This Day in Hockey History – June 26, 1999 – 2 and 3 to 22 and 33

Jun 26, 2019

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Never before or since June 26, 1999 have twins been drafted back-to-back at the NHL Entry Draft. Thanks to some savvy dealing, the Vancouver Canucks wound up with the No. 2 and No. 3 picks. They wisely used them to draft Swedish twins Daniel and Henrik Sedin.

The 1999 NHL Entry Draft took place at Boston. Vancouver, who had just finished the season with the second-worst record, held the No. 3 slot. Their European Scout, Thomas Gradin, had identified these seemingly perfect twins and believed in them enough to push the general manager to draft them both. Canucks GM Brian Burke agreed and noted, “They were co-MVPs in the Swedish (Elite) League this year and that’s impossible. At 17 or 18, that’s an incredible accomplishment.” Burke firmly stated, “We said from the get-go that we weren’t going to trade our pick and that we’d take a twin if one was there, no matter what. I think we were convinced that no one else was going to leave with the twins. Someone might leave with one but no one else was going to leave with both of them.”

The Sedin twins followed in the skates of their father and two older brothers by playing for MoDo, of the Swedish Elite League. Daniel, a left wing, was older by six minutes, but Henrik, a center, was taller by an inch (at 6’2”). Gradin called Daniel “the more creative player,” whereas Henrik was “a more conservative player. He’s a guy who takes responsibility defensively.” Meanwhile, Burke (who at the time could not remember which twin had a chip in his tooth as the way to tell them apart) said Daniel was “a shooter and a scorer” while Henrik was “a play-maker.” A Vancouver Province writer described Daniel as “a bigger, faster, stronger version of Markus Naslund” and Henrik as “a virtual clone of Peter Forsberg.”

To ensure he could get both twins, Burke began making deals. On Father’s Day, the Sunday before the draft, he traded defenseman Bryan McCabe and either the 2000 or 2001 No. 1 pick to Chicago in return for pick No. 4. “We gave up an excellent defenceman and a first-round pick,” explained Burke. “The price was worth it because we felt one twin standing alone had very little value . . . We felt there was a chemistry they have that was worthwhile.” “I wasn’t surprised at all by the deal,” commented McCabe. “I really enjoyed my time here, but I’m sure I’ll enjoy Chicago as well.” He continued, “They’ve got a good team still, it’s just a matter of putting it all together. The Sedin twins are supposed to be great players and they should give the team some scoring.”

Burke started working out a deal with Tampa Bay for the No. 1 pick that went into motion on draft day. He gave them the 75th and 88th picks in return. Then Burke approached the Atlanta Thrashers (who had just had their expansion draft the day before) to swap slots No. 1 and No. 2. He cajoled them saying this would make them the first expansion team to choose first overall. In return, Atlanta gave Vancouver a conditional third-round pick in 2000. Recently, Burke was humble about his role in these deals, remarking, “To get the two picks together was hard, but it was the worst first-round in the history of the League. And that’s the reason people were willing to make trades.”

Thanks to Burke’s efforts, he was able to announce the twins together. He selected Daniel Sedin as No. 2 and Henrik Sedin as No. 3. When they officially joined the Canucks, Burke assigned them to sweaters No. 22 and No. 33 in honor of this historic draft moment. As they neared the end of their playing careers, he joked that he picked them in the wrong order because Henrik turned out to be the better player. At the draft, Burke told the press, “We’re very pleased to get both of them. They’re great players.” The No. 1 and No. 4 picks went to Czech players Patrik Stefan and Pavel Brendl. The top four draftees all hailed from two European nations.

The twins only learned of Vancouver’s ability to take them both about five to ten minutes before the draft began. Already, before draft day, the brothers had claimed the Canucks as their favorite team with two of their favorite players. One of them told the press, “We’re glad it’s Vancouver. We’ve never been to Vancouver but we’ve heard good things about the city and the team.” They also said that mostly they had wanted to play on same team and that ideally, they would like stay in Sweden one more year to hone skills and finish high school. Gradin agreed saying, “In my opinion he and Daniel could come to the NHL next year and be third- or fourth-line players, but I’d prefer another year in Sweden.”

On draft day, Coach Marc Crawford mused, “Their development has been done in a different country and different culture. The future will unfold as it unfolds. I don’t have a crystal ball, but I’m excited about this and excited about the franchise.” Later, Burke credited Crawford for turning the twins into players. Unlike Crawford’s claims not to know the future, Vancouver Province writer Ed Willes made an uncanny prediction in an article defending Burke’s dealing. “Ten years from now, it will be remembered as the most significant deal in team history and the start of a new era for the NHL’s most tortured franchise.” As it turned out, it took 11 seasons (the twins’ tenth) for the Canucks to make it within one game of winning the Stanley Cup.

Both twins played for the Canucks throughout their entire NHL careers, 17 seasons, and made playoffs 11 times. Along the way, Henrik earned the Art Ross Trophy as top scorer (along with the Hart Memorial Trophy) in 2009-10, and Daniel took the prize the very next season (along with the award for most outstanding player). Henrick received the King Clancy Memorial Trophy (for Leadership and Humanitarian Contribution) in 2015-16, and he shared the award with Daniel in 2017-18. Between the two of them, they hold most of the Canucks’ team records. Daniel has the most goals (393) and game-winning goals (86). Henrik has the most assists (830) and points (1,070). With only 24 more games than his brother, Henrik’s 1,330 games is the most ever played for Vancouver.

During all that time, they also represented Sweden in multiple World Championships and Olympics. They won gold together in 2006, played together in 2010, and Daniel won silver in 2014 (when Henrik was injured).

Mere days before the 20th anniversary of the Sedin twins’ draft, Commissioner Gary Bettman brought them onstage to open the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, hosted at Vancouver. There, he announced that the Canucks planned to retire No. 22 and No. 33 at the franchise’s 50th anniversary celebration this coming February.