Even as recently as last year, most Canucks fans (myself, not included) would have had an argument that Henrik Sedin wasn't even the greatest Sedin in Canucks history. But after the season he put together in 2009/2010, we are exploring the possibility that the first Art Ross trophy winner in Vancouver history may be the greatest Canuck of all time. Let's explore the case that my all time favorite of the Twins (I have had an official #33 blade on my stick for some time, and drilled an assist in the season opening roller hockey game last week) is the Canucks' GOAT.
1. Art Ross: This isn't some small award. The Ross award is the trophy for the player who scores the most points in the NHL, and H-Bomb is the first Vannie to ever earn the honor. That's a pretty nice place to start.
2. Single season point record: Not only did he win the Art Ross, but Hank's 112 points this season are the most points ever tallied by a Canuck in a single season. By stats alone, he just had the best season in team history.
3. Single season assist record: 81 of those 112 points were assists this year, and that mark becomes even more impressive when you consider that Daniel Sedin was injured fr 1/4 of the season. Hank makes other players around him better.
4. Most assists by a Canuck: Talk about making players around you better, Henrik has been doing it since he got here. In his 728 games in Vancouver, Henrik has 434 assists. That's 19 more assists than #2 Trevor Linden (insert sign of the cross), and Linden played in 410 more games. That's impressive.
5. #4 in points with a lot of career left to go: Henrik still has plenty of time in Blue & Green (or whatever color uniforms we wear in the future), and currently sits #4 on the Vannie points list. With 572 points, he's looking at moving ahead of Vannie legend Stan Smyl (673) in 1-2 seasons, and has his sites set on breaking Linden (733) and Markus Naslund (756) eventually.
That's a pretty good case for good ol' 33, but there is one thing that would convince everyone across mainland BC. That, of course, is a good playoff run. Pavel Bure is well known around these parts as the greatest playoff performer in Vannie history with 31 points in the Stanley Cup run in '94 when we lost in 7 to the Rangers (not to mention being a well respected regular season stud with 60 goals in that same season), as well as being tied with Trevor Linden for the most career playoff goals in a Canuck uni (34). So, if you haven't yet bought into my "greatest of all time" moniker for Henrik Sedin, let's wait for him to step it up starting tomorrow night against the Kings in the first round of this year's playoffs. If H-Bomb can put up 25-35 points in a deep playoff run, I don't think you have much of an argument against me.
Thank you for bringing back Versus, DirecTV. Let's get these playoffs going!
-- Sent from my Palm Prē
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