Hearing the roar of the crowd in Rogers Arena last spring twigged Alex EdlerB次元官网网址檚 emotions.
The longtime NHL defenceman had brought his daughter to watch a Canucks playoff game and the experience stirred memories for Edler, who spent parts of 15 seasons with Vancouver.
B次元官网网址淚 kind of forgot how loud this building can be,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚t was almost emotional when we were here and I heard the crowd.B次元官网网址�
Edler believes the same feelings will wash over him Friday as his years of service are recognized on the ice before Vancouver takes on the Philadelphia Flyers.
The 38-year-old Swede signed a one-day contract to officially end his career as a Canuck.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 very proud of all that IB次元官网网址檝e accomplished,B次元官网网址� he said Friday morning. B次元官网网址淚 had so many good leaders around me, so that made it easier for me and to learn what we need to do to play in this league for a while. There are actually so many good memories from this organization.B次元官网网址�
EdlerB次元官网网址檚 impact on the Canucks B次元官网网址� and the players who remain B次元官网网址� was big, said Vancouver blue liner Tyler Myers.
B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 just always been a real nice person, a real class act,B次元官网网址� he said, noting that Edler took him B次元官网网址渦nder his wingB次元官网网址� when he first joined the Western Hockey LeagueB次元官网网址檚 Kelowna Rockets years before either player made it to the NHL.
The duo were reunited when Myers signed with the Canucks back in 2019.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 great that heB次元官网网址檚 getting a night like tonight. Really happy for him. He means a lot to this organization,B次元官网网址� Myers said.
Selected by Vancouver in the third round of the 2004 draft, Edler played 925 regular-season games for the Canucks, contributing 409 points. He made 82 post-season appearances, including during VancouverB次元官网网址檚 2011 run to the Stanley Cup final.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 so many memories. I remember my first NHL game, obviously our Cup run,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淏ut I think mostly, itB次元官网网址檚 just all the people that IB次元官网网址檝e come to know here over the years. I made so many friends for life, worked with so many good people. So itB次元官网网址檚 always very special to come back here.B次元官网网址�
Edler went on to play two seasons with the L.A. Kings and finished his career with 104 goals and 335 assists over 1,030 regular-season NHL games.
He holds the franchise record for goals (99), assists (310), and power-play points (177) among Canucks defencemen, but he knows these marks wonB次元官网网址檛 last forever B次元官网网址� especially with Quinn Hughes on the roster.
B次元官网网址淚 have those records because I was here for so long. He is going to break every record, and thatB次元官网网址檚 just because how good he is,B次元官网网址� Edler said of Hughes, who won the Norris Trophy as the NHLB次元官网网址檚 top defenceman last season.
B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e going to be broken very soon. And he deserves that because B次元官网网址� you all see him out there B次元官网网址� heB次元官网网址檚 a top player.B次元官网网址�
Hughes is just one of the young players Edler watched grow into stars over the course of his career, and those athletes have made watching the Canucks exciting in recent years, he said.
B次元官网网址淒uring my time here, we had some great years when weB次元官网网址檙e really good, and then we kind of had a bit of a rebuild,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淵ou always want to be part of a good team, but itB次元官网网址檚 kind of special to see young guys coming in and developing.B次元官网网址�
ItB次元官网网址檚 been more than a year since Edler played his final NHL game. He spent last season in L.A., where he now lives with his family, soaking up moments that heB次元官网网址檇 miss on the road, like holidays and school functions.
What comes next isnB次元官网网址檛 clear yet, he said, but Edler knows heB次元官网网址檒l be back around a rink sooner or later.
B次元官网网址淚 see myself doing something in hockey, for sure,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 where my knowledge is at.B次元官网网址�
