On Monday, Daniel and Henrik Sedin announced their retirement. Drafted in the 1999 entry draft at number two and three, the Sedins changed the Vancouver Canucks forever. The Sedins would be the 4th pair of twins to play in the NHL. There is a lot to like about them, but what is the best of the Sedin Twins?
The Highlights of the Sedin Twins’ Careers
The Twins will retire after 18 years with the team. Brian Burke performed some General Manager magic to get the consecutive picks to draft the twins. A risk that paid off exponentially. The Sedins have done it all, from winning gold at the Olympics to playing in the Stanly Cup Finals. They have had some extreme highs in their careers, a list that could go on and on.
First Pair of Points
Daniel Sedin would score his first NHL goal on October 8th, 2000. A goal that would foreshadow the amazing careers the brothers would go on to have. In the dying moments of a Game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, Henrik Sedin won a puck battle behind the Tampa net and put a perfect pass in front of the net, right to Daniel who put it home. This would mark the first pair of points the duo would collect in their Hall Of Fame worthy careers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=16&v=eT6dcV75eYY
Twin Telepathy
Daniel and Henrik are widely respected around the entire league with their style of play and respect shown on the ice. Fans the league over joked about Daniel and Henrik’s apparent Twin Telepathy due to the amazing chemistry they have. Something that the hockey world had never seen before. From no-look passes tape to tape, to seemingly knowing exactly what the other is thinking, it makes for a pretty undeniable team. Over the years the Sedins have mastered the ability to trap a team in their own end for minutes at a time. What has become famously known in Vancouver as The Shift, was over 2 minutes of relentless pressure on the power-play. In 2016 they did it again at even strength for an even better showcase of talent, its become known as The Shift 2.0.
Potentially the best showcase of their combined talent is a no-look tip pass by Henrik right to his brother’s tape in a game against the Calgary Flames. Daniel received the pass cleanly, went between the legs and scored. This goal would complete Daniels Hatrick for the night. With Henrik’s ability to pass, and Daniel’s ability to score, it is a pairing we may never see the likes of again.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=112&v=YafdepidxsU
Both Getting 1000 Points
Both brothers would use their talents with each other to collect 1000 points each. Henrik was the first to do this on January 20th, 2017. Daniel carried the puck on a 2 on 1 with his brother. Daniel passed the puck to Henrik who dekes and scores on former teammate and friend, Roberto Luongo. You could not write a better story. The bench cleared to celebrate the milestone and even Roberto congratulated his old friend on the landmark goal. Henrik became the 85th player in history to reach the landmark and 38th to do it with a single team.
Daniel got his 1000th point later that year on November 30th, 2017. Daniel became the 87th player to reach the milestone in a goal against the Nashville Predators. Henrik returned the favour and got an assist on Daniels 1000th point. The Vancouver Canucks were on a power play and in a passing play between he Brock Boeser and the Twins. Daniel scored on a deflected shot for his 1000th, Henrik collecting a secondary assist.
Stanley Cup Finals
The Twins have accomplished everything and more than a pro hockey player could ever dream of while not winning the Stanley Cup. That doesn’t mean they didn’t come close. In the 2010-11 season, the twins took their team all the way to game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals. 2010-11 was the season to dream of as The Canucks won the Presidents’ Trophy, awarded to the team with the most wins in the regular season. Vancouver went into the playoffs and beat the Chicago Blackhawks after losing 2 consecutive years in the playoffs to them. The Canucks went on the defeat the Predators and the San Jose Sharks before meeting the Boston Bruins in the Finals.
This was the third time the Canucks ever made it to the Finals. In their run to the cup, Daniel had 9G and 11A (20 Pts) and Henrik had 3G and 19A (22 Pts) in 25 games. Though it ended in a loss, the run is still something to look back on as a success in their career.
Accolades
With a trophy case like the twins have, it is probably good they didn’t win a Stanley Cup, it would have never fit. Between the two of them, they have collected 6 trips to the NHL All-Star Game, one Hart Trophy, two Art Ross Trophies, one Ted Lindsay Award, and a King Clancy Memorial Trophy. And that was only in the NHL. In Sweeden, they split the Golden Puck in 1999, they each got a Viking award and they split the Victoria Scholarship. Internationally, they each have an Olympic Gold Medal and one Silver Medal, and a pair of World Championship Gold Medals.
The End of an Era
With their career ending this season, it truly is the end of an era in Vancouver. Hockey fans into their mid-20s in Vancouver might not even remember a time without the Sedins playing. The Canucks have a large hole to fill loosing there second and third leading point earners. The Canucks now look to finish their rebuild and find a new era of Canucks History. the Sedins get to look forward to some free time to spend with their families, wait for the Canucks to retire their numbers, and wait for their inevitable inductions into the Hockey Hall Of Fame. Stick taps to some amazing careers.
Main Image Credit: Embed from Getty Images
