Nyorai kupfuurira kweiyi ndima - Pashure pemitambo 28 mumwaka miviri neCapitals, Linden akanga arova zvibodzwa zvina bedzi uye anobatsira matatu. Musi waNovember 10, 2001, maCapitals akatengesa Linden, pamwe neyekutanga-kutenderera dhizaini muna 2002 kana 2003 (yakashandiswa kusarudza Denis Grot), kuCanucks mukutsinhana kwavo kwekutanga-kutenderera kusarudza muna 2002 (yakashandiswa kusarudza Boyd Gordon) uye yechitatu-kutenderera kusarudza muna 2003
(akazotengeswa kuEdmonton Oilers, avo vakasarudza Zack Stortini). Linden akawana 34 mapoinzi neVancouver mumitambo 64, iyo yaisanganisira mutambo wake wechi1000 wemwaka wenguva dzose musi waKurume 26, 2002, vachipesana neLos Angeles Kings. Mumutambo wake wokutanga weplayoff neVancouver mumakore matanhatu, akawana chinangwa uye mana anobatsira mumitambo mitanhatu.