Vancouver Sun and Province

This section last updated: January 22, 2002

Terry Bell: Its Sounds Crazy Now
Terry Bell: Vancouver Province, January 22, 2002

Ex-Canuck Bret Hedican is happy that the Florida Panthers traded him to Carolina last week. He likes the fact he's with a division-leading team and playing in a system that works most nights.

"It's nice to come out from behind my own net and know where the winger is going to be," said Hedican, referring to the Panthers' helter-skelter approach.

Hedican said he knew the Panthers were going to trade him, but not because Mike Keenan took over the team. Keenan was the Canucks coach when he was traded to Florida on Jan. 17, 1999.

"Mike was tough on me in Vancouver but he played me a lot. I learned a lot about myself then. He had a lot of faith in me in Florida."

Iain MacIntyre: Hedican braces for move
Iain MacIntyre: Vancouver Sun, January 16, 1999

Having witnessed the player exodus under coach Mike Keenan, Bret Hedican has often heard his name mentioned in trade rumours. He just never believed them until Friday, when reports linked him to the Florida Panthers as part of the Pavel Bure deal.

Reports on both coasts had Hedican going with Bure to the Panthers should Canuck general manager Brian Burke accept Florida boss Bryan Murray's offer of a package built around defenceman Ed Jovanovski.

"The last three years, I've heard my name quite a bit," Hedican said after the Canucks practised without Keenan, who was ill, in preparation for tonight's home game against the Detroit Red Wings. "Never before have I felt that something was going to happen until now. For some reason, call it a hunch... I just can't explain it.

"Vancouver treated me well. The city's been great. My family that comes up to visit loves Vancouver and so do I. Then again it's a business, and if it so happens that I get moved it will be disappointing."

Burke did not make himself available Friday for comment and there was no official statement from either the Canucks or Panthers regarding a trade that is believed to be close to the completion stage.

Burke has set a Monday night deadline for the deal.

Despite recent rumours that the Panthers were offering Jovanovski and top centre Rob Niedermayer, a source close to Murray indicated the latter is not part of the bid.

Regardless of Niedermayer, the arrival of Jovanovski likely is contingent upon Burke sending a defenceman the other way.

Bure, trying to force a trade by refusing to play for the Canucks, and Hedican are the only players remaining from the Vancouver team that lost the 1994 Stanley Cup final to the New York Rangers. Canuck Dana Murzyn was on that roster, but did not dress.

"Just to work Bure out of Vancouver for a one-guy trade, that's unlikely to happen," Hedican, 28, said. "Other players might go, and so far [reports are] that's myself.

"Any time you're name is talked about in a trade, I don't think that's something positive. It would be disappointing obviously because I've been through a lot with this hockey team - going to the final, then rebuilding. I do finally see some grass starting to grow here and I want to be part of it."

There is a chance Hedican won't be going anywhere, especially if the Rangers, who have shown the most interest in Bure, suddenly improve their offer in the wake of the Panthers' aggressive bid.

But New York general manager Neil Smith has indicated he can't go any higher than centre Nicklas Sundstrom, goalie Dan Cloutier and a first-round draft pick for Bure. Smith, however, expects to get another chance to bid before Burke closes any deal.

"I'm sure he'll call me back," Smith said. "I can't see why he wouldn't. We've been working hard on this for three months. I don't know who else he's got involved."

Not the Montreal Canadiens. There appears to be no truth to reports the Canadiens are pitching centre Saku Koivu and defenceman Vladimir Malakhov for Bure. That deal was merely advocated by a Montreal writer.

The Washington Capitals, San Jose Sharks, New York Islanders and Los Angeles Kings are among other teams that have shown an interest at some point in acquiring Bure.

Somewhat surprisingly, Bure's agent, Mike Gillis, still had not heard Friday afternoon from the Panthers or anyone else about his client's contractual expectations beyond this season. Bure was due to collect $8 million US this season, including a $2.5 million US bonus payable at the end of the year, before becoming a restricted free agent.

The Province: Canuck will marry figure-skating star
The Province: Vancouver Province, January 7, 1999

Bret Hedican has had several partners on the Canucks blue-line.

