King Henrik
Henrik Sedin congratulates Alex Burrows. Photo: Canucks.com
More often than not, playing for a Western Conference team, in particular, the Vancouver Canucks means you’re usually overlooked by the eastern based media in the hockey world. Case in point: Henrik Sedin. How often around the league through various media outlets do you hear Henrik Sedin as a ‘star’ in the world of the NHL? Pretty close to never.
His name is not brought up as much as the ever so colourful Alexander Ovechkin, or the tenacious competitiveness of Sidney Crosby. If he garners any sort of attention, it has to do with the fact he is one half of the Swedish Wonder Twins, with his brother Daniel. So I decided to take it upon myself as a member of the Canucks social media, as my personal responsibility to make sure that Hank gets his “props”.
This week, Henrik Sedin is atop the NHL points race, just in front of Joe Thornton of the San Jose Sharks. Thing is, who would have thought that? Henrik Sedin, a man once dubbed one half of “The Sisters Sedin” would be leading all NHL players in this category. You expect the Gaboriks, the Thorntons, the Iginlas, the Ovechkins, etc., etc, to be in that hunt, but Sedin? For some reason it just doesn’t seem ‘real’. If we were to choose one of the two, it would probably be Daniel to be leading in scoring, but Hank? Unthinkable? Maybe, but it doesn’t mean it’s not true.
For many years, many fans in the NHL, deemed the Sedins as “overrated” or even “flash in the pans”, but it’s been almost 11 years since they were drafted and they are not only doing well in the league, they have been “money in the bank” for the Vancouver Canucks. In fact, I dare ask fans and media alike, who was in their draft class that has been better?
Henrik has shown he has the ability to not only put points on the scoreboard but to lead his team by example. When the Canucks 1st line sniper, Daniel Sedin, went down, Henrik stepped it up and started scoring goals. He also was more incline to stand-up for himself, and in all honesty, probably learned to read the plays better in his brother’s absence.
Despite what has lit a fire in Henrik’s belly, it’s nice to see an evolution in his game. When team Sweden talks about a ruling monarch on their hockey team named Henrik, don’t be too sure they are talking about Lundqvist. Number 33 of the Vancouver Canucks and his league leading 61pts might have something to say about that.
