The official title will be Special Advisors to the General Manager for Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin, who were announced today by the Vancouver Canucks. The franchise icons will now be involved in the front office of the team they spent their whole NHL careers with, helping with the decision-making and organizational strategy. In the release, the team also indicates that the Sedins will support all areas of the team’s hockey operations, including player evaluation and development, while also participating in amateur and pro scouting meetings.
Basically, the Sedins will be learning the entire management side of hockey with an eye on a bigger role down the line. Canucks GM Jim Benning released a statement on the move:
Henrik and Daniel’s hockey intellect and experience is exceptional. We’ve had an open line of communication since they retired as players. They are students of the game, eager to learn, who will make valuable contributions and strengthen our staff. We are very pleased to add their knowledge and passion for the game and have them begin the next stage of their careers with us.
There was never any doubt that if the Sedins wanted to get into the front office of an organization, the Canucks would be glad to have them. Their cerebral style on the ice will hopefully help them learn and understand the scouting and development side of the game, evaluating which moves will benefit Vancouver moving forward.
Henrik Sedin is the all-time franchise leader in games played, assists and points, while twin brother Daniel Sedin leads the club in goals and shots. Even among the long list of great players that have donned the Canucks colors, there are very few who embody the franchise as much as these two.
First assignment for Daniel and Henrik – take Jimbo’s phone away until Free Agent Frenzy is over. Next, encourage him to get a new shade of Kiwi for the Draft, going for the Billy Idol look, to show the kids that land in VAN that he’s the coolest looking GM on the block, not like that Trader Bob guy down in Anaheim. Hey, nobody said this job would be easy…
Mate, I’m a Kiwi (New Zealander), out of interest, what’s the Kiwi you refer to here? I’d happily play for the Canucks but at 52 I fear that ship has sailed.
Hey, there, @kiwimlbfan! Welcome to PHR! I’m afraid that reference is to the famous brand of shoe polish that Jimbo has been accused of “overusing” (his hair). He has pulled off some ridiculous looks at the Draft, so some of the OverDrive boys (TSN 1050) came up with that explanation. It’s kind of stuck, so if they use a picture of him in an article, I usually just cringe. The Twins really do need to take away his phone, just so they some chance at getting out of Cap Hell in the next few years. :)
#bringbacklouie
@backhandinbaptist – Loui E.? *Every* team needs a guy with the talent to occasionally put it into his own net either on a delayed penalty, or during the last two minutes with the extra attacker… #kiwi-less-jimbo
Gotcha, thanks mate. Yep, we have Kiwi shoe polish here too (unsurprisingly) and Kiwifruit and of course the flightless bird that gave us all our name! Thanks for the explanation.
Seems like he can pick some good talent but ain’t so good at the free agent stuff, is that a fair assessment?
@kiwimlbfan – Sounds like you know him like the back of your hand! He always seems bent on bidding against himself to get UFAs who are OK, but not *that* OK, if you get my drift. I think what’s maddening for Canucks fans is that he hasn’t learned from his past mistakes and they are usually holding their breath on Free Agent Frenzy Day. Part of the problem is most, if not all, Canadian teams have to pay more to get the same talent, due to the difference in strength of currencies. Of course, it’s not an absolute, but generally speaking they are forced to do this to compete with more tax-favorable markets in the U.S.