On Christmas Eve at a San Francisco restaurant, the 28-year-old got a partner for life when he asked figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi to marry him.

Her answer was enough to make Hedican try a triple axel.

"I feel really, really good," the personable Hedican said Wednesday.

This is one of those nice stories. The hockey player and the figure skater meet at the Olympics, fall in love, get married.

The couple met as U.S. Olympic teammates in 1992 in France. Yamaguchi won the singles gold medal and Hedican was on the hockey team.

"We met in Albertville but we didn't really get to know each other there," said Hedican. "But she and Kurt Browning came in to skate at the opening of GM Place in 1995 and I reintroduced myself to her.

"We became friends and it just grew from there. It's been difficult because of the limited time we have together."

Yamaguchi, 27, skates with the Discover Stars on Ice show. She broke the news in this week's People magazine. They plan to wed next year but haven't set a date.

Jim Jamieson: A new, odd feeling
Jim Jamieson: Vancouver Province, December 4, 1998

It's been well chronicled who the winners are this season as the Canucks reinvent themselves.

Players like Markus Naslund, Dave Scatchard, Bill Muckalt and Adrian Aucoin have taken opportunity and improved their status.

But, starting with the Canucks' recent five-game trip, it became clear Bret Hedican has become the odd man out on defence.

After enjoying top-four status for several seasons with the Canucks and partnering Mattias Ohlund much of last year, the fleet 28-year-old has found himself on the third defence pairing and his minutes shrinking accordingly. And when you play on coach Mike Keenan's team, you don't play much when you're the fifth or sixth defenceman.

"I'm 28 years old and I'm at the point in my career where I want to contribute," said Hedican. "Last year, playing with Mattias, I was getting a lot of ice time and I thought we had a good year together while Adrian sat in the wings.

"It's a situation where I've just got to keep myself ready so when the opportunity does arise I'm going to be able to take the ball running. Meanwhile, I'll try to prove in the minutes and shifts I do get that I can play."

Keenan said that Aucoin's emergence, the summer free agent signing of Murray Baron and the recent addition of Bryan McCabe factored into Hedican being shuffled to the periphery.

When McCabe was signed, it was Aucoin who was demoted to the third pairing. But six games ago he displaced Hedican as McCabe's partner and has remained there since.

"Aucoin has really stepped up," said Keenan. "He's in the top 10 defencemen in scoring in the league and he's done a good job for us defensively. It's an aspect of the development of a team that a player has to realize that you're competing with your fellow teammates for ice time. Bret's skills are offensive more than defence, but he's got to play solid defensively, too."

Terry Bell: Hedican ready, but Keenan?
Terry Bell: Vancouver Province, October 10, 1998

Vancouver Canucks defenceman Bret Hedican is raring to go.

But head coach Mike Keenan isn't so sure.

"I had a good skate today," said Hedican, who practiced with the Canucks for the first time since an early pre-season ankle sprain.

"It's still day-to-day but I felt better. My brain is set on playing Monday," he said, referring to the Canucks season opener at GM Place against the Los Angeles Kings.

"I tried to push myself a bit today. I'm sure Mike will put me in the game if he sees me do the things he knows I can do."

Keenan was cautious.

"I have no idea but I'm assuming he won't be ready to play," said Keenan.

"He made it through practice (Thursday) but nobody hit him. I still have not been told that he's been cleared to play. I'm preparing for the game as if he won't be playing."

(Meeko Note: Bret said today (Saturday) that he is aiming to be in the game on Monday.. so he's more optimistic than Keenan=) )

Iain MacIntyre: Hedican a longshot for opener
Iain MacIntyre:Vancouver Sun, October 7, 1998

Asked Tuesday about his lineup, Vancouver Canuck coach Mike Keenan agreed that, yes, it is much the same as the end of last season. Well, except for the absence of 51-goal scorer Pavel Bure. Oh, and the absence of 30-minute-a-night defenceman Bryan McCabe.

And then there is the unavailability of defenceman Bret Hedican.

