The NHL soon will lose the greatest twins on ice.
Henrik and Daniel Sedin announced their retirements Monday in a letter to Vancouver Canucks fans. The two 37-year-olds will hang up their skates at the end of the current season.
“We started the year with the mindset that a decision would be made in the postseason,” the Sedins wrote. “But it became clear, after discussions with our families throughout the year, that this will be our last season. This feels right for all of us.
“Being part of the Canucks family for 18 seasons has been the best period of our lives. But it’s time to focus on our families and life after hockey. 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.”
Say what you want about the Sedins, but their careers have been both remarkable and eerily symmetrical.
They were drafted back-to-back in the first round of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft (Daniel 2nd, Henrik 3rd). Both players broke into the NHL in 2000 and both have spent the entirety of their 17-year careers with the Canucks. Furthermore, every time one Sedin signed a contract, the other signed on the same day for the exact same value and length — and now they’re retiring together.
Oh, and their production — especially points — is nearly identical.
Henrik: 1,327 games played; 240 goals; 828 assists; 1,068 points; plus-minus of plus-167; 17:30 time-on-ice.
Daniel:Â 1,303 games played; 391 goals; 647 assists; 1,038 points; plus-minus of plus-149; 17:00 time-on-ice.
Ridiculous.
Unfortunately for the Sedins, however, they might be most remembered for their ill-fated turn in the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals. Despite holding 2-0 and 3-2 advantages in the series, the Canucks eventually lost in Game 7 to the Boston Bruins.
It was the first and only time the Sedins made it to the Stanley Cup Finals.
