Islander News

Canadiens acquire C Linden from Isles, sign him to 4-year deal

     MONTREAL (Ticker) -- The Montreal Canadiens, who traded
away leaders Mark Recchi and Vincent Damphousse during a
rebuilding season, today acquired a character player, Trevor
Linden, from the New York Islanders for the 10th pick in the
upcoming draft.
  
     The Canadiens then signed Linden to a four-year contract at
undisclosed financial terms.
  
     "I was thrilled," Linden said this afternoon via conference
call.  "The chance to come back to Canada was something that I
value and I value playing in the city of Montreal.  Part of the
trade was me committing for four years, and that's what we did.
A stipulation of Montreal acquiring me was to sign a new
contract.  There was no problem with that.  Once we put our
heads together, things happened quickly."
  
     The 6-4, 210-pound Linden would have been eligible for
unrestricted free agency after next season.  Instead, the 29-
year-old, who made $2.5 million in a one-year deal this season,
decided to stay in Montreal for four seasons.
  
     "We will have about the same payroll as last year,"
Canadiens general manager Rejean Houle said.  "Letting go
Damphousse and Recchi this year, we freed up some money.  We
would like to make our budget about the same.
  
     "We hope that we'll sign (goaltender) Jeff Hackett and
(defenseman) Stephane Quintal.  By signing Trevor we feel that
the message is clear and that we are showing we will compete
with the other teams in the league."
  
     Linden was a holdout from New York during training camp.
By dealing him, the cost-conscious Islanders kept their payroll
down and got a second pick in the top 10.  Their own selection
is fifth.
  
     "The situation in New York is a tough one," Linden admitted
before talking about what it means to wear the legendary
Canadiens' sweater.  "I equate playing for the Montreal
Canadiens like playing in baseball for the New York Yankees.
I've had a lot of my friends call me to congratulate me."
  
     The Canadiens own the Philadelphia Flyers' second-round
pick and Houle said there was little chance of Montreal making a
trade to get back into the first round.
  
     "I will see," he said.  "When we acquired (Dainius) Zubrus,
we acquired a first-round pick that already played two years in
the NHL.  We have Philadelphia's second pick this year, but I
don't see how we will get a first-round pick this year."
  
     With the departures of Damphousse, the former captain, and
Recchi, Linden would appear to be a good candidate to wear the
"C" fo the Canadiens.  He was the long-time captain of the
Vancouver Canucks and served in the same role during his stint
on Long Island.
  
     Linden was acquired from the Canucks in February 1998 for
left wing Todd Bertuzzi, defenseman Bryan McCabe and a 1998
third-round pick.  He played all 82 games last season but put up
a disappointing 47 points on 18 goals and 29 assists.  He was
minus-14 in his 11th NHL season.
  
Coach Alain Vigneault is not yet sure about Linden's role with his new club.  

"Trevor's an outstanding hockey player that's going to bring a lot to our team," Vigneault said.  "I (spoke) briefly with Trevor earlier this afternoon, but we have not discussed his role with this team.  He's played a lot of different positions and he's used to it.  We will use him in a lot of different places."  

In 1997-98, Linden combined for 17 goals and 21 assists in 67 games.  He spent his first nine seasons with Vancouver and served as captain from 1991 until stepping aside in favor of Mark Messier on the eve of the 1997-98 season opener.  

Linden, who also served as president of the NHL Players Association, remains second on the Canucks' all-time scoring list with 247 goals and 322 assists in 702 games.  In 809 NHL games, he has 275 goals and 358 assists. 





Tom's Hockey Trivia
        









This page hosted by 
Get your own Free Home Page