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Henrik Sedin

Canucks Promote Yogi Svejkovsky To Assistant Coach

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Jaroslav “Yogi” Svejkovský will join the Canucks’ bench next season as a part of Rick Tocchet’s coaching staff, the team said in a release Wednesday. The former first-round pick of the Capitals fills the role vacated by Mike Yeo, who mutually parted ways with the club last week. The Canucks also said that Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin will take on more responsibility next season from their existing development roles and will have more day-to-day involvement with the NHL and AHL coaching staff.

Svejkovský has been with the Canucks organization for three seasons in skills coaching roles, working with their AHL affiliate in 2021-22 before being promoted to the NHL staff for the past two campaigns. The 17th overall pick in 1996 never managed to stick around as a full-timer in the NHL and had his playing career end at age 24 due to concussions. He finished his major-league career with 23 goals and 42 points in 113 games with Tampa Bay and Washington across four seasons.

He began his coaching career in the Vancouver area with the WHL’s Vancouver Giants as an assistant in the 2006-07 season and has remained there since. Svejkovský served as an assistant and skills coach through 2018, taking a few years to head coach academy teams in British Columbia before joining the Canucks.

2022 Hockey Hall Of Fame Inductees Announced

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There will be six new members of the Hockey Hall of Fame. The 2022 inductees are Daniel Alfredsson, Roberto Luongo, Riikka Sallinen, Daniel Sedin, and Henrik Sedin. Herb Carnegie will also be inducted in the builder category.

Alfredsson, who retired in 2014, played 1,246 games in the NHL, including more than, 1,100 for the Ottawa Senators. The greatest player in the history of that franchise, he holds nearly every offensive record imaginable, including goals (426), assists (682), points, (1,108), powerplay goals (131), shorthanded goals (25), and game-winning goals (69).

The winner of the 1996 Calder Trophy, Alfredsson burst onto the scene with 61 points in 82 games after being a sixth-round pick two years earlier. Even then, he had gone undrafted multiple times, often deemed too small to compete at the highest level. In 2006, he reached a career-high of 43 goals and 103 points, finishing fifth in Hart Trophy voting, fourth in Lady Byng voting, and fourth in Selke Trophy voting all in the same year. The following season he helped bring the Senators to the Stanley Cup Final, leading the playoffs in scoring with 14 goals and 22 points, including four game-winners. His 1,157 career points rank only behind Mats Sundin among Swedish-born players.

Two of the names just behind him on that list were also inducted today, as the Sedin twins go into the Hall together in their first year of eligibility. The dynamic duo combined for 2,111 points together over 17 years with the Vancouver Canucks, rarely ever seeing the ice without each other. Difficult to separate, each won individual awards–Henrik took home the Hart Trophy and Art Ross in 2010, while Daniel won the Ted Lindsay (then Lester B. Pearson) and Art Ross in 2011–and came within a single game of the Stanley Cup. There are few players who have ever had such an impact on the Canucks organization, and it is lasting; the twins are part of the front office and will take on an increased role in the upcoming season.

The goaltender in that 2011 Stanley Cup run was Luongo, who will be inducted in his first year of eligibility as well, after one of the most impressive careers by an NHL netminder. Over parts of 19 seasons, starting with the New York Islanders but mostly spent with the Canucks and Florida Panthers, Luongo faced 30,924 shots across 1,044 appearances. Both of those numbers put him behind only Martin Brodeur all time, and while he was certainly not always playing behind the strongest defensive units, Luongo sits ninth in career save percentage at .919. A Vezina Trophy finalist on three occasions, he failed to ever win the award, instead settling for the Jennings Trophy in 2011.

While he failed to raise the Stanley Cup, Luongo’s international record is nearly unmatched. With two Olympic golds, two World Championship golds, and one World Cup gold, he routinely helped Canada topple the rest of the world in tournament play, including a memorable turn at the 2010 Games held in Vancouver while he was a member–and in fact captain, despite not being allowed to wear the “C” during games–of the Canucks.

Sallinen too will be known to hockey fans more for her international play than anything else, as she becomes the first Finnish women’s hockey player to be inducted. A three-time European champion, two-time Olympic medalist, and seven-time World Championship medalist, the dynamic forward was a huge reason why Finland became the consensus third-ranked country in the world, able to compete at times with the powerhouse squads from Canada and the U.S.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Vancouver Canucks Announce Player Development Changes

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The Vancouver Canucks have made several changes to their player development, most notably transitioning Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin to roles in that department. They will work “daily on and off the ice with young players in Vancouver and Abbotsford.” Joining the twins are former NHL players Mikael Samuelsson and Mike Komisarek, who will work with prospects in the organization.

