Former Canucks Captain Markus Naslund Now Works in Swedish Real Estate
Markus Naslund spent eight seasons as Vancouver’s captain and won the Lester B. Pearson Award before leaving the Canucks in 2008 as their all-time leader in goals and points. He now lives in Ornskoldsvik, Sweden, and has worked in real estate development and investment since 2014, with projects in his hometown and Are. Earlier in his post-playing career, he served about three and a half years as Modo’s general manager, and he is neither related to Mats Naslund nor a Hockey Hall of Fame inductee.
Drafted 16th overall by Pittsburgh in 1991, Naslund reached the NHL in 1993. A March 1996 trade sent him to Vancouver for Alek Stojanov, the seventh pick that year; Stojanov recorded seven points in 107 NHL games, while Naslund amassed 756 points for the Canucks.
His later business work includes Strandkajen, an Ornskoldsvik inner-harbor project with 38 apartments and ground-floor restaurants. It broke ground in August 2018 and was slated for February 2020 completion. He also spent roughly three and a half years as Modo’s general manager.
Naslund’s shift from hockey to property development could affect fans who follow retired players, and residents of Ornskoldsvik and Are who may see new housing or commercial space. His profile may draw attention to local projects, potentially influencing community growth and tourism. For athletes, his path may illustrate that post-playing careers can move into unrelated fields, though outcomes depend on local markets and planning decisions.