with the territory. They build you up too high when you have success and vice-versa when you don't play up to what they expect. I knew that all along. At times, when there are unfair comments that come from nowhere, some of that stuff would be irritating. But on the other hand I think the media has been fair to me.
Canwest: How are you personally dealing with the retirement?
Naslund: There's times where you feel kind of lost because you're so used to having a routine. You're told what to do and you show up at a certain time. Now I've got all this free time. I know it's going to be important for me to try and find something that is meaningful to me and I can be passionate about. But I think the bottom line is I know I made the right decision and everyone comes to the day when they have to retire. It would have been easy to keep playing, but it's a new challenge for me.
Vancouver Province
jjamieson@theprovince.com
© Copyright (c) Canwest News Service
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