Leadership Series: Trevor Linden

Vancouver Canucks president Trevor Linden is the third leader to take part in our Leadership Series, presented by Global News and CKNW.

Linden’s special will be broadcast on BC1 and CKNW on Nov. 25, 26 and 27. Details here.

Trevor Linden’s bio:

Born: April 11, 1970

Birthplace: Medicine Hat, AB

Residence: Vancouver, BC

Family: Wife, Cristina

Trevor Linden joined the Vancouver Canucks front office as President of Hockey Operations & Alternate Governor, NHL, on April 9, 2014. He is one of the most accomplished and celebrated players in team history, with leadership and community connections rooted in British Columbia for more than two decades.

Linden is responsible for all hockey operations, including the coaching and scouting staffs, player procurement and development, and minor league affiliations and operations. He also serves as Alternate Governor, NHL.

Linden retired as a Canuck on the 20th anniversary of his draft day, June 11, 2008. Following his retirement, Linden continued to give back to the community through the Trevor Linden Foundation. He also became a member of the business community through several real estate developments and the launch of two fitness clubs: Club 16 – Trevor Linden Fitness and Orange Theory Fitness.

Linden left the NHL after 19 seasons, having recorded 867 career points (375-492-867) in 1382 regular season games with the Canucks, Montreal Canadiens, New York Islanders and Washington Capitals. Throughout his career, Linden was a proven playoff performer. In 124 playoff games, he recorded 99 points (34-65-99) and 104 penalty minutes. Of his 124 playoff games, 118 came in a Canucks uniform, highlighted by 25 points (12-13-25) in 24 games during the Canucks 1994 Stanley Cup run.

Linden served as a player representative beginning in 1990 and was elected President of the National Hockey League Players Association, serving from 1998 to 2006.

Linden completed his NHL career among the all-time League leaders in a number of statistical categories. He ranks 38th in games played (1382), is tied for 107th in goals scored (375) and ranks 111th in points (867) scored in NHL history.

After being drafted second overall by the Canucks in 1988, Linden enjoyed immediate success, finishing runner-up for the 1989 Calder Trophy and being named The Hockey News Rookie-ofthe-Year. In his first eight NHL seasons, Linden recorded 30 or more goals six times.

In 1991.92, Linden, just 21-years-old at the time, was named the Canucks captain, becoming the youngest captain in the NHL.

Linden wore the “C” as Canucks captain for seven seasons, the third longest tenure as captain in club history (behind Stan Smyl and Markus Naslund). After spending his first 10 NHL seasons in Vancouver, Linden went on to play parts of five seasons with the Canadiens, Islanders and Capitals before returning for six more years in a Canucks sweater after he was re-acquired in November of 2001.

During his 19 seasons, Linden was a two-time NHL All-Star (1990.91 and 1991.92) and represented Team Canada at the 1998 Winter Olympic Games in Nagano, Japan. When he retired, he was the Canucks all-time leader in games played (1140), assists (415) and was second in goals (318) and points (733). His 118 games, 34 goals, 61 assists and 95 points in the playoffs remain club records.

Just as impressive as his on-ice accomplishments are his off-ice contributions. In his final NHL season, Linden was named the recipient of the NHL Foundation Player Award which is awarded annually to the NHL player “who applies the core values of hockey—commitment, perseverance and teamwork—to enrich the lives of people in his community”. In 1997, Linden was awarded the King Clancy Memorial Trophy which is given annually to the NHL player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice and who has made a significant humanitarian contribution in his community. In 2011, Linden was also appointed by Governor General David Johnston to the Order of Canada for his cited “ongoing sportsmanship and community engagement as a respected leader both on and off the ice.”

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