Cammi Granato, Ryan Johnson, and Chris Higgins will remain in their current roles. General manager Patrick Allvin released a statement on the moves:

We’re pleased to have solidified our Player Development department for next season with the additions of Mikael Samuelsson and Mike Komisarek, as well as Daniel and Henrik Sedin. Cammi Granato and Ryan Johnson led an extensive search to find the individuals with the right attributes, winning pedigrees, and who fit the overall strategy of the Vancouver Canucks moving forward

Obviously, there is plenty of excitement in Vancouver whenever the Sedins are involved, and after spending the last year as special advisors, it appears they are now ready to jump into a more hands-on role in the organization. The legendary forwards are arguably the most recognizable players in franchise history, combining for more than 2,800 games all in Canucks uniforms.

Samuelsson, 45, has his own experience with the Canucks, having played parts of three seasons with the club. The journeyman winger actually recorded the best year of his career in Vancouver, scoring 30 goals and 53 points in 2009-10. It’s no coincidence that those numbers came in a year where he received time on the right side of the Sedins whenever Alexandre Burrows was moved off the line. The three were also all part of the 2008 Swedish team that won gold at the Olympics. Likely not often thought of in this category, but Samuelsson is actually a member of the Triple Gold Club–with a Stanley Cup and gold medals at both the Olympics and World Championship.

He has served as a development coach with the Chicago Blackhawks and as general manager of a second-tier club in Sweden, but left that position at the end of last year.

Komisarek meanwhile never did play for the Canucks, but does have a history with Higgins from their time together in Montreal. The former NHL defenseman played more than 550 games in the league and has been a development coach with the Buffalo Sabres for the last few seasons.

Vancouver Canucks Announce New Position For Stan Smyl

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The Vancouver Canucks have promoted Stan Smyl to vice president of hockey operations, a decision made by Jim Rutherford, who had recently taken over the interim GM title from Smyl. The Canucks legend had stepped into the position for a short period after Jim Benning’s dismissal, and will now stay in a senior position with the team. Rutherford released the following statement:

Stan has been a foundational piece of this team for decades, and we are pleased that he will be taking on this role. In addition, Henrik, Daniel, and Ryan are key parts of our leadership team. We still have some additional roles to fill, but confirming these positions today is a big step for us.

Rutherford obviously means Henrik Sedin and Daniel Sedin, who will remain special advisors to the general manager for the time being. Ryan Johnson, the GM of the Abbotsford Canucks who had also stepped into the vacant Vancouver front office for a short time, will remain senior director of player development and run the AHL team.

Smyl meanwhile will now work closely with Rutherford on all hockey operations matters. Those matters will include player personnel decisions and internal operations. The 63-year-old is about as recognizable a face as it gets with regards to the Canucks, having played his entire 900+ game NHL career with the franchise and then spending several decades in various positions with the organization.

Daniel, Henrik Sedin Named Special Advisors For Vancouver Canucks

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The official title will be Special Advisors to the General Manager for Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin, who were announced today by the Vancouver Canucks. The franchise icons will now be involved in the front office of the team they spent their whole NHL careers with, helping with the decision-making and organizational strategy. In the release, the team also indicates that the Sedins will support all areas of the team’s hockey operations, including player evaluation and development, while also participating in amateur and pro scouting meetings.

Basically, the Sedins will be learning the entire management side of hockey with an eye on a bigger role down the line. Canucks GM Jim Benning released a statement on the move:

Henrik and Daniel’s hockey intellect and experience is exceptional. We’ve had an open line of communication since they retired as players. They are students of the game, eager to learn, who will make valuable contributions and strengthen our staff. We are very pleased to add their knowledge and passion for the game and have them begin the next stage of their careers with us.

There was never any doubt that if the Sedins wanted to get into the front office of an organization, the Canucks would be glad to have them. Their cerebral style on the ice will hopefully help them learn and understand the scouting and development side of the game, evaluating which moves will benefit Vancouver moving forward.

Henrik Sedin is the all-time franchise leader in games played, assists and points, while twin brother Daniel Sedin leads the club in goals and shots. Even among the long list of great players that have donned the Canucks colors, there are very few who embody the franchise as much as these two.

Snapshots: Draft Rankings, Schedule, Sedins

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The NHL Entry Draft is right around the corner and rankings, mock drafts and scouting reports continue to pile up. The Buffalo Sabres have the first-overall pick once again and another defenseman is at the top of most lists. Scott Wheeler of The Athletic released his full draft board today and like most other scouts, has University of Michigan star Owen Power at the top. The 6’6″ Power recently won a gold medal at the World Championship and is almost certainly going to be the first player selected next month.

