Canucks Have Intriguing Offer For Sedin Twins

They are the two most legendary Vancouver Canucks of all-time. Hall of Famers Daniel & Henrik Sedin have been working in player development for the team for the past four years. But it sounds like the franchise has made them an offer to take on a much bigger role in the newly under-construction front office hierarchy.

Elliotte Friedman revealed the Canucks' desires on his 32 Thoughts podcast on Monday:

I do think the Canucks have asked the Sedins if they want to take more of a role, and how willing they would be in taking a greater role ... 

I don't know what the titles would be in Vancouver if this is accepted, but I do believe that (the Canucks) have talked to the Sedins about taking a larger role, and they were pondering the idea. ... I think the Sedins' role in this could be important if they decide to accept the mission as it's been presented to them.

Of course, many will connect the idea for this kind of move to the recent hiring by the Toronto Maple Leafs of franchise legend Mats Sundin to be the right-hand man to the new general manager in their front office. Sundin now has the title of Senior Executive Advisor, Hockey Operations.

The difference, however, is that Sundin was living back in Sweden, and had to move his entire family to Toronto this spring to take on his new post. The Sedins settled in Vancouver after their retirement from the NHL in 2018, so the move wouldn't be so drastic for them. 

They've been in their current player development roles since 2022, focusing on on-and-off-ice training with prospects in Vancouver and Abbotsford.

Sedin Twins being groomed for bigger front office roles with Canucks

But with Jim Rutherford stepping down as president of hockey operations and a new GM soon to be named, the Sedins are being pegged for much bigger roles, if the franchise can convince them. 

"So, I think we're kind of awaiting two decisions here," Friedman recapped. "No. 1, who the head of hockey operations will be. And, No. 2, are the Sedins willing to take a bigger role? And, you know what, now that they've seen how it might work in Toronto... I think it just comes down to time and how are they feeling. I think it would be a great thing for the Canucks if they get it. Obviously, it's their decision."

The Sedins were drafted back-to-back at No. 2 and No. 3 in the 1999 NHL Draft by Vancouver, and played their entire careers there. Henrik is the team's all-time leader in games played, with Daniel a close second. Daniel is tops all-time in goals, Henrik is 7th. Henrik is far and away the all-time leader in assists, with Daniel ranking second, while Henrik and Daniel rank 1-2 in points, over 300 ahead of the next-closest. They're also at the top in many other categories, like power play goals and plus/minus.

Photo: © Bob Frid-Imagn Images