Naslund hits his stride as Canucks push for playoffs

Originally published on EuroReport.com in 2000

By Lucas Aykroyd

You might be surprised to learn that the person Markus Naslund would most like to meet is legendary boxer George Foreman. Maybe you shouldn’t be. The Swedish winger’s Vancouver Canucks are demonstrating a remarkable counterpunch as they hit the final stretch leading to the playoffs, and Naslund is a big part of it. He’s been clobbering opposing goalies lately, as his 8 points (3-5-8) in three games (13-19 March) led the league and earned him NHL Player of the Week honors. He was at his swift-skating, slick-deking best in an 8-1 pulverizing of Anaheim at GM Place on 24 March. He set up Mark Messier in the slot for the 3-1 clincher and gave the Canucks their third straight home game with six or more goals as he converted a 2-on-1 feed from Trent Klatt at 3:44 of the third period to make it 6-1. As Vancouver’s scoring leader, Naslund will surpass the 60-point plateau for the second season in a row. EuroReport’s Lucas Aykroyd went chin to chin with the Ornskoldvik native in an upbeat Canucks dressing room afterwards.

EuroReport: What’s been the key to the team’s success over the last five games?

Markus Naslund: The young guys like Harold Druken, Matt Cooke and Peter Schaefer are stepping in and playing unbelievable hockey right now. I’m really impressed with their effort. They’re getting the old guys going!

EuroReport: What does Trent Klatt bring to your line with Mark Messier?

Naslund: He’s working so hard and he’s such an unselfish player. He proved it again tonight. Every night you see him go in and dig for loose pucks or stand in front of the net and take a beating to open up extra space for me and Mark.

EuroReport: Do you feel extra confidence right now after being named NHL Player of the Week?

Naslund: Not really. I mean, I came off that week with no points in the next two games! I wasn’t that confident. But you have ups and downs during the season. Sometimes you play a close-checking game where it’s hard to get points, and then next time it opens up.

EuroReport: You’ve taken over 240 shots this year already, more than last year (205), but you haven’t scored as consistently. What’s been the difference?

Naslund: Obviously the other teams know I had a really good year last year and they focus more on me. Sometimes, too, the bounces just aren’t there for you. You hit the blocker or the knob of the goalie’s stick and the puck stays out instead of going in. It’s the small things that make the difference.

EuroReport: With all the talk around the league about stick-related injuries, what do you think of the idea of making visors mandatory?

Naslund: I don’t think it’s a bad idea. But in the end, I think we’re all responsible as players to do whatever we want. If guys can’t play with a visor, it’s up to them. But I’m never taking it off, personally. It’s tough to say what the league should do. Guys who have played 10 or 15 years without a visor might find it tough to change. I don’t think the visor gets in the way. It’s a transition, for sure, but you can get used to it.

EuroReport: Looking back, what are your strongest memories of the time you made the playoffs with Vancouver in 1995-96?

Naslund: We were so close to beating Colorado in the first round, even though we lost in six games. We had a couple of overtime losses and it was a battle. It could have gone either way. That’s what makes it exciting. Even if you play the best team in the league, which is St. Louis right now, you know you have a chance to beat them.

EuroReport: If you’re available to play for Sweden at the world championships in May, will you go?

Naslund: No. I’ve told the guys I’m not interested, because my wife Lotta and I are having a baby in the middle of April and I want to be home for that.