Keenan knew he would go into the Canucks' season-opener Monday against the Los Angeles Kings without the holdout Bure and the unsigned McCabe, but found out Tuesday he also is likely to be without key defenceman Bret Hedican.

Two weeks after spraining his ankle in a pre-season game, Hedican was unable again to train and now is considered a longshot to be ready for Monday.

"I still have some residual pain," Hedican said. "I just can't do what I'd like to do. A bruised arm or leg, you can muscle through it. But ankles are such a weird injury. I really am frustrated. I thought I had a good camp."

Keenan is counting on Hedican to have a breakthrough year offensively to help fill the void left by departed free-agent Jyrki Lumme.

Without Hedican, Keenan is looking at a second-unit defensive pairing of Jason Strudwick and Jamie Huscroft. No wonder the coach is getting impatient over management's standoff with McCabe.

General manager Brian Burke feels there is nothing to negotiate with McCabe until agent Jeff Soloman lowers his asking price from $2.5 million US.

"Hopefully we'll take a proactive approach when it comes to those [McCabe and Bure] individuals," Keenan said. "Historically, that's the best approach when it comes to getting things done.

"You never know when something will surface with Pavel and you never know when a breaking point might come for McCabe."

The Canucks coasted through a hour-long game of shinny Tuesday, but Keenan said the team will practise four of the next five days to get ready for the Kings. The power play and penalty killing also will be practised, said Keenan, who refuses to name his starting goalie.

Elliott Pap: And Then There Were Two...
Elliott Pap, Vancouver Sun, September 12, 1998

In a professional sports world marked by the rapid movement of players, the Vancouver Canucks sit on the cutting edge.

Since reaching the Stanley Cup final four years ago, the Canucks have turned over their entire roster with the exception of defencemen Bret Hedican and Dana Murzyn. That's it. Hedican and Murzyn are the only survivors from a team that was one goalpost away from perhaps winning it all.

"Obviously you're always surprised when you have that much of a turnover," said Hedican, who is beginning his fifth full season with the club. "I've never been associated with anything like it."

The nucleus of the 1993-94 Canucks started to drift away for a variety of reasons.

Murray Craven and Geoff Courtnall left for U.S. destinations and Uncle Sam greenbacks. Gerald Diduck walked away because his American wife wanted to return home. Sergio Momesso, Greg Adams and Jeff Brown were traded. Cliff Ronning was released.

Then Mike Keenan arrived last year and cleaned the rest of the old gang out. (Pavel Bure cleaned himself out this summer.)

"We under-achieved for a number of years and when you do that, changes are made," said Murzyn, 31 and entering his eighth Canuck training camp. "The players from the '94 team were all guys who enjoyed playing like a team. They accepted their roles and were accountable and that's what you need."

According to Hedican, a number of the departed players had a value greater than just their on-ice performance. Hedican, 28, described them as a unifying force.

"When you look back at the team that went to the finals, we had a lot of grit, a lot of consistency and a lot of fire," Hedican said. "Guys like Geoff Courtnall, Sergio Momesso, Cliff Ronning, Greg Adams, Murray Craven and Gerald Diduck were really our core and they kept us together most nights. They just seemed to keep our team focused and when we lost those guys, the focus was never there anymore.

"I felt that maybe we lost our inner strength when they moved on. Talented players like Pavel were still there but they were on the outside."

With the many deals made last season by Keenan, Hedican thinks there can be a renewal of the spirit and camaraderie that existed in those few glory days of the franchise.

"The players we received in the trades are young, they're hungry and they're full of fire," Hedican said. "I see a commitment in their eyes."

Murzyn doesn't appear to be certain of a spot in Keenan's lineup. He tore up his right knee last Dec. 27 and hasn't played since. In the meantime, the Canucks have added 31-year-old defencemen Murray Baron and Jamie Huscroft and there may not be room for all three .

Murzyn could be the next member of the '94 gang to go.

September 3, 1998 (Vancouver Province): MORE Bret on Bure
Canucks defenceman Bret Hedican, who's now the second most senior in the dressing room -- next to Dana Murzyn -- and the only other remaining player who participated in the Stanley Cup final in 1994, said the team is better off turning the page when a teammate wants out.

