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Time to Meet the Twins
by Alanah McGinley on 09/05/08 at 09:31 PM ET
Comments (11)
A couple months ago, media and fans got the idea that Canucks GM Mike Gillis was ready to trade Daniel and Henrik Sedin to the first takers. Clearly this didn’t happen but the root of the rumors wasn’t unreasonable. When Gillis was first hired, he was put on the spot about the future of the twins and his response was this:
“I don’t think the group of forwards right now are ready to compete. I don’t know if they [the Sedins] are players the team will be built around moving forward.”
Next week, he’ll finally be meeting them face to face and so today he addressed his earlier comments:
“It wasn’t my intention to disparage their ability. When I was asked that question [about the Sedins], I answered in the context of players going into the last year of their contract. I can’t build around players I might not have for more than a year. I tried to correct that because it did come out the wrong way. It was my fault.”
Wednesday’s meeting will be between the Sedins, their agent J.P. Barry, Mike Gillis and his assistant GM, Laurence Gilman. Will the Canucks try to open contract negotiations? It’s difficult to say. For all we know, it might just be some smoke-and-mirrors on the way to trading them straight out of town.
So it’s hard to be sure what to expect, but we do know that the Sedins have been much-maligned in Vancouver over the years, despite consistent development through every year of their tenure on the Canucks.
Iain MacIntyre of the Vancouver Sun provides a sound perspective on their talents, and why a great many criticisms directed at the two players are unfounded:
You can argue Daniel and Henrik aren’t “dominant” first-liners or “dynamic” first-liners or “intimidating” first-liners. You might even claim they’re not “good enough” first-liners, but you must have awfully high standards because by any statistical measure, Daniel and Henrik are elite forwards.
In the last two seasons, Daniel has 158 points and Henrik 157. Mats Sundin, who has left Gillis hanging on a two-year, $20-million offer and whose only contract right now is with an online poker service, has 154 points the last two seasons.
Only 18 players have outscored the Sedins. There are 30 NHL first lines—by definition, 90 first-line players. So the twins not only score like first-line players, but are among the better ones in the league.
That’s very solid reasoning, if you ask me. While I can appreciate that some people don’t enjoy their style of play, I’ll never understand the mentality that they’re simply “not good enough.”
Clearly they are.
_____________________________
*Quotes sourced in the Vancouver Sun
Filed in: vancouver canucks | Canucks and Beyond | Permalink
Tags: daniel+sedin, henrik+sedin, j.p.+barry, mike+gillis,
Comments
I’ve been saying this for a while now…and taking heat for it, here and elsewhere.
Their numbers don’t lie, dollar per point they are top performers.
Not exactly exciting to watch, but productive nonetheless.
Posted by Laker from loops on 09/05/08 at 10:37 PM ET
What Laker said…not exciting to watch, but they do produce. I just wish they would face the goalie sometime instead of digging around along the boards…
Posted by GZ Expat on 09/05/08 at 11:18 PM ET
“The Sedins” are seen by the rest of the NHL as the Canucks’ only deadly players.
fixed 
Posted by Osrt on 09/05/08 at 11:25 PM ET
Four words for the fanboys that explain concerns with the Sedins.
Not. When. It. Counts.
Posted by Rumpy. on 09/06/08 at 01:21 AM ET
Not. When. It. Counts.
Maybe not, but they can’t do it alone. When the play gets tighter they need teammates to take off some of the pressure - if they get no help, only the two of them can’t drag the team to a win against a full roster.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 09/06/08 at 04:44 AM ET
For all we know, it might just be some smoke-and-mirrors on the way to trading them straight out of town.
Right. Because the Canucks have so many other scoring forwards. But, hey, I hear Tampa Bay is looking for a few more forwards. Maybe Vancouver can pick up a couple of their extra defensemen. 
Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 09/06/08 at 11:17 AM ET
I forgot to add that when I read the headline (“Time to Meet the Twins”), I thought maybe Alanah had a treat in store for us. 
Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 09/06/08 at 11:19 AM ET
Rumpy - Two words from a non “fanboy”: Okay. Then.
Baroque - I tend to agree. Hopefully Gillis and his crystal ball are right about these additions, and some of these new guys will have a breakout season. (Wellwood, Bernier: time to become Superstars!)
Older than Chelios - About a trade, I wouldn’t be happy, but I wouldn’t be dead-surprised, either. This team confuses me. (And about the ‘twins’ crack… Oh man. I can’t believe I didn’t see that coming. Bloody hell!)
Posted by Alanah McGinley from British Columbia on 09/06/08 at 12:12 PM ET
Bob Gainey told crowd of his two hour meeting with Mats Sundin in St.Johns,NL. (read details in Habs Inside/out.
Posted by nightmare_49 from Montreal on 09/08/08 at 08:16 AM ET
OlderThanChelios
HAHA, now that is entertainment.
Posted by Laker from Kamloops now woohoo on 09/11/08 at 01:53 PM ET
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Alanah McGinley has been blogging hockey since 2003 (with a notable gap in time through 2010, kicking it with new baby Lucy while living knee-deep in chaos while reading “parenting for complete idiots” during every spare minute) sharing opinions, rants and not-so-deep thoughts with anyone who will listen.
In addition to writing Canucks & Beyond and helping manage Kukla’s Korner, Alanah was one of the founders and co-hosts of The Crazy Canucks Podcast. She has contributed pieces to FoxSports.com and the New York Times Slapshot blog, as well as other stray destinations in cyberspace.
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They’re point-per-game players who have consistently produced excellent offensive numbers despite the fact that the team around them became more and more offensively challenged over the past two seasons. You can’t tell me that they’re not elite, or that “The Sedins” are seen by the rest of the NHL as the Canucks’ deadliest players.
Posted by George Malik from South Lyon, MI on 09/05/08 at 10:32 PM ET