Our newest Canucks Fanz columnist, Shaheed Devji, analyzes Trevor Linden's current role on the Vancouver Canucks and gives his take on what we can expect from Captain Canuck for the remainder of the season.

By Canucks Fanz Columnist: Shaheed Devji

For the past two straight games Trevor Linden has been a healthy scratch in the Vancouver Canucks lineup. When it comes to this season, sitting in the press box is not a new phenomenon for the long-time Canucks veteran but being scratched is a new feeling that Linden has been getting accustomed to after being asked by coach Alain Vigneault to sit out his first game last season.

Linden reacted well after being a healthy scratch for the first time in his career last year by playing with more jump and putting points on the board. But like most players his age, that production began to decline by the end of the season. And yet again this season, albeit early, the five-time thirty goal scorer is having a tough time producing. Not only is he having a difficulty putting points on the board, but the wily veteran is having difficulty getting into the lineup.

After the 2006-2007 season Trevor Linden was an unrestricted free agent. The Canucks decided to bring him back to the team on the condition that he would be playing a reduced role and would not be playing every game. Trevor accepted this deal knowing that he could still contribute and would still be asked to. However as of late, things seem to have taken a turn for the worst. Coach Alain Vigneault has scratched Linden in two straight games and has stated that Linden’s mold does not fit with the style of play that the Canucks want out of their fourth line. Why is this coming up now? The Canucks knew that they wanted a fourth line that could bang and crash and which would be intimidating and tough to play against. From the start of the season anyone could have told you that Trevor Linden has no place on a line like that. So why did they re-sign him in the first place?

Although Linden has sat already sat out 8 of 26 games this season, it’s not to say that he does not have value to the team. Linden demonstrates to his teammates what it is to be a professional, how to prepare and how to carry themselves. This is demonstrated by the fact that Linden is not pleased with being sat out as much as he already has been, and through is continued effort on the ice. If Linden could not still play at the NHL level, he himself would have made the decision to retire in the off-season.

In the 2006-2007 playoffs, Trevor Linden was the clutch player that he always has been in the post-season notching 7 points in 12 games, and leading the team on and off the ice. Linden wants to win a cup, and although he is proud and wants to play now, he’ll be licking his chops and rejuvenated come playoff time. You can almost rest assured that no matter how many games Linden plays in the regular season, and no matter how many points he ends up with, when the playoffs roll around the one-time Canuck captain will be on the ice and will be a big part  of any Canucks success.

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