PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Markus Näslund ended his contract with the New York Rangers a year early.
The forward thus lost three million dollars.
– It felt right to leave that place open for someone else, says Näslund to Sportbibeln.
Markus Näslund, 50, has a fine hockey career behind him. He has played in clubs such as the Pittsburgh Penguins, Vancouver Canucks, New York Rangers and spent 14 years in the NHL. Näslund is also an icon in Modo, which he belonged to for four seasons spread over three stays.
The break with the Rangers
When the contract with Vancouver expired in 2008, Näslund signed a two-year contract with the Rangers. But he only played the first year, before the parties broke the contract and he ended his professional career at the age of 35 (in addition to the subsequent unpaid half-year in Modo).
– Throughout my career, I have felt that I want to end on my own terms and not be someone who just hangs around, even though you feel that you might not live up to the level or the demands you set for yourself.
– During the last year there, it was clear to me that I was on my way down. I’ve seen a lot of players that I’ve played with that had long careers and had to end in a sad way. That they may not be allowed to play, and may not enjoy the sport in the end. So I still wanted to finish when I felt that I contributed and that I still placed in a team, so I chose to finish a little “before” many others, says Näslund to Sportbibeln.
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With the termination of the contract with Rangers, Örnsköldsvikssonen left three million dollars, just over SEK 30 million, on the table.
– Sure, I could have played out the contract and earned three million dollars more, but it was more important for me to feel that I followed my heart in what I thought was important. I had played that season and done an okay job anyway, but I felt that my career was not pointing upwards. Then it felt right to leave that place open for someone else who is on their way in, says Näslund.
The 30 million question
The 50-year-old does not regret the decision that could have made him SEK 30 million richer.
– Not really. It felt right and it still does.
Would you have made the same decision today?
– Yes, I am convinced of that.
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Rasmus Dahlin is one of a number of Swedes who recently signed new giant contracts in the NHL. Dahlin’s new contract with the Buffalo Sabers has an annual salary of SEK 120 million.
Are athletes earning too much or too little today?
– If you focus on the world I lived in with professional sports in North America, I think it’s right that – because it brings in as much money as it does – that the players get their share of it. I think it’s great fun to see guys who get to sign big contracts. Then it is clear that these are huge sums and it is difficult to grasp in some cases, but I rejoice with those who have the opportunity to earn money, says Näslund.
READ MORE: When Peter Forsberg and Markus Näslund turned the rink into a schoolyard and had a complete playhouse
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