Defense for the man that can't play defense

Reading the news this morning it's evident that there are some mixed emotions about the departure of the former captain Markus Naslund. I'm not his biggest fan but I respect the man and so I will defend him. There's probably only two people that read my blog but even if one of them changes their mind then my efforts will not have gone in vain.

So without further ado, 20 reasons defending Nazzy against criticism.

1) He leads the Canucks in pretty much all offensive categories.
2) He played through 'the dark ages' (the late 90's) as a Canuck.
3) Alain Vigneault plays a defense first style which conflicts with what Naslund is known for.
4) He was still able to put up 25 goals despite playing in Vigneault's style.
5) He put up 25 goals despite playing with plugs.
6) Any man who's donned the skates jersey earns my respect automatically.
7) He was voted by all the players to win the Lester B. Pearson award (2002), given as the most valuable in the whole league.
8) He takes crap from the media after every loss, but sucks it up.
9) He has contributed countless amount of time and money to the community.
10) The amount of 'Naslund' jerseys being worn at GM place is only rivaled by the amount of 'Linden' jerseys.
11) He was part of the most feared line in hockey at one point, West Coast Express.
12) He's been quoted on multiple occasions as saying that he wanted to retire in Vancouver.
13) He made an honest effort to play into Vigneault's system.
14) He's the most exciting player we've had since Pavel Bure.
15) He signed with the Rangers because we never made him an offer.
16) He isn't the reason why we didn't go deep in the playoffs during the West Coast Express era...cough***Cloutier***cough
17) He has taken crap from fans since the fall of the Crawford era and yet he continues to go out night after night and play.
18) If he didn't want to play in Vancouver he would have left a long time ago.
19) He would have taken a pay cut, hometown special, to play here.
20) You secretly admire Naslund. Deep down under all the hate you wish that maybe, just maybe, he can reignite the fire that he once had, because at one time, back when we were an offensive team, he was your favorite player, he was everyone's favorite player.

I know that under a run and gun system Nazzy will put up more points then when he was here. I wish that Gillis had offered him something, anything. I know he would've taken it. But what's done is done, and here it is 20 points defending the man who has worn the Canucks jersey for 12 years. Hopefully people will stop kicking him on the way out.