Criticized relentlessly early in their careers with the Vancouver Canucks for being too slow and too soft B次元官网网址� among other things B次元官网网址� Henrik and Daniel Sedin persevered to elevate themselves among the NHLB次元官网网址檚 most dominant players for nearly a decade.
Quiet and humble on and off the ice, the superstar twins took the same approach with MondayB次元官网网址檚 announcement that they will retire after this season.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 been a lot of talk,B次元官网网址� Henrik Sedin said during a lunchtime press conference at Rogers Arena. B次元官网网址淲e felt the longer the season went, it became clearer to us this was going to be our last year.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a happy day for all of us,B次元官网网址� Daniel Sedin added. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e really comfortable where weB次元官网网址檙e at.B次元官网网址�
The 37-year-olds released a letter on the teamB次元官网网址檚 website earlier in the day before fielding questions from reporters for nearly half an hour.
They relived those tough early times, the high-flying glory days, the crushing defeats, and the last three seasons that have seen the Canucks lose more combined games than any other team in the league.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 always tough losing,B次元官网网址� said Daniel Sedin, who along with his brother will play just three more NHL games. B次元官网网址淏ut with the team we had, you have to stay positive, you have to keep playing the right way, and trying to teach the young guys.B次元官网网址�
Selected second and third overall at the 1999 draft after the Canucks made a series of trades to grab both players, the Sedins were the face of the franchise for the majority of their careers.
But it wasnB次元官网网址檛 initially a smooth transition from Sweden to North America.
B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 lot of people that believed in us early on that were part of this organization,B次元官网网址� Henrik Sedin said. B次元官网网址淚f they would have listened to a lot of voices out of this room, it would have been easy to trade us because we didnB次元官网网址檛 live up to the hype.B次元官网网址�
The Sedins would eventually do so to become one of the most fearsome duos in the league, with what sometimes seemed like a telepathic ability to find each other with passes.
Their vision often left opponents gasping for air following a dominating shift that ended with another Vancouver goal.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檒l miss them as people and as players,B次元官网网址� said Canucks president of hockey operations Trevor Linden, who played six seasons with the Sedins. B次元官网网址淗appy for them because I know this is a decision theyB次元官网网址檝e come to for the right reasons.B次元官网网址�
Heading into the final year of their contracts, the Sedins penned another open letter in September stating their desire to remain with the only franchise theyB次元官网网址檝e ever known B次元官网网址� even if it meant forgoing the chance at a Stanley Cup elsewhere.
B次元官网网址淲e know we had the best jobs in the world,B次元官网网址� Henrik Sedin said Monday. B次元官网网址淲e tried to treat it that way.
B次元官网网址淲e havenB次元官网网址檛 looked too far ahead or we havenB次元官网网址檛 looked back. IB次元官网网址檓 sure we will after this is done.B次元官网网址�
Two sure-fire Hall of Famers, Henrik Sedin has 1,068 points (240 goals, 828 assists) in 1,327 regular-season games, while Daniel Sedin has 1,038 points (391 goals, 647 assists) in his 1,303 outings. Henrik Sedin added 23 goals and 55 assists in 105 playoff games, and Daniel Sedin put up 25 goals and 46 assists in 102 post-season contests.
They were never able to bring a championship to the West Coast, but led Vancouver to within one game of winning the Cup in 2011.
Despite the bitter disappointment, that ride will stay with them.
B次元官网网址淕ame 7, Stanley Cup final, you want to pull that off,B次元官网网址� Henrik Sedin said. B次元官网网址淲e had a lot of good teams throughout the years here. That year was special.
B次元官网网址淧robably the highlight of our careers, but also the lowest point.B次元官网网址�
Individual accolades, however, werenB次元官网网址檛 a problem.
Henrik Sedin won the Art Ross Trophy as the leagueB次元官网网址檚 top scorer in 2009-10 with 112 points before also capturing the Hart Trophy as league MVP.
Daniel Sedin then took Art Ross honours in 2010-11 with 104 points and took home the Ted Lindsay Award as the league MVP voted on by the players.
B次元官网网址淲e hated missing practice and games,B次元官网网址� Henrik Sedin said. B次元官网网址淲hen they dropped the puck, we wanted to be on the ice. We wanted to be the go-to guys.B次元官网网址�
The Sedins plan to stay in Vancouver for the time being and are looking forward to spending more time with family.
B次元官网网址淕oing on the road, leaving the kids home, family, thatB次元官网网址檚 been the toughest part,B次元官网网址� Daniel Sedin said. B次元官网网址淚t will be fun to be around them a lot more.B次元官网网址�
Known for their tireless work in the community, the pair have remained committed to the Canucks through a painful rebuild the last three seasons that seems to finally be taking shape.
With players like Brock Boeser and Bo Horvat at the front of a new wave under the leadership of rookie head coach Travis Green, the Sedins feel theyB次元官网网址檙e leaving the franchise in good hands.
The Canucks also now have some holes to fill. Daniel Sedin has 21 goals and 31 assists in 78 games this season, while Henrik Sedin has three goals and 45 assists in 79 outings B次元官网网址� a combined 100 points Vancouver will have to replace.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 the right time for us to leave,B次元官网网址� Henrik Sedin said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e been part of a coaching staff and a group that we really enjoyed working with.
B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e top-notch. We canB次元官网网址檛 say enough good things about Travis.B次元官网网址�
The Canucks host the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday before the SedinsB次元官网网址� final home game Thursday against the Arizona Coyotes.
The twins will then wrap up their careers Saturday in Edmonton against the Oilers.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a chance for us to thank the fans,B次元官网网址� Daniel Sedin said. B次元官网网址淲e told our teammates this morning they should be regular games. Treat us the same way.
B次元官网网址淚t should be no different this last week.B次元官网网址�
That most assuredly wonB次元官网网址檛 be the case.
Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press