"If a guy has made a decision that he wants to make a move, then I don't think his teammates want him to be here," said Hedican. "Anybody can use a guy who can score between 50 and 60 goals, but you have to be part of the team and that's what we're trying to put together here."

September 2, 1998 (Vancouver Sun): Bret on Bure (4 months later...)
After skating at 8-Rinks on Monday and a couple of times last week, Canuck malcontent Pavel Bure did not appear Tuesday, disappointing a mob of reporters tipped off to his possible attendance.

Veteran defenceman Bret Hedican, the third longest serving Canuck behind Dana Murzyn and Bure, said it was business as usual when Bure was in the dressing room with no one giving the Russian a difficult time.

"Personally I feel if a guy's heart is not going to be here, I don't think his teammates would want him here either," Hedican said, referring to Bure's trade demand "You've got to be willing to be part of the team.

April 15 1998 (Vancouver Sun): Bret on Bure
Although Bure declined again Tuesday to discuss publicly his desire to play somewhere else, Messier and other Canucks, especially the few remaining teammates who were around during the winger's early years, acknowledge these remaining games could mark the end of an era. "You do think about that," defenceman Bret Hedican, Bure's teammate since 1994, said after the Canucks held a loose workout at GM Place. "There's No. 10 sitting in our dressing room, and next year you think maybe he won't be sitting there. It's disappointing because. . . world-class, elite players don't come around very often and when they do, it's a pleasure to play with them. "Night in and night out, he does dazzling things and you say: 'Man, he's one of the best players in the world.'"

April 9 1998: Bret Passes on World's
Bret Hedican said he has had to turn down the American world championship team for medical reasons. Hedican has been suffering from an abdominal-groin problem and needs the rest. "It's a little disappointing that I can't go because it would have been nice," said Hedican. "I like playing in that tournament, it's fun hockey."

March 18 1998: Garth Snow on the Florida game
But Snow credited his defence -- particularly penalty killers Bret Hedican and Mattias Ohlund -- for their work. "I was thinking, 'just get through this,' " said Snow. "The kill was a huge momentum builder for us. We shut the door. The defence did a great job. They took away the passing lanes and just got the puck off the glass and out." and the Bret Quote of the Day =) "There's a really good feeling right now," Canuck Bret Hedican said. "You look around, and everyone's working for one another. Guys are blocking shots for the goalie, taking hits for one another. It's fun. It really feels like a team here now. Although we're not getting much help in the standings, at least we're doing our job."

March 17 1998: Bret on Namestnikov's hit on Ohlund
"Toughness is just another facet of his game," Bret Hedican, Ohlund's defence partner, said of his teammate's resilience. "He can play 30 minutes a night; he can shoot the puck, he doesn't get rattled; he plays well in big games; he can take a big hit. The kid's a big-time player." Obviously, he's still learning. Hedican warned Ohlund before the 6-2 win against the Islanders that Namestnikov is a dangerous open-ice hitter. Then, 80 seconds into the game, ka-boom. Blasts that big normally take place on some deserted atoll in the South Pacific. "I can't say it felt good," Ohlund said.

March 9 1998:
One-time St. Louis Blue Bret Hedican has recovered sufficiently from a lower abdominal strain and, barring a setback in the morning skate, will suit up against his old team tonight at GM Place. "I tried to push it as hard as I could in practice and right now it feels really good," said Hedican, who missed six games. "It's been really frustrating not playing. To be honest, I'm not sleeping as well as I could. I don't feel I'm helping the team sitting in the press box, especially down the stretch here.

Feb 23 1998: Is The Season Over?
"God no," said defenceman Bret Hedican when asked if the season is, in all likelihood, over. "We're nine points out with 25 games left and we've started to play better. "We've had so many changes and they've been for the better. The attitude is very good in the dressing room. I think the break will help us because we've had a chance to rest but we have to pick up where we left off and keep going." On Keenan's Trading: Is Trader Mike finished? Don't count on it. There was even a rumor that Hedican had been traded during the Olympic break but the teams were waiting until the trade embargo was lifted Sunday to announce the deal. Both Keenan and Hedican, who is nursing a lower abdominal strain, denied it, though the former suggested he may not be done dealing.

