Linden out as team president
Wants to spend more time with his family; believes team well poised for future success
Trevor Linden is out as president of the Vancouver Canucks, the NHL team announced Wednesday.
The Canucks say Linden will pursue “different endeavours,” four years after taking over as team president.
Team owner Francesco Aquilini hired Linden following a disappointing 2013-14 season.
“There aren’t many individuals in sport more connected to a team and a community than Trevor is in Vancouver,” Aquilini said in a statement.
“The Canucks are entering an exciting new era thanks in large part to Trevor’s leadership and hard work. I thank Trevor for all of his accomplishments and I am confident that Jim Benning and his staff will continue that momentum in the months ahead.”
He said on Twitter that GM Benning will take over as head of the team’s hockey operations.
“Jim came to the Canucks’ organization with the skills, knowledge and experience to fully oversee player personnel and hockey operations,” he said. “Jim and Travis Green will continue rebuilding the team as per the plan we have in place. A new president will be named in due course.”
Linden’s first job was to dismiss former general manager Mike Gillis. He hired Jim Benning as Gillis’s replacement.
“I would like to thank Trevor for the opportunity he gave me and my family,” Benning said in a statement.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed working and learning from Trevor over the past four years. We still have lots of work to do, but I am proud of what we have built together so far in Vancouver.”
Though the Canucks’ release didn’t include a statement from him and he has not responded to a request for comment, Linden later shared his own message about the departure on NHL.com, noting he planned to “step back from the spotlight” and enjoy time with his family.
“This team and this game hold a special place in my life and I leave very optimistic about the direction the Canucks are headed,” he wrote in the post.
“Most of all I am excited about the highly skilled group of prospects and young stars that we have assembled. From ownership to hockey and business operations, the club is as strong as it’s been in years. Above it all, I can feel our fans’ sense of hope again and I know the future for the Canucks is very bright.”
Linden continued by saying he loved Vancouver and British Columbia and that he would “always have a special relationship” with the Canucks’ organization and its fans.
In a series of tweets, Aquilini said that Linden was stepping away to spend more time with family; he also said Benning will replace him as head of the team’s hockey operations.
“I deeply value everything Trevor has done for this city and this franchise. He is tremendously popular in Vancouver, and for good reason. I thank him for helping us get to this point, and I wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavours,” he said.
Aquilini lamented his youth in East Vancouver.
“I grew up not far from Pacific Coliseum, back when the Canucks played there. I used to park cars in our driveway on game nights. When I was a kid, Lars Lindgren gave me a hockey stick. It was a treasured possession,” he said.
“I still remember the awful feeling when the Canucks lost to the (New York) Islanders in 1982. Again in 1994, losing to the (New York) Rangers.
I remember the crushing Game 7 loss to the (Boston) Bruins in 2011 like it was yesterday.
“A rebuild is a long, slow, gradual process. Everybody needs to be united behind the same vision and pulling in the same direction.
“Our fans are incredibly knowledgeable, passionate and faithful.
My goal is to reward their loyalty and passion by giving them the joy of watching their team raise the Stanley Cup.
“Following the June draft, we now have the best group of young players and prospects we’ve had since we acquired the Canucks. The post-Sedin future is starting to take shape.
“The ownership group has done, and will continue to do, whatever it takes to return the Canucks to the elite of the NHL. I’m confident we are progressing along that road.”
THE TIMELINE
June 11, 1988: Drafted second overall by the Canucks, behind only Mike Modano.
Oct. 6, 1988: NHL debut at 18. Scores 30 goals as rookie, finishing second in Calder balloting. April 5, 1989: Playoff debut ; eventually compiles 95 playoff points, the franchise all-time leader by 29.
June 14, 1994: Scores both Canuck goals in Game 7 Stanley Cup Final 3-2 loss to Rangers. June, 1997: Wins NHL’s King Clancy Trophy for leadership and “humanitarian contribution.” Feb. 6, 1998: Traded by Mike Keenan to the New York Islanders for Bryan McCabe and Todd Bertuzzi. Feb. 20, 1998: Linden scores late tying goal, but Canada loses 2-1 to Czechs in Olympic semifinal.
Nov. 10, 2001: Brian Burke reacquires Linden from Washington Capitals for firstround pick.
Summer, 2005: Owners’ lockout ended with Linden as NHLPA president.
April 5, 2008: Emotional final game ends with handshakes from Flames and waves goodbye to fans.
June 11, 2008: Linden retires second on Canucks’ all-time scoring list: 733 points in 1,140 games.
Dec. 17, 2008: Linden’s jersey No. 16 gets retired into the rafters. Sept. 8, 2010: Linden announces his partnership in a new venture called Club 16: Trevor Linden Fitness.
April 10, 2014: Linden hired as Canucks’ team president. May 1, 2014: In his first major action with the team, Linden announced that head coach John Tortorella and assistant coach Mike Sullivan have been relieved of their duties. May 21, 2014: Linden confirms the hiring of Jim Benning as the new GM of the Canucks. pjohnston@postmedia.com Mraptis@postmedia.com twitter.com/risingaction
I deeply value everything Trevor has done for this city and this franchise.” Francesco Aquilini, Canucks owner