For 17 seasons, Canucks fans have had the privilege of witnessing two of the most unique careers in NHL history. Two identical twins combined for over 2100 points while playing a style of hockey that could not be replicated.
Now, as the 2017-18 season draws to a close, the Sedins have announced their impending retirement. Their entire NHL careers were spent with one team and they retire as the greatest Canucks of all time.
As the game was getting faster, they had an amazing ability to slow the game down, picking teams apart with their cycle game in the offensive zone. When a pass didn’t seem possible, Henrik and Daniel Sedin found a way to make it happen, even if it meant passing the puck through a goaltender’s legs or over the head of a defenceman. They seemed to have a preternatural sense for where the other twin was on the ice, something some commentators attributed to telepathy, Alex Burrows attributed to dolphin noises they made on the ice, and what was likely just because of literal decades spent playing with each other.
Seriously, Alex Burrows once said, “They communicate like dolphins. They don’t really talk on the ice. It’s only sounds, and it sounds like dolphins.”
They retire with the vast majority of the Canucks’ franchise records. They’re first and second in points, both breaking the 1000-point barrier. They’re also first and second in games played, assists, and plus/minus. Daniel has a few of the goalscoring records on his own: he’s first in goals, power play goals, and game-winning goals.
To top it off, they’re the only Canucks to ever win the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL’s leading scorers. As might be expected, they won it in back-to-back years: Henrik in 2010 and Daniel in 2011. Henrik won the Hart Trophy as the league’s MVP, while Daniel won the Ted Lindsay Award, as the most outstanding player as voted on by his peers.
More than just their on-ice excellence, the two Sedins have been incredible people off the ice, dedicating their time and money to the community. Even in their retirement announcement, they showed their dedication to their families.
It's time to help with homework every night. It's time to be at every birthday party and to stand in the cold at every hockey rink, soccer game and riding lesson on weekends. It's time to be at home for dinner every night.
Daniel and Henrik Sedin are surefire Hall of Famers and Canucks fans have been lucky to watch them grow and develop into the superstars that they became. Even this past season they have shown that they still can play and contribute in the NHL, but you have to respect their decision to end their careers before they can’t contribute anymore.
The Sedins deserve a proper send-off and this announcement gives Canucks fans three more games to appreciate them and say farewell.
It’s not enough time. But it will have to do.
