The NHL / Tracy Dodds : Linden: All the Right Stuff for Rookie of Year

The Vancouver Canucks have launched a full-scale promotion to get Trevor Linden voted rookie of the year, complete with campaign buttons and professionally produced video cassettes of his season highlights.

It’s too bad such tactics are needed to offset the New York media focus on Ranger rookies Brian Leetch and Tony Granato because Linden could inspire a “pure” vote.

But how else would all the voters know that the 18-year-old Linden is a “pure rookie” who, according to the flyers is also “pure heart” and “pure soul” and “pure gold?”

Linden has all the right stuff, the stuff of which legends are made. His profile didn’t have to be dreamed up in a Madison Avenue office.

He was actually born in Medicine Hat and spent a childhood dreaming of playing for the junior team that he eventually helped to two Memorial Cups. His grandfather was a speed skater in the Netherlands, and his father built him a custom net in the back yard with targets in the corners.

Linden, who is known for his work ethic, called the Canucks the week before training camp and asked for an extra day before he reported. He wasn’t ducking a day on the ice, he wanted to help his family finish branding the cattle.

“I don’t brand the cattle,” he explained at the time. “I just tackle them so my brother can brand them.”

The 6-foot-4, 200-pound first-round draft pick was moved from right wing to center by Coach Bob McCammon at the end of February and the team won eight of the first nine games he played at center.

Linden has already passed the club record for most goals by a rookie--it had been 26--and is closing in on the record for most points, 60. Linden has 28 goals and 27 assists for 55 points.

And although he signed a four-year deal estimated at $700,000, he says that he plays for the love of the game. He drives a ’65 Mustang.

Linden was drafted second overall. The top pick, Mike Modano, returned to play junior hockey at the start of the year because he couldn’t come to contract terms with Minnesota.

To that, McCammon said: “Trevor thought it was most important to make the team first before money was a big deal. Having Modano in junior (a little longer) isn’t going to hurt Minnesota. But it points out how together this kid has got it.”

Linden lives with a family--Harry and Joanne Robinson--lined up by the team. Joanne is the former wife of Bobby Hull and the mother of St. Louis right winger Brett Hull. “You couldn’t ask for a nicer young man,” Joanne Robinson said. “He has so much character for a boy his age.”

Among the many testimonials is this, from Mike Murphy, former coach of the Kings: “I’ve seen Luc Robitaille as a rookie and I’ve seen Jimmy Carson as a rookie. They aren’t near this guy.”

Columnist Stan Fischler of Hockey News wrote that Leetch should be rookie of the year because of his combined offensive and defensive skills. But Don Cherry, former Boston Bruins coach turned broadcaster, went on the air as a “Hockey Night in Canada” commentator wearing a button that said, “I vote Trevor Linden for NHL Rookie of the Year 1989.”

Linden himself said he would vote for Leetch, citing Leetch’s composure and puck-handling.

Add humility to Linden’s qualities.

Bruce McNall, Kings’ owner, is nothing if not honest. When he was honored as the Man of the Year by the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation at a fund-raising dinner that drew the likes of Kenny Loggins, Paul Anka, Joan Rivers, Alan Thicke and on and on, McNall said:

“The real reason we’re here tonight is Wayne Gretzky. I’m being singled out for doing the same thing anyone else would have done if they had had the chance.”

He later added: “We’re lucky to be around in the era he’s playing in, much less to be here in L.A. where he’s playing.”

The night earned, by an early estimate, about $200,000 for diabetes research. Returns were not in from the silent auction, which offered such items as one of Wayne Gretzky’s hockey sticks, an autographed Bernie Nicholls jersey, a signed Laker basketball, a signed Marcus Allen jersey . . .

The diamond-studded folks who paid $250 each for the dinner didn’t fall all over themselves competing for those sports items. But a day of sailing on the Stars & Stripes with Dennis Conner and McNall went for $3,000.

When the Kings raised $80,000 for LIFE (Love Is Feeding Everyone) with an outdoor buffet dinner at Lawry’s California Center, hard-core hockey fans who paid $20 each to get in--for a total gate of more than $35,000--tipped the Kings for pictures and autographs to the tune of another $45,000 that night. And a Gretzky stick there went for $2,200, a jersey that he had worn in a game for $3,700.

Hockey Notes

Oiler Mark Messier has scored 30 or more goals in each of the last four seasons. . . . Hartford clinched a playoff spot in the Adams Division Sunday night with a victory over Boston. . . . . John Brophy, who had been playing golf in Florida and collecting checks from the Maple Leafs--who were obligated to honor his contract after firing him as coach in December--has signed a new contract as a scout for the team. The new contract pays him less but, according to Toronto owner Harold Ballard: “His attitude is that, if he’s not working as a coach, he doesn’t want to be paid as a coach.” . . . . Guy Lafleur is scheduled to be on “Late Night with David Letterman” Thursday night. . . . The Rangers retired Eddie Giacomin’s No. 1 last Wednesday night. . . . Pittsburgh has clinched a playoff spot for the first time since 1982.