It’s Wheeler’s other rankings that are even more interesting, however, as he goes in-depth on the first 100 prospects listed. One place where he diverts quite a bit from the NHL Central Scouting ranking is on Mason McTavish, who he slides in at tenth overall. McTavish finished second among North American skaters in the CSS rankings and will be in the mix for the first few selections. The entire list is worth a few minutes (or perhaps an afternoon, given how thorough it is) for hockey fans of every NHL team.

  • NHL insider John Shannon tweets that the league will be sending out two drafts of a 2021-22 schedule this week, one with the Olympics included and one without. It is still not clear whether the league will be participating in the Games, as there is considerable support for and against going. Shannon notes that the official schedule will be out in the third week of July.
  • The Vancouver Canucks have been working with Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin to find them a new role in the organization, and Rick Dhaliwal of CHEK reports that the official announcement is expected tomorrow. It’s still not clear exactly what the role or responsibilities will be for the twins, but they are expected to be involved with the new Abbotsford AHL team.

Snapshots: Sedins, Paquette, Krebs, O’Connor

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While the exact role has yet to be determined, Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin will be returning to the Canucks. GM Jim Benning indicated in a recent appearance on CHEK’s Donnie and Dhali show (audio link) that talks about a reunion are ongoing with an announcement hopefully coming over the next couple of weeks.  The twins each played 17 years with Vancouver after being selected second and third overall back in 1999 and hung up their skates in 2018.  Benning hopes to have the Sedins get their feet wet with several different aspects of the organization and given their commitment as players, this could be the beginning of another long run with the team.

Elsewhere around the NHL:

  • Although Hurricanes center Cedric Paquette was listed as injured in their first-round series against Nashville, Luke DeCock of the Raleigh News & Observer reports that Paquette has been available all along and is available to be used against his former team as they take on Tampa Bay in the East Division Final. The 27-year-old was a regular in Tampa’s run to the Stanley Cup in the bubble, recording 112 hits in 25 games and could be called upon at some point to bring a similar level of physicality in the series.
  • Golden Knights told reporters today including Jesse Granger of The Athletic (Twitter link) that center Peyton Krebs is well ahead of schedule in his recovery from a broken jaw. Instead of being out for the entire playoffs, there now is a chance for him to be available if Vegas is able to play into the summer.  The 20-year-old was a first-rounder in 2019 and got into four games down the stretch, making him an intriguing option if they can make it far enough for him to return.
  • Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar told reporters including Adrian Dater of Colorado Hockey Now (Twitter link) that winger Logan O’Connor may be available to play at some point in their series against Vegas. The 24-year-old played in 22 games during the regular season before suffering a lower-body injury in late March.  While he is more of a role player, having someone that’s well-rested could be helpful later in the round if Bednar needs to tweak his lines.

Vancouver Canucks Plan To Retain Jim Benning As GM

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Things are getting interesting in Vancouver. On the eve of their season finale, a disappointing season at that, rumors are swirling around the Canucks. Earlier reports suggested that sweeping changes could be coming to the organization, including a potential return of Daniel and Henrik Sedin in front office roles. Meanwhile, head coach Travis Green is still working on an expiring contract and there has been no indication that a resolution is in sight. Given all of this mystery and speculation, the Canucks have made perhaps the most surprising move they could: retaining GM Jim Benning. The often-criticized executive has been informed that he will be back with the team next year, reports Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman.

As Friedman relays, given all of the uncertainty that has arisen over the past 24 hours, ownership indicated to their front office leader that he would be returning. It’s a major decision to make ahead of a crucial off-season, as Benning will be charged with managing the Canucks’ approach to the NHL Expansion Draft (made more important by the Seattle Kraken becoming a geographical rival right away), properly executing a top-ten overall draft pick, and otherwise handling an off-season in which his roster must significantly improve despite sorely lacking cap space.

Therein lies most of the criticism of Benning as well. The GM, who has been on the job since 2014, has made some questionable decisions in regards to his most precious resource, cap space. Benning has deemed the likes of Brandon Sutter, Erik Gudbranson, Sam Gagner, Antoine Roussel, Jay Beagle, Sven Baertschi, and Micheal Ferland as being worthy of sizeable commitments during his tenure, which has hurt the team on the payroll and in opportunity cost. It also forced the departures of superior players, such as Jacob Markstrom, Chris Tanev, and Tyler Toffoli last off-season. Those losses were felt this year as the Canucks, fresh off a run to the Western Conference semifinals last year, lived in the basement all season. Benning is left having to pick up the pieces and will try to find a way to squeeze more talent into his roster this summer.

