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Markus Naslund says he’s glad the issue of how coaches treat players is being discussed publicly.

Speaking from his home in Sweden, the former Canucks captain acknowledged he’s heard some of the allegations that have been levelled in recent days about Marc Crawford, who was his head coach for a large portion of his time in Vancouver.

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Crawford was hired this summer as an assistant coach by the Chicago Blackhawks. The Blackhawks announced Tuesday he has been placed on leave while they investigate allegations of verbal and physical abuse levelled against him by players he coached in Vancouver and on the Los Angeles Kings.

“That they’re looking into how coaches are treating their players is a good thing,” Naslund said. “I’m not much for guys getting back at coaches after their career is over. I find it’s easy to take a cheap shot.”

A year ago on the Spitting Chiclets podcast, Brent Sopel spoke of the strong language Crawford directed toward him as a player in Vancouver and Los Angeles. He also said the coach hit and kicked him on the bench.