Naslund keeps level head with Olympics ahead

Originally published on IIHF.com in 2002

By Lucas Aykroyd

Talk to the Eastern Canadian hockey media and they’ll tell you that Mats Sundin of the Toronto Maple Leafs is a leading candidate for the Hart Trophy. However, Vancouver captain Markus Naslund has been the biggest Swedish scoring threat in the NHL this season, and that bodes well for Sweden’s gold medal hopes at the 19th Olympic Winter Games.

Heading into Saturday’s NHL action, Naslund’s 59 points put him in a three-way tie with Jarome Iginla and Joe Thornton for the league scoring lead. Whether he can maintain this blistering pace is up for debate, but barring injury, he should at least lead the Canucks in scoring for the fourth straight year.

Currently, the 28-year-old left wing’s team is riding a nine-game unbeaten streak (8-0-1). Naslund must wish he could disguise the likes of Todd Bertuzzi and Brent Sopel as fellow Swedes when he gets into Olympic action February 15 versus Canada.

“It sure is nice to be confident going into the Olympics,” Naslund said. “But my focus is now the games coming up. We’ve got a few more before the Olympics, and we’d like to move up and get a good spot in the playoff race.”

He obviously takes both the Canucks and the Olympics more seriously than the annual goaltender’s nightmare known as the NHL All-Star Game. But even in that lighthearted atmosphere, Naslund cranked it up and put on a show, scoring two goals (including the game-winner) for the World Team in an 8-5 victory.

Does the All-Star Game mean anything in terms of getting a pre-Olympic feel for how certain key teammates and opponents play?

“Yeah, maybe a little bit,” Naslund said. “But more so, it’s a time for the different national teams to talk. We sat down and just chatted. We’re all excited about going there. The feeling is starting to creep in and the excitement is starting to get there. It’ll be fun.”

Naslund’s approach to competing against Vancouver teammate and Team Canada blueliner Ed Jovanovski is simple.

“I’ll just have to keep my head up at times and try to beat him one-on-one,” Naslund said with a grin. “Of course I’ll still talk with him in the days before the Olympics start. You’re still friends. But on the ice, I’m sure it’s going to be competitive.”

Over the years, Naslund has honed the competitive instincts that have made him a great NHL captain and sniper. But he has yet to prove himself on the Olympic stage.

In 1993-94, the Ornskoldsvik product may have regretted his decision to leave MoDo of the Swedish Elitserien and join the Pittsburgh Penguins. While he stumbled through a rookie campaign that saw him notch just 11 points in 71 games, he also missed a potential opportunity to win the gold medal with Team Sweden in Lillehammer.

Naslund was passed over by the Swedish braintrust in 1998, as he was struggling to maintain his confidence under the harsh scrutiny of Vancouver Head Coach “Iron Mike” Keenan.

But this time, he’ll be front and center with Sundin and Daniel Alfredsson, leading the Swedish attack. This is his chance to start applying for membership in the Triple Gold Club, a select group of ten Swedish and Russian players who have won an Olympic gold medal, a World Championship and the Stanley Cup. One of them is Naslund’s boyhood idol, Hakan Loob.

Don’t expect Naslund to get overwhelmed by the thrill of being at the Olympics. If he can overcome the fear of skating on a leg that was badly broken last season in Buffalo, he’ll surely stand up under the spotlight in Salt Lake City.