During his Hockey Hall of Fame induction speech, Henrik Sedin didn’t miss an opportunity to poke fun at his twin brother, teammates — and Monday night’s inductees.
“It came down to a last-minute decision to participate,” he said in his speech. “But as our coach used to say, ’70 percent Henrik is much better than 100 percent Daniel.'”
Sedins, Canucks teammate Roberto Luongo, former Ottawa Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson, Finnish women’s national team player Riikka Sallinen and builder Herb Carnegie entered the hall Monday as the Class of 2022.
The twins and Luongo were elected in June in their first year of qualification, while Alfredsson has been waiting since 2017. The selection of Sedins and Alfredsson increased the number of Swedish players in the hall from four to seven.
Selected No. 3 in the 1999 NHL Draft — second only to Daniel — Henrique Seiden has averaged 17 seasons in assists (830), points (1,070) and games played (1,330) The leader status holds most of Vancouver’s records.
The center jokingly gave his two cents in the never-ending debate about which symbiotic Sedins terrorized a generation of defenders with their vision and skill, and they were better.
“I’ve missed 30 games in my career, and Danny’s not playing the same way,” he said with a smirk. “In 2010, Danny missed 20 games…I had 11 goals and 9 assists.
“With Daniel, I’m hardly a 20-goal scorer. Without him, I would have scored 45 goals in my career.”
Henrik won the Hart Trophy as league MVP in 2009-10 and the Art Ross Trophy as the scoring leader. He scored 78 points in 105 postseason games, including the Canucks’ performance in the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals.
“You’ve been a calming influence in my life,” Daniel, who spoke before Henrik, said of his brother. “In my opinion, you’re both a better hockey player and a better person than me.
“I mean it, but also know he’s going to be up in about 10 minutes.”
Daniel Seddin’s 393 goals — many of them through Henrik’s passes — lead Vancouver’s all-time list, while he ranks first in assists (648), points (1,041) and appearances (1,306). second. He scored 71 points in 102 postseason games.
“I want to thank whoever chose me to speak first,” Daniel said with a smile. “It reminds me of draft day.”
The young Sedin won the Ted Lindsey Award by a full six minutes, becoming the league’s MVP in 2010-11 as voted by members of the NHL Players Association and the Astros.
Over the weekend, he met fellow Sweden and Hall of Famer Borje Salming, who is battling ALS, in Toronto.
“The past few days have reminded me of what hockey has always meant to me,” he said. “It’s about being there for others through all the ups and downs, and more importantly, through all the lows.”
Meanwhile, Henrik Sedin paid tribute to his brother’s drive.
“Knowing that there’s someone waiting for me in the gym every morning when I want to take a day off is what makes me a player,” he said.
Luongo played eight seasons with the Vancouver Sedins, was drafted by the New York Islanders and retired with the Florida Panthers, but the goalie’s West Coast days paved the way for his selection.
The 43-year-old, who retired in 2019 after 19 seasons, is third in NHL history with 489 wins. He ranks second in games played (1,044), field goal attempts (30,924) and saves (28,409).
Luongo said when he got the news that he would be inducted, the first thing he asked was whether the Sedins would join him.
“Want it so much,” he said. “Proud to say I played with you guys.”
Luongo has won 40 games twice with the Canucks and played at least 70 games in four straight seasons.
The Montreal native finished second in the 2007 Hart voting, won two Olympic gold medals (2010 and 2014), was a three-time finalist in the Vézina Trophy, and became the league’s top network administrator.
Henrik Sedin said: “I have never been around people who have the same determination and willingness to do anything to get better.”
Alfredson has 444 goals, 713 assists and 1,157 points in his 18 NHL games, 17 of them with the Senators. He scored 100 points in 124 playoff games.
An unknown sixth-round pick when he arrived in the nation’s capital, Alfredson won the Calder Trophy in 1996 as the NHL’s Rookie of the Year.
Ottawa’s all-time leader in goals, assists and scoring, the 49-year-old won Olympic gold for Sweden with Sedins in 2006 and led Ottawa to the 2007 cup final – a European Captain’s first time.
Alfredson paid tribute to former teammates, trainers and coaches, including the late Brian Murray, but also spoke about a cause deep inside him.
“For some, the stress of hockey can become unbearable,” he said. “Mental health issues are a reality of our game. It’s long overdue for us to finally remove the stigma.”
Salinen, who didn’t attend, played 16 seasons with her national team, won Olympic bronze medals 20 years apart (1998, 2018), and was the first non-North American woman to be inducted into the Hall.
The 49-year-old won a silver medal at the 2019 World Championships while finishing third on six occasions.
Carnegie, who died in 2012 at the age of 92, was often called the most talented black player who never made it to the NHL.
Carnegie spent a long career in the senior league where he faced racism that kept him from achieving his ultimate dream, Carnegie founded Future Aces in 1955, one of Canada’s first hockey schools .
His work driving more diversity at the grassroots level led to his inductance into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame in 2001 and the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame in 2014.
The Toronto native was also awarded the Order of Ontario and the Order of Canada in 1996 and 2003.
“We have a responsibility to make the sport better,” said Bernice Carnegie, Herb’s daughter. “We have a responsibility to end sexism, gender bias, racism and homophobia. We have a responsibility to be more inclusive and inclusive in all aspects of our lives.
“It was my father’s life’s work.”
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