<table width=90% align=center><tr><td><img src=http://cdn.nhl.com/canucks/images/upload/2007/09/bear_head.jpg border=0 align=left vspace=1 hspace=4>Never, in my whole life, have I been prouder of an athlete than I am of Trevor Linden. He has done what so many people fail to do in their lives. He has finished his career, and he can have no regrets.

No regrets? How can he have no regrets? His name isn't on the Stanley cup.

Those very astute observers out there will certainly have noticed that, yes, the Stanley Cup is suffering by not having the name Trevor Linden on it, but that does not a career make.

No regrets? He was a healthy scratch many times in this, his farewell season, which ended without a playoff run. How could that not be regretful?

This is true. He was a healthy scratch this year on a team that missed the playoffs, but to think that would tarnish his career is to not understand that Linden is the definition of a team player.

Others out there might point out his failure to win the Calder trophy in his rookie year. Finishing second to a hall of famer like Brian Leetch is no failure. Some might say losing to the Rangers in game 7 was the sign of an unfinished career. I would point out his two goals in that game and shift the "blame" for that loss elsewhere.

What about being stripped of his captaincy? Two words, Mark Messier. Two more, Mike Keenan. These two ushered in the darkest days of this franchise by shipping out it's brightest star. This action, but extent, has proven the effect Linden had on this city and franchise rather than illustrate any perverse example of failure.

Linden has often finished second. Second to Leetch, second to the Rangers, second to Naslund, second to Smyl, but he has always been first in one important category: Integrity.

Trevor Linden lived his life the way it should be lived: Selfless, honest, hard working, and compassionate. That he was a gifted athlete as well was merely the vehicle by which to accelerate the causes he held dear. In an era of selfish athletes and fallen idols, Linden has stood firm and true. He bore witness to the era of Kobe Bryant, Popeye Jones, Barry Bonds and others of their ilk and remained a genuine role model for even the best of us.

Trevor Linden finishes his career as a humanitarian, a great hockey player, and as a wonderful person. Stanley cup, no Stanley cup, I couldn't care less about the Stanley Cup, Trevor Linden is more than a name on a trophy, more than a great athlete. Trevor Linden has managed to leave the game on a high note; the title of "star" has never been more deserving.

All the best, Trevor!

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