Thoughts on Trevor Linden

Wednesday's announcement that Trevor Linden was stepping down as President of Hockey Operations of the Vancouver Canucks took almost everyone by surprise 

From the day he returned to the organization over four years ago, Trevor Linden resigning from the Vancouver Canucks was inevitable.

That's because the Canucks hired the one man they could never fire. It would be political suicide to do so.

But this is a results business and eventually even the game's best managers face the reality of not winning.  Hey, the results over the four years he has been in charge are completely lacking. There is no arguing that. Especially when you compare his results to that of Brendan Shanahan's. He was hired by Toronto 2 days after Linden was hired in Vancouver, and he has that franchise years ahead.

And when owner Francesco Aquillini, during his thank you to Linden speech, makes sure to mention that everyone needs to share the vision going forward to make the team great again, it makes you wonder if Linden, entering the final year of his contract, was pushed out. And it makes you wonder how much say Linden really ever had to begin with.

Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, who first reported rumbling of Linden/ownership not seeing eye to eye two years ago, has been on the radio circuit suggesting that Linden's vision and ownerships' vision were not the same. 

There is a bit of a sinking feeling for long time Canucks fans. The sad-sack team now moves forward not only without the faces of the franchise - twins Daniel and Henrik Sedin who retired - but also without its heart and soul. 

Is this rock bottom for a franchise that is used to scraping along the ocean floor?

Linden escapes the job dented but remains more or less as "teflon" as ever in this marketplace. He will be forever loved, more than team itself in many seasons. He jumps ship as captain who was never allowed to be the captain.