Feb 21 1998: Bret On The Olympics, and The US Team
The Canada-U.S. hockey rivalry hasn't gotten to Canucks defenceman Bret Hedican, a member of the 1992 U.S. Olympic team at Albertville. Sure someone stuck four Canadian flags on his locker after the U.S. lost to the Czech Republic last week, but Hedican was still sorry to see Team Canada come home from Nagano without a medal. He's also upset by the behavior of some members of the '98 American team. "It was sad to see Canada play so well and have that happen," said Hedican when asked about the 2-1 shootout loss to the Czech Republic. "I was pulling for them. I thought Trevor Linden played really well." As for Team USA members doing damage in the Olympic Village and Keith Tkachuk's post-game suggestion that going to Japan was "a waste of time," Hedican said: "It's tough to see players not take pride and behave like that. Perhaps I can apologize on behalf of my country." Hedican is questionable for Wednesday's game due to a strained lower abdomen.

Feb 20 1998: Bret Trade Rumours
Canucks head coach Mike Keenan denied a rumor that he's traded defenceman Bret Hedican and is waiting to make it official when the Olympic trade moratorium ends at 9 p.m. Tuesday. "I haven't even discussed him with another team," said Keenan. Hedican has yet to practise with the team since returning from the Olympic break, suffering from an abdominal strain, not a hip flexor as reported earlier.

Feb 9 1998: Bret on the Canucks Morale
"We're all kind of saying we wish we could keep playing right now because there's definitely a different feeling in the dressing room," recently appointed assistant captain Bret Hedican said. "We can be there with anybody in the league with the size of this team. We're playing a lot better defensively and the energy is there again. Guys are patting each other on the back. Just looking at the dressing room, it looks a lot different than it did a couple of months ago."

Feb 9 1998: What's Bret Doing For The Olympic Break?
BRET HEDICAN: "I'm going to go back to Minny (home-town St. Paul, Minnesota) and then I might go somewhere warm." Some people thought Hedican and girlfriend Kristi Yamaguchi, the 1992 Olympic figure skating gold medalist he met in Albertville, might get together and watch the Games. No chance, since she'll be in Nagano as part of the 2002 Olympic committee. "I'll watch the Games for sure," says Hedican, who played on the 1992 U.S. team and was hoping to get a return engagement. "There are a lot of memories for me. You know I was dreaming of being on this team, too."

January 14 1998: Bret on the Game
"We had a pretty good game going at the time but we made a really bad mistake and it cost us," said Keenan. "I didn't play our top six guys because we have a game tomorrow and the game was pretty much out of reach." Keenan made no apologies for his moves, explaining that with another game today in Buffalo, he was resting his main men, including Burke. He felt the Murphy goal, caused by a poor Bret Hedican pinch, sucked the life from the game. "We had a pretty good game going at that point and then we made a real bad mistake again," said Keenan, his record now a dismal 8-14-6 as Canuck head coach. "It cost us a goal and it pretty much cost us the game. When you give up a goal like that to a team like this, and you're down 2-0, you're not going to come back against a team that only gives up one or two goals a game. "So I didn't play the top six guys [later in third] because it was out of reach and it was a chance to give the other guys some ice time and try to drive their fitness level up." Hedican made his fatal mistake in the offensive zone when he gambled and surrendered a 2-on-1 to Mathieu Dandenault and Martin Lapointe. Dandenault's pass to Lapointe was poor but Lapointe followed the puck to the corner and fed a backhand pass to an unguarded Murphy, who escaped Markus Naslund's check and found Burke's five-hole. Hedican, a player whose effort can never be questioned, was left shaking his head in dismay. "I look back and I try to think of my play," said Hedican, who pinched up when Murphy scored, "and I think I'm doing the right things. But I make that pinch and it ends up in our net. It was a long-side pinch. Usually on a short side pinch, you should be 100 per cent sure you're going to get it, and on the long side too. I have no words I'm just so pissed off."