Why is it Benning fixing the problem though? For starters, his track record on the trade market and in the draft at least come close to balancing out his contract negotiation mistakes. Since the 2018-19 trade deadline, Benning has added core members Tanner Pearson, J.T. Miller, and Nate Schmidt at below-market prices. His recent draft picks also include current and budding stars such as Quinn Hughes, Nils Hoglander, Vasili Podkolzin, Jack Rathbone, Michael DiPietro, Jett Woo, Kole Lind, Jonah Gadjovich, and more. So while some of Benning’s criticism is fair, too often his successes are ignored. Despite allegedly wanting to make major internal changes, the Canucks understand and appreciate what Benning has achieved and what he is trying to build in Vancouver. It seems that he will now be given at least one more year to show that he is still steering the organization in the right direction. It’s unlikely to appease the fans in the meantime, but the club hopes that their loyalty will be rewarded.

Snapshots: Lafleur, Sedins, Seider

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The QMJHL will never again have a player wearing No. 4. Guy Lafleur’s number will be retired league-wide as of next season, celebrating his status as the league’s all-time greatest player. Before all of his success at the NHL level, Lafleur dominated the Q, recording 379 points in 118 regular season games. Amazingly, he scored more than 100 goals in each of his two seasons in the league, including seven in a single game (and five in a period!).

Lafleur would go on to be the first player from the league to be selected first overall and won five Stanley Cup championships during his Hall of Fame career. He will actually join Sidney Crosby as the only players to have their numbers retired league-wide, though it seems likely that at least Mario Lemieux will join them before long.

  • Though rumblings continue to emerge about more drastic changes in the Vancouver Canucks front office, no official announcements have been made by the team. Darren Dreger of TSN however has heard that team ownership is in talks with Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin about potential roles in the organization, without giving any specifics on what those would be. Thomas Drance of The Athletic tweets that the discussions are “not centered on a president or GM-type top decision maker role.” The twins are two of the greatest players to ever pull on a Canucks sweater and will likely be linked to the organization in some fashion for the rest of their lives; an official role would only be an extension of that connection.
  • Get excited Detroit, Moritz Seider is coming. The 20-year-old prospect was named Defenseman of the Year for the SHL this season after recording 28 points in 41 games for Rogle. Selected sixth overall in 2019, Seider signed his entry-level contract later that year but has yet to play a game for the Red Wings. Instead, he spent the entire 2019-20 season in the AHL developing his game with the Grand Rapids Griffins, before heading to Sweden to ensure a full season this time around. Playing against opponents sometimes more than a decade his elder, Seider was a dominant force at both ends of the rink.

Patrick Marleau Breaks NHL All-Time Games Played Record

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When the San Jose Sharks dropped the puck tonight against the Vegas Golden Knights, history was made. Patrick Marleau was in the lineup for San Jose, the 1,768th time that he has suited up for a regular season NHL game. This sets a new NHL record, breaking the age-old mark set by the one and only Gordie Howe in 1961.

While no one is comparing Marleau to Howe, who played six additional seasons in the WHA in addition to 26 years in the NHL and is considered one of the greatest of all time, Marleau has had a storied career of his own. The 41-year-old began his NHL story as the 1997 No. 2 overall pick, just one spot behind eventual long-time teammate Joe Thornton. Marleau played immediately for the Sharks, earning Calder Trophy votes in his first season, and the rest is history. Marleau played 19 consecutive seasons with San Jose before finally departing for the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2017. After two seasons in Toronto, Marleau was traded to the Carolina Hurricanes and subsequently bought out. He returned to San Jose, though the Sharks gave him potentially his last chance to win a Stanley Cup last year when he was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins. It unfortunately didn’t work out for Marleau, but he was still welcomed back to San Jose again this season for a chance to break the games played record. While Marleau’s long career may not include a title, he has many other accolades. A three-time All-Star, Marleau has also received votes for the Hart Trophy five times, the Selke Trophy four times, and the Lady Byng trophy a whopping 15 times, not to mention earning a number of Sharks franchise records as well. Altogether, Marleau has 566 goals and 1196 points in his career, second and fourth respectively among all active players and top-50 all-time.

Beyond the statistics, Marleau has always provided the most important ability as well: availability. Outside of the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season and these past two COVID-impacted campaigns, Marleau has never played fewer than 74 games in a season – and that low mark occurred in his rookie season. In fact, Marleau already shares in another impressive NHL games played mark. He, Jarome Iginla, and Henrik Sedin are the only players in league history to have played every game in an 82-game schedule 11 times (although Sedin holds the record with 12).

Marleau’s new career games played record could stand the test of time as well. The only active players within even 500 games of the mark are Thornton, 41, Zdeno Chara, 44, and Eric Staal, 36. Marleau has the remainder of this season to further tack on games as well. What happens beyond that point is unknown, though many speculate that Marleau could retire now that the record is set, but also given the drop-off in his performance this year. However, Thornton and Chara are also equally likely to retire, while Staal is about six full 82-game seasons from matching the mark. Marleau should be safe for quite awhile atop the all-time games played list.

Congratulations to Marleau on this tremendous achievement from everyone at PHR.

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