Vancouver Canucks Midseason Awards: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly
By David Joun
![Nov 21, 2015; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Jannik Hansen (36) and defenseman Christopher Tanev (8) and defenseman Alexander Edler (23) and forward Daniel Sedin (22) celebrate a third period goal by Sedin in the third period against the Chicago Blackhawks at Rogers Arena. Vancouver won 6-3. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports Nov 21, 2015; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks forward Jannik Hansen (36) and defenseman Christopher Tanev (8) and defenseman Alexander Edler (23) and forward Daniel Sedin (22) celebrate a third period goal by Sedin in the third period against the Chicago Blackhawks at Rogers Arena. Vancouver won 6-3. Mandatory Credit: Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/741889b8b02dbfd7adef0ba98d03dccb7b52da0f67c677fcd772013b4e4d8480.jpg)
First Half MVP, Leading Scorer: Daniel Sedin
- D. Sedin: 41GP, 17 goals, 21 points
- Tied 9th in NHL scoring
- The only Canuck named to the 2015-16 NHL All-Star Team
The old Daniel Sedin is back, almost true to his old Art Ross winning form.
For those who are wondering why Daniel and not Henrik, Daniel outweighs his older brother and captain for playing two more games and scoring four more points. The two are also tied for second in the team in the plus-minus category as plus-11’s, 41 games into the season.
Beyond the simple numbers, the reason that Daniel stands atop as the team’s MVP is his true finishing ability. He is the truest sniper in the Canucks lineup, with Vrbata failing to snipe his way to success this first half. At 35 years of age, both Daniel and Henrik have carried their franchise this season and show no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
The Sedin line has 94 points of the team’s 262. That is 35.9 percent of the offence from a single line, 14.5 percent of which comes from Daniel.
Another reason Daniel tops Henrik… is this.
Daniel Sedin's teeth go flying: https://t.co/5waPkDoMzh pic.twitter.com/FXcZLczeer
— Deadspin (@Deadspin) January 5, 2016
Another thing that the Sedins have done incredibly well this season is shutting up the “Sedin sisters” joke in the league. With the Sedins closing in on the exclusive 35-35 club, let’s hope they can win the respect of the league and its players as they reach the heights of Teemu Selanne, Daniel Alfredsson, Brendan Shanahan, and Joe Sakic.
Rk | Player | Season | Age | Tm | Pos | GP | G | A | PTS | +/- | PIM | S | S% | TOI | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Teemu Selanne | 2006-07 | 36 | ANA | RW | 82 | 48 | 46 | 94 | 26 | 82 | 257 | 18.7 | 1451 | |
2 | Daniel Alfredsson | 2007-08 | 35 | OTT | RW | 70 | 40 | 49 | 89 | 15 | 34 | 217 | 18.4 | 1560 | |
3 | Teemu Selanne | 2005-06 | 35 | MDA | RW | 80 | 40 | 50 | 90 | 28 | 44 | 267 | 15.0 | 1424 | |
4 | Brendan Shanahan* | 2005-06 | 37 | DET | LW | 82 | 40 | 41 | 81 | 29 | 105 | 289 | 13.8 | 1360 | |
5 | Bill Guerin | 2006-07 | 36 | TOT | RW | 77 | 36 | 20 | 56 | 10 | 66 | 225 | 16.0 | 1309 | |
6 | Joe Sakic* | 2006-07 | 37 | COL | C | 82 | 36 | 64 | 100 | 2 | 46 | 258 | 14.0 | 1655 |
Would anyone hit Jaromir Jagr or Shane Doan like this?
Daniel takes the midseason team MVP honours and the scoring leader too, with 17 goals and 21 points after 41 games, the most goals and points of all Canucks this year. Of course, Henrik has Daniel beat on the assists.
Next: Most Exciting Player: Jannik Hansen