Canucks Rewind: Daniel and Henrik Sedin’s last game in Vancouver

VANCOUVER, BC - OCTOBER 5: Daniel Sedin #22 and Henrik Sedin #33 of the Vancouver Canucks salute the fans after playing in their final home game of their career against the Arizona Coyotes in NHL action on April, 5, 2018 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BC - OCTOBER 5: Daniel Sedin #22 and Henrik Sedin #33 of the Vancouver Canucks salute the fans after playing in their final home game of their career against the Arizona Coyotes in NHL action on April, 5, 2018 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images)
2 of 5
Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin and Ryan Kesler of the Vancouver Canucks . (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin and Ryan Kesler of the Vancouver Canucks . (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

The Canucks had just completed their final game in the month of March, and they were preparing to wrap up their season with three more matches in April. At the time, the team was on the outside looking in, and their 30-40-9 record had plummeted them to the bottom of the Pacific Division with no hope for the postseason.

Games 80, 81 and 82 didn’t have much meaning at all for the club, aside from being one of the final few factors that could ultimately decide their fate in the upcoming draft lottery.

As we all know, that didn’t end up being the case.

Early Monday morning, the twins took to the team website to officially announce their retirement from the NHL, and the news sent a seismic shock throughout the city of Vancouver.

Entering the last week of the campaign, Daniel and Henrik were sitting second and third in team scoring, and it appeared that both were still able to perform at an elite level in the league.

More importantly, fans, coaches and management alike were hoping that the Sedins would continue to be an integral part of the franchise’s rebuilding transition, knowing that their leadership and hockey IQ would be instrumental in the development of their younger stars moving forward.

But, as we all know, decisions like these ultimately fall to the players and their families, and both Daniel and Henrik felt that it was the right time to hang up the skates with the Canucks.

As soon as the retirement news broke, the city turned into a frenzy.

Messages of gratitude, thanks and admiration started to take over Twitter, with fans reminiscing on their favourite acts of Sedinery from the past two decades. Jerseys, shirts and other Sedin merchandise flew off the shelves, as everyone wanted one more piece to add to their team memorabilia collection.

Most importantly, however, the organization was hard at work, tirelessly planning the perfect way to send off the franchise’s most impactful players ever. And they only had two home games to complete the task.