PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Markus Näslund is one of the greatest Swedish NHL players of all time, and had a fine career.
But there is something he worries about.
– It is absolutely something that I miss, says Näslund to Sportbibeln.
No, it wasn’t a bad career Markus Näslund had. From his position as a left forward, Näslund scored 869 points (395 goals and 474 assists) in 1,117 games in the NHL. He was selected in the NHL’s All-Star Team three times (01/02, 02/03 and 03/04). In 2003, Näslund won the Ted Lindsay Trophy, the award for the best player in the regular season voted by the players themselves.
Näslund’s career
Born and raised in Örnsköldsvik, Näslund was brought up in Örnsköldsvik IF, before he took the step to Modo. When it left for North America, three seasons in the Pittsburgh Penguins first awaited. Then Näslund was traded to the Vancouver Canucks. The Swede stayed there for twelve seasons (excluding the 04/05 lockout season). Näslund spent the last year of his NHL career in the New York Rangers. A short stay at home in Modo on that, then the skates were put on the shelf.
The article continues after the picture.
Today it has been 13 years since Näslund ended his hockey career. The 50-year-old looks back on it with joy.
– I am very happy that I got to play hockey at such a high level, and to have it as a job for such a long time. It is often chance that determines which sport you choose and also where you grew up. I was lucky to grow up in a hockey town, to play with good hockey players and good coaches who gave me good conditions to succeed, Näslund summarizes his career for Sportbibeln.
With Forsberg
What would you say is your best moment from your playing career?
– I think it is difficult to compare like childhood memories – which may be strong – when you have won a cup that was big at the time. Against as a senior being able to participate in cool things. But I have often said that the TV pucks win that we took with our gang, the 73s, here in Ångermanland, with Peter (Forsberg) and Andreas Salomonsson, Magnus Wernblom, Hasse Jonsson and Fredrik Bergquistsays Näslund.
The article continues after the picture.
When Ångermanland won the TV puck in 1988, Näslund was named the tournament’s best forward. The following season, Örnsköldsvik was exchanged for Modo.
– There was a large group there who played in different associations and so we got to play together in the TV puck. The following year, all of us who didn’t already play there moved to Modo, and started playing together in the club team as well. I think that was a great memory.
READ MORE: Markus Näslund’s honest words about the relationship with Peter Forsberg today – pays tribute to Foppa: “I have him to thank”
“Worries”
During his career, there were never any major titles for Näslund. No SM gold, WC gold or Olympic gold, and no Stanley Cup victory. The closest he came to a title was the World Cup silver with Tre Kronor in 1993. Näslund also won two World Cup bronzes with the Swedish national ice hockey team, in 1999 and 2002.
The lack of titles is something that bothers him to this day.
– It is clear that it is something to worry about. It absolutely is. I’m pretty sure that – if you had been involved in winning something like that – it would have stood out as a very strong memory. So it’s definitely something that I miss. But that’s how it works sometimes. Sometimes you are in the right place at the right time and get to be part of winning, those are pretty small margins, says Näslund.
READ MORE: That’s why Markus Näslund broke with the New York Rangers and turned down SEK 30 million: “It was more important”
Share