Linden makes surprise appearance at last Vancouver Canucks game of the season
The Vancouver Canucks had a very special guest at last night’s game.
Legendary centre Trevor Linden was in attendance, watching with his son Roman. The Canucks put the two on the big screen at one point, eliciting big cheers from the crowd.
Canucks fans have a lot of love for Linden, who endeared himself to the city over 16 years playing for the team.
Linden was at the game partially to celebrate longtime Canucks equipment manager Pat O’Neill ahead of his retirement. O’Neill has been in the NHL since the 1980-81 season and with the Canucks since the 1988-89 season, Linden’s rookie year.
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Unfortunately for the franchise legend and his son, last night’s game wasn’t the most exciting. The Canucks lost 4-1 to a Vegas Golden Knights team that had already locked up their playoff spot, ending what’s been a disappointing season with another loss.
The Canucks posted some behind the scenes content of Trevor and Roman congratulating O’Neill on his retirement before the game.
“He saw my first, he saw my last, and now I’m coming to see his last,” said Linden about the legendary equipment manager.
āHe saw my first, he saw my last, and now Iām coming to see his last.ā#Canucks legend Trevor Linden, and his son Roman, visited Pat OāNeill to congratulate him ahead of his final game as Equipment Manager. pic.twitter.com/dFhl0ysycL
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) April 17, 2025
There were numerous special touches planned throughout the night for O’Neill. He was given the team’s unsung hero award and shown on the jumbotron, where he got massive cheers from the crowd and stick taps from both the Canucks and Golden Knights players.
While O’Neill is retiring, Rick Tocchet and Quinn Hughes said in their postgame comments that they think he’ll spend some time around the team next season.
Trevor and Roman also made a surprise appearance at one of last year’s playoff games, watching the Canucks lose to the Nashville Predators in Game 5 of the first round.
Linden has previously spoken about how much he’s enjoying fatherhood.
āIām loving being a dad,āĀ he told Daily Hive in a May 2023 interview.
While he spent a long time playing and working as an executive for the Canucks, Linden hasn’t held an official role in the team since 2018, when he stepped down as president.