PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Markus Näslund has played with both Peter Forsberg and Henrik Lundqvist.
As a teammate, one of them is at the forefront.
– It is clear that…, says Näslund to Sportbibeln.
Markus Näslund appeared in Modo before he took the step to the NHL before the 1993/1994 season. First stop was the Pittsburgh Penguins. Näslund remained at the club for three years before being traded to the Vancouver Canucks, where the Swede became a legend and had his jersey hoisted in Rogers Arena (then General Motors Place).
Foppa vs Henke
The last NHL year, Näslund played in the New York Rangers, before returning home to Modo for one last stay before the end of his career.
The now 50-year-old Näslund has, in his long, fine career, played with quite a few talented hockey players. Two of them are the Swedish hockey icons Peter “Fop” Forsberg and Henrik “Henke” Lundqvist. Foppa and Näslund were followed for a long time. They played together in Modo, Tre Kronor, and met in the NHL.
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Lundqvist played with Näslund for one year, the year in the Rangers.
Choosing which of Forsberg and Henke was the best teammate was not a big challenge for Näslund.
– I grew up with Peter and know him in a different way, and we often played in the same chain. So it’s clear that you know each other in a completely different way.
– Then Henke was a good teammate as well, but goalkeepers are a bit more… they have their focus on saving pucks, so it’s not the same as when you have a center where you discuss small things about everything in the game, says Näslund to The Sports Bible.
Näslund celebrates
Even though Foppa went ahead as a teammate, Henrik Lundqvist is highly praised by Näslund as a player.
– It was great fun playing with him. He challenges everyone in the team with his intensity in training and his winning instinct. Plus it’s a fantastic security to have such a good goalkeeper.
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The 50-year-old also highlights the importance of a goalkeeper as good as Henke.
– I was lucky at the end of my career to be the first to play with Roberto Luongo in Vancouver, who came there at the end of my time there, and then the last year with Henke. You notice, when you have the privilege of playing with these real elite goalkeepers, how much influence they have on the rest of the team, says Näslund.
READ MORE: Markus Näslund left hockey completely after the NHL years – this is what the icon’s life looks like today: “Don’t miss it”
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