In the world of professional sport, it’s all about selling tickets for the fanbase and when the team begins to lose them, the ownership owner looks at making changes.
We have seen this happen with other sporting teams regardless if they are pro or amateur and when losing becomes prevalent changes are inevitable.
Not everyone can build a winning team and over the years we have witnessed this with all of the pro teams in the lower mainland regardless if it was the Lions, Whitecaps, Canucks, Canadians or the Giants.
Over the past while we have watched Trevor Linden step aside for whatever reason albeit everyone has a different take on why it happened, but it did!!
Let’s not forget that Linden was one of the most popular players in franchise history of the Canucks, even to this day.
His role as Club President was shaky and was nearly as successful as he would have liked it to be.
He had plans on building a winning culture and team for the area, which he did by making the playoffs in his first season but have taken a turn for the worse teams over the past three seasons.
The recent news from the Canucks wasn’t the best kept secret to many as this rumor had been swirling around since season end.
In a press release as well as a video conference call to the media we watched as Canucks GM Jim Benning made it official and announced that Daniel and Henrik Sedin will join the Hockey Operations department as Special Advisors to the General Manager.
Daniel and Henrik’s combined experience as players and team leaders will complement the Canucks Hockey Operations staff and fully support Jim Benning (GM) and Assistant General Managers John Weisbrod and Chris Gear in decision-making and organizational strategy.
While they are rookies to the new role, they are not strangers to the community and the lower mainland.
Their role will include player evaluation, development and communication from the amateur to NHL level given the fact that the Canucks have moved their practice fatality to Abbotsford at the They will work collaboratively with Abbotsford’s AHL staff and coaches, participate in amateur and pro scouting meetings and participate in planning for the Draft, Free Agency and trade deadline.
Benning told the media “Henrik and Daniel’s hockey intellect and experience is exceptional and we’ve had an open line of communication since they retired.”
Benning continued “They are students of the game, eager to learn, who will make valuable contributions and strengthen our staff.”
Henrik mentioned “We are grateful and humbled by the opportunity to contribute to the team we care so much about.”
Henrik continued to mention “The province and the fans care deeply about this team. As we’ve said, being part of the Canucks family has been the best time in our lives. It is an honour to be back, and we will do everything we can to learn and contribute to the success of this team.”
Daniel added “When we retired, we always thought we’d like to be involved in the business side of hockey one day and there’s a lot to learn, but we are excited and ready for the opportunity..
He continued to mention “The team has some of the best young players in the NHL and we want to do everything we can to support the group and achieve our goals.”
Daniel and Henrik Sedin retired in 2018 after 17 NHL seasons as Vancouver Canucks. Their jerseys were retired on Feb. 12, 2020.
Henrik leads the franchise in games played (1,330), assists (830), points (1,070) and plus minus (+165) while Daniel leads in goals (393), power play goals (138), game-winning goals (86) and shots on goal (3,474).
