Nassen living for the moment

By RYAN MCCRACKEN on March 21, 2019.

rmccracken@medicinehatnews.com@MHNMcCracken

Linus Nassen isn’t one to fret for the future; he’s living in the moment.

The 20-year-old Medicine Hat Tigers defenceman is set to enter his final Western Hockey League post-season when his squad drops the puck against the Edmonton Oil Kings on Saturday at Rogers Place, but he isn’t looking at it a last hurrah – for Nassen, it’s just another chance to relish the atmosphere.

“I’m not trying to think of it as my last playoffs, I just want to go out there, have fun and win some games,” said Nassen. “I’m really excited. I think we have a really good chance to beat Edmonton, we’ve just got to go out there and play our game.”

Medicine Hat may not be Panther country, but Nassen says Tigers fans can thank his big-league club in Florida for guiding him to the Gas City to start the 2017-18 season. The 6-foot, 180-pound Swede spent his formative years playing back home, but after being selected by the Panthers at 89th overall in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, Nassen says they suggested he give the Dub a shot.

“They helped me lots and they wanted me to come here and play juniors to get prepared and ready for the next step. It was the right decision,” he said. “I’ve made a lot of new friends and I’ve learned a lot. It’s a different kind of hockey here compared to Sweden. It’s been a really good ride so far.”

Nassen went on to log 26 points on Medicine Hat’s back end before becoming the team’s second import overage defenceman in as many seasons behind former Tabby blueliner Kristians Rubins – a product of Latvia currently playing with the ECHL’s Newfoundland Growlers. While it’s rare to see import players fill overage spots in the WHL, Tigers head coach and general manager Shaun Clouston says it was a no-brainer when it came to bringing back Nassen.

“We gave it a lot of thought, as to which direction to go, and we believed with a younger group that having Linus and Dylan (MacPherson) back, if they were both sent back, would be a real bonus,” he said. “We thought that those two guys, with some experience and some leadership, would really be able to help out on the back end, log a lot of minutes, play in real important situations. And that’s been the case.”

Nassen was joined at Panthers development camp this season by his Tiger teammate MacPherson, and both subsequently earned trips to main training camp with the team’s AHL affiliate Springfield Thunderbirds – an experience Nassen says has led to notable improvements in both their careers.

“If you compare him this year to last year, I think it’s a huge difference. I think he learned lots from the camp and so did I. We had a good time,” Nassen said of MacPherson. “I was really glad when he got invited because I know him and we’re good buddies. That was a good experience. I think that helped him a lot, too.”

Clouston added Nassen has been leaned on in virtually every situation possible throughout the season. The swift Swede went on to finish the year with seven goals, 39 assists and a plus-nine rating while serving as a leader on a considerably young Tiger blue line.

“Linus has played real well for us this season,” said Clouston. “He plays a regular shift and specializes on the power play. We really benefit from his skill on the top unit. He quarterbacks the unit, he sees the ice well, he can break the puck out of the zone and really distribute it in the offensive zone.”

Nassen and the Tigers open the playoffs with Game 1 against the Oil Kings on Saturday in Edmonton at 7:30 p.m.