Henrik Sedin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Henrik Sedin |
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| Hockey Hall of Fame, 2022 | |||
Sedin with the Vancouver Canucks in October 2010
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| Born | 26 September 1980 Örnsköldsvik, Sweden |
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| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) | ||
| Weight | 188 lb (85 kg; 13 st 6 lb) | ||
| Position | Centre | ||
| Shot | Left | ||
| Played for | Modo Hockey Vancouver Canucks |
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| National team |  Sweden |
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| NHL Draft | 3rd overall, 1999 Vancouver Canucks |
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| Playing career | 1997–2018 | ||
Henrik Lars Sedin (born September 26, 1980) is a Swedish hockey executive and a former star player. He played his entire 17-year National Hockey League (NHL) career as a centre for the Vancouver Canucks. From 2010 until he retired in 2018, he was the team's captain.
Henrik and his identical twin brother, Daniel, were famous for playing together their whole careers. They were known for their amazing teamwork on the ice. Henrik was a skilled passer, known for setting up goals for his teammates. He had over 150 more career assists than Daniel. Daniel was the goal-scorer, with over 150 more goals than Henrik.
Henrik is the Canucks' all-time leader in points, with 1,070 points (240 goals and 830 assists) in 1,330 games. In 2022, he and his brother were both inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
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Early Life and Family
Henrik was born in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden, just six minutes before his identical twin brother, Daniel. They also have two older brothers, Stefan and Peter. Their dad, Tommy, used to play hockey for their hometown team, Modo Hockey.
Henrik and Daniel started playing organized hockey together when they were eight years old. They didn't always play on the same line until they were 14. That's when Daniel switched from playing centre to wing. While playing professionally for Modo, they also attended high school.
Playing Career
Starting in Sweden (1997–2000)
At 16, Henrik and Daniel began their professional careers with Modo Hockey in the Swedish Hockey League. In their second season, they were both so good that they shared the Guldpucken award as the best players in Sweden.
In the 1999 NHL Entry Draft, the Sedins were top prospects. They both wanted to play for the same team. The general manager of the Vancouver Canucks, Brian Burke, made a series of smart trades. He managed to get the second and third overall draft picks. He used them to select Daniel and then Henrik, keeping the brothers together.
After the draft, the twins played one more season in Sweden with Modo. Henrik led the team in scoring that year.
Vancouver Canucks (2000–2018)
First Years in the NHL (2000–2006)
Henrik's first season with the Canucks was in 2000–01. He and Daniel became the fourth set of twins to ever play in the NHL. Henrik scored his first NHL goal on October 16, 2000, against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Over the next few seasons, Henrik kept improving. He and Daniel often played on a line with Jason King. Their line was nicknamed the "Mattress Line" because it had two twins and a King.
During the 2004–05 NHL lockout, when the NHL season was cancelled, Henrik returned to Sweden to play for Modo. When the NHL returned the next season, Henrik had a breakout year. He scored 75 points, thanks in part to playing on a line with winger Anson Carter.
Becoming a Superstar (2006–2010)
In the 2006–07 season, Henrik became the Canucks' top centre. He set a new team record for most assists in a season with 71. In the 2007 playoffs, he scored a famous goal in the fourth overtime period to win a game against the Dallas Stars. It was the longest game in Canucks history.
In 2007–08, Henrik was chosen for his first NHL All-Star Game. He also won his first team award as the Canucks' leading scorer. The next season, he and Daniel tied for the team lead in points.
The 2009–10 season was Henrik's best ever. Early in the season, Daniel broke his foot and missed 18 games. Without his brother, Henrik started scoring even more. He led the league in points for much of the year. He finished the season with 112 points, winning the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's top scorer. He also set a new Canucks record for most points in a single season.
For his amazing performance, Henrik won the Hart Memorial Trophy as the NHL's Most Valuable Player (MVP). He was the first Canuck ever to win this award.
Captaincy and Stanley Cup Final (2010–2018)
Before the 2010–11 season, Henrik was named the new captain of the Canucks. That year, he led the league in assists for the second time. His brother Daniel won the scoring title, making them the first brothers to win the Art Ross Trophy in back-to-back years.
The Canucks were the best team in the regular season and won the Presidents' Trophy. They made it all the way to the Stanley Cup Final but lost to the Boston Bruins in a tough seven-game series. Henrik played through a back injury during the playoffs and still managed to score 22 points.
In the following years, Henrik continued to be a top player and leader for the Canucks. On February 15, 2013, he passed Markus Näslund to become the team's all-time leading scorer. He also set a team record by playing in 679 consecutive games, an "ironman streak" that ended in 2014 due to an injury.
On January 20, 2017, Henrik scored his 1,000th career point, a huge milestone for any player.
On April 2, 2018, Henrik and Daniel announced they would retire at the end of the season. In their final home game, Henrik assisted on two of Daniel's goals in an exciting win. After 17 seasons, all with Vancouver, Henrik's incredible career came to an end.
Life After Hockey
On February 12, 2020, the Vancouver Canucks retired Henrik's number 33 jersey, raising it to the rafters alongside Daniel's number 22. This is one of the highest honors a team can give a player.
In 2021, Henrik and Daniel rejoined the Canucks organization as special advisors. They now work in player development, helping young players improve their skills on and off the ice. In 2022, their legacy was sealed when they were both inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
International Play
 Henrik during the 2010 Olympics |
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| Medal record | ||
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| Representing Sweden |
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| Ice hockey | ||
| Winter Olympics | ||
| Gold | 2006 Torino | |
| World Championships | ||
| Gold | 2013 Sweden/Finland | |
| Bronze | 1999 Norway | |
| Bronze | 2001 Germany | |
| European Junior Championships | ||
| Gold | 1998 | |
| World U17 Hockey Challenge | ||
| Silver | 1997 Canada | |
Henrik often played for his home country of Sweden in international tournaments. He helped the junior team win a gold medal at the 1998 European Junior Championships.
He played in two Olympic Games. In 2006, he was part of the Swedish team that won the gold medal in Turin, Italy. He also played in the 2010 Olympics, which were held in Vancouver.
Henrik also won medals at the IIHF World Championships. He won a gold medal in 2013 and two bronze medals in 1999 and 2001.
Playing Style
Henrik was famous for being a playmaker. This means he was excellent at passing the puck to his teammates to help them score goals. His connection with his brother Daniel was almost telepathic. They could often find each other with passes without even looking.
Early in their careers, Henrik and Daniel were not very physical. But as they got stronger, they became much better at protecting the puck and playing against aggressive opponents. Later in his career, Henrik also began to shoot more and score more goals himself.
Personal Life
Henrik is married to his wife, Johanna. They have two sons, Valter and Harry. The family lives in Vancouver but returns to Sweden during the summer.
In 2010, Henrik and Daniel, along with their wives, made a large donation of $1.5 million to the BC Children's Hospital. They are also big fans of harness racing and own several racehorses.
Images for kids
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Henrik during an away game in March 2009.
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Henrik wearing the Canucks' commemorative Vancouver Millionaires jersey in March 2015.
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Henrik warming up prior to a game in October 2015
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Henrik (#20 in gold) wins a faceoff to brother Daniel against Slovak forward Michal Handzuš.
