Sedins say they won't play anywhere but Vancouver in touching letter

Sep 11 2017, 11:53 pm

I think the Sedins just made the whole city of Vancouver cry.

Henrik and Daniel Sedin are preparing to begin their 17th season with the Vancouver Canucks. It could be their last.

The twins, who turn 37 this month, are entering the last year of their contracts. They haven’t discussed an extension yet.

Their team – the only one they have known in their illustrious NHL careers – is rebuilding.

Usually that’s a recipe for a trade, particularly for players in search of a first-ever Stanley Cup championship. But not with Henrik and Daniel.

The Sedins are as loyal as it comes, and they proved that once again in a heartfelt letter to Vancouver, published in the Players’ Tribune on Monday.

Their next contract

All has been quiet on the contract extension talk, and that’s because the Sedins are in wait and see mode.

“With one year left on our contracts, many people are asking us what the future holds,” Daniel wrote in the article titled ‘Dear Vancouver’. “When the time is right, we will sit down with management and discuss it.”

The Sedins are getting up in age, so they likely want to see where they’re at and how they’re feeling before committing to more seasons. They’re in year-to-year territory now.

A lot will likely depend on how they’re feeling as players and how the team looks around them. If they’re rare players that can excel at a high level into their late 30s, that probably prolongs their careers. If the Canucks’ young players develop at an accelerated rate, that likely keeps the fire burning too.

Henrik says he feels 26, not 36 though, so there’s that.

Vancouver or bust

Canucks management has been clear on their position on trading the Sedins. They’re not going to ask them to waive their no-trade clause, and they won’t entertain the idea of dealing them unless Henrik and Daniel ask out.

Don’t hold your breath for that.

“People say our window for winning a Cup has closed, but we have said it before, and we will say it again. We won’t play anywhere else,” Daniel stated. “If we are going to win a Stanley Cup, if we are going to achieve our dream, we’d only want it to be in Vancouver. If we did it anywhere else, I don’t think it would feel the same.”

“We are Swedes, but this is our home,” Henrik added.

“If we’re going to win a Cup, we only want it to be with Vancouver – that will never change. And if the moment has come and passed already, then so be it.”

Kevin Bieksa once said he would ‘go down with the ship’ in regards to waiving his no-trade clause. He eventually took a lifeboat to Anaheim, after management asked him to leave. But the Sedins are the captains of this ship, and they’re prepared to sink or swim.

“This is my home. This is our home. This is our family’s home. Vancouver has given us so much and we’ve tried to give everything we have in return. So we will do our best to teach this new generation of young guys.”

It doesn’t get any clearer than that.

2011 still hurts

Despite the Sedins’ lack of interest in leaving town to chase a Cup, their desire for a championship is evident.

And yes, the 2011 Stanley Cup Final still hurts.

Daniel said it was still hard to talk about.

“It was like climbing to the top of Mt. Everest and then having to turn around with four feet left,” he said.

Canucks fans don’t need reminding of what happened in that series. They led 2-0 and 3-2 in the series, but were unable to get the last win.

“When we went up 2-0, we didn’t let our minds wander,” said Henrik, the consummate professional. “We were focused heading over to Boston. It’s just … I’m not sure – it’s hockey. It’s just the way it goes sometimes.”

After Game 7, the twins went up to a suite to eat dinner with their families.

“Watching the smoke rise from the riots and seeing everything happen on TV — it just broke my heart,” Daniel said. “I felt empty.”

“Mentally, physically, I didn’t have anything left. It’s the hardest trophy in the world to win and when you’re that close … “hurts” isn’t the right word,” Henrik added. “It’s beyond that.”

Despite the pain of 2011, Henrik was able to focus on some positives.

“What I want them to understand, is how supportive everyone was to us in the weeks after the Finals,” he said.

“Not a single person said a bad word to me. Just support, support, support. We will never forget that.”

Is this the end?

Is this the beginning of the Sedins’ farewell tour?

Maybe.

They reflected on their careers as Canucks in the letter. They said they weren’t ready physically when they entered the league, and wondered if they could fulfill their potential. Markus Naslund helped them.

They busted their butts in Sweden during the 2004-05 NHL lockout to get stronger and better. When they returned, they toppled 70 points in a season for the first time. They credited Anson Carter, their linemate that year, for helping them get to the next level.

The next 10 years, the twins finished 1-2 in team scoring.

If Sedin flashbacks are racing through your head, you’re not alone.

“You start realizing that your time is coming to an end, eventually,” Daniel said. “We’re going to take this year and appreciate everything about it, and never look too far ahead. Who knows, we might have a few more years left in us.”

We should be so lucky.

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