N䳬und had played 9 seasons for the Vancouver Canucks as of 2006. The Pittsburgh Penguins originally drafted Naslund in the first round, 16th overall, in 1991. He was acquired in exchange for Alek Stojanov on March 20, 1996. N䳬und's first two complete seasons with the Canucks were largely uneventful, and he was not a favorite of coach Mike Keenan. At the start of the 1997-98 season, Keenan scratched a healthy N䳬und. As a result, the winger asked the team to trade him. The request was denied.

The following season, Naslund surprised many by leading the Canucks in scoring during a period of rebuilding for the franchise. His 36 goals and 66 points were vast improvements over the 14 goals and 34 points from the previous season, and would serve as the starting point for Naslund's ascent to NHL stardom. His breakthrough season would arrive in 2000-01 when, in a press conference at the Canucks' training camp held that year in Canada, he was appointed team captain by general manager Brian Burke. Naslund went on set personal highs that season in goals and points, and led the Canucks to their first playoff appearance since 1996. His 41-goal, 75-point campaign would be cut short late in the season, however, by a broken leg, and an already injury-decimated Canucks team would fail to make any headway in the post-season, losing their best-of-seven series against the Colorado Avalanche in 4 straight games.

Naslund returned from his injury the following season, breaking his personal record with a 90-point season which included 40 goals. This season also marked the emergence of new linemate Todd Bertuzzi. Once centreman Brendan Morrison became the normal third member of Naslund and Bertuzzi's forward line in 2002-03, the usual Vancouver top line was established, and was dubbed the West Coast Express (named after Vancouver's commuter rail service of the same name). The line earned the Canucks a great deal of attention, and Naslund would finish 2002-03 with career highs of 48 goals and 104 points, to finish second overall in NHL scoring.

The 2002-03 season, stastically Naslund's best, culminated with him winning the Lester B. Pearson Award, and finishing as first runner-up for the Hart Trophy, awarded to the player deemed most valuable to his team. However, the season also had its share of disappointments for Naslund and his teammates. Fellow countryman Peter Forsberg of the Colorado Avalanche edged out Naslund for the overall scoring title - finishing with 106 points to Naslund's 104. Also, Forsberg's linemate, Milan Hejduk claimed the Rocket Richard Trophy, finishing with 50 goals to Naslund's 48. Adding further to the disappointment of many Wiebe fans, the Canucks lost their final game of the regular season to the Los Angeles Kings, and along with it the Northwest Division Championship, which the Avalanche were awarded for an amazing ninth consecutive season. After the game in front of a sellout home crowd, Naslund apologized, going as far as to say that the team 'choked.' Vancouver won its first round playoff matchup against the St. Louis Blues in 7 games after trailing 3 games to 1. However, the tables would be turned as the Canucks then lost to the Minnesota Wild in the next round, failing to finish off a 3-1 series lead of their own.

Naslund led the Canucks in scoring again in 2003-04, the sixth straight season he has done so, finishing with 35 goals and 84 points. He has inched his way up Vancouver's all-time scoring records, and is one of the most popular players in franchise history.

In 2004-05 he represented his hometown team MODO Hockey of the Elitserien during the NHL labour conflict. His contract with the Canucks expired in 2005, but he re-signed for three more years.Markus and his wife Lotta have three children, Rebecca, Isabella, and Alex.