Well, the time has come.
They say all good things must come to an end, and tonight Canucks’ fans will see Daniel and Henrik Sedin take to the ice for the final time inside Rogers Arena as the Canucks host the Arizona Coyotes.
The game will likely be an emotional one for the brothers. In a media scrum Thursday, Henrik admitted that Tuesday night’s affair against the Vegas Golden Knights was tough, but tonight, he’s unsure whether or not he will even be able to keep his composure.
Coverage of the Sedin twins on Globalnews.ca:
The Sedins are going out on their own terms. Having combined for more than 100 points this season, it wasn’t the game telling them to hang it up, it was them telling the game it was time, something Daniel knew was a significant factor in making their decision.
“We’re still healthy, and we’re leaving the game happy, so there are no regrets from our end,” Daniel said.
It’s a bittersweet moment for most Canucks’ fans, who have watched the Sedins dominate in this market for more than a decade. Selfishly, fans may want the Sedins to play out just one more year, but in a letter released to the fans on Monday, the twins knew it was just time.
According to Canucks head coach, Travis Green, there’s been a different vibe in the Canucks’ locker room for the whole week. Unlike most game days, the brothers didn’t take the optional morning skate ahead of tonight’s contest, and instead of showing tape from previous games, Green showed the team video of Sedin magic throughout the years.
“It was a different kind of hockey back then, and these two as young players in the league had to persevere through some tough hockey and tough lessons,” said Green, “to see what they’ve become is a real good learning lesson for our young players.”
Over the years the brothers captured numerous awards and helped take the Canucks to new heighrs. Art Ross trophies, a Hart trophy, a Ted Lindsay award, and countless All-Star game appearances, all while helping get the Canucks within one game of the Stanley Cup.
It was a series of mastermind maneuvers by then general manager, Brian Burke, to bring the Sedins to Vancouver in the summer of 1999, that could have resulted in Burke losing his job.
Over the years the Sedins played with multiple linemates, and almost every one of them were successful playing on their right wing.
In 2006, Anson Carter was the Sedins’ primary right-winger and scored a career high of 33 goals.
Taylor Pyatt also got an extended look with the twins, scoring 23 goals.
But perhaps the most popular linemate the Sedins ever played with was Alex Burrows, who scored more than 26 goals in four different seasons, including a career high 35 goal campaign.
Fans have seen special send-offs before. Trevor Linden’s final game in 2008 against the Flames was a memorable one, and this is expected to be nothing short of historic.