Daniel Sedin

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Daniel Sedin began his professional career in the Swedish Hockey League with Modo Hockey in 1997. He won the 1999 Guldpucken as Swedish player of the year. He played four seasons with Modo (including a return in 2004–05 due to the NHL lockout), helping the club to two consecutive appearances in the Le Mat Trophy Finals, in 1999 and 2000, where they lost both times. Selected second overall by the Canucks in the 1999 NHL entry draft — one pick ahead of Henrik at third — Sedin moved to the NHL in the 2000–01 season. After emerging as a top player during the 2005–06 season, Sedin recorded six consecutive campaigns of at least 20 goals and 70 points. In 2011, he won the Art Ross Trophy as the League's leading point-scorer and the Ted Lindsay Award as the best player in the League, as voted by fellow players. Sedin also won the Hart Memorial Trophy as the League's most valuable player. In Sweden, he and Henrik were awarded the Victoria Scholarship as the country's athletes of the year. Alongside his brother, Daniel was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2022.

In Their Own Story

Daniel Sedin was born on 26 September 1980, in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden, six minutes after his identical twin brother, Henrik. The pair have two older brothers, Stefan and Peter. Their father, Tommy, is a school vice-principal and also played for Modo Hockey in the 1960s, while his mother, Tora, is a nurse. Daniel began playing organized hockey with Henrik when they were eight. They did not regularly play on the same line until Daniel switched from centre to wing at 14 — a move that unlocked their legendary chemistry. Daniel and Henrik both attended high school at the Nolaskolan Gymnasium in Sweden while playing professionally for Modo. Aged 16, Daniel began his professional career in 1997–98 with Modo Hockey, recording 12 points over 45 games during his rookie season. In his second professional year, he led Modo in scoring with 42 points in 50 games, helping the club to its second regular season title in team history. Daniel then added 12 points in 13 playoff games as Modo advanced to the Le Mat Trophy Finals, where they lost to Brynäs IF.

Reader's Guide

Daniel Sedin's NHL debut was the Canucks' first game of the 2000–01 campaign on 5 October 2000, a 6–3 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. Three days later, he scored his first career NHL goal against goaltender Dan Cloutier of the Tampa Bay Lightning, assisted by Henrik. He became the first rookie in 2000–01 to reach 20 goals when he scored on 21 March 2001, in a 1–1 tie against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Finishing the campaign with that goal total, he tied for second among League rookies in scoring with Shane Willis of the Carolina Hurricanes, behind Brad Richards of the Tampa Bay Lightning. He also had 14 assists for 34 points in total. In his second NHL season, Daniel struggled with the lowest goals total of his career, with nine. The campaign included a 25-game stretch without a goal between mid-October and the end of November 2001. With 23 assists, he had 32 points overall. In 2002–03, Daniel continued his point-scoring pace with 14 goals and 17 assists for 31 points in 79 games. The Sedins began the 2003–04 season on a line with first-year player Jason King; the trio were dubbed the 'Mattress Line' (two twins and a King) and formed the Canucks' second scoring line.

Did You Know?

• Daniel Sedin was born six minutes before his identical twin brother, Henrik.
• Daniel Sedin won the 1999 Guldpucken as Swedish senior player of the year; Henrik won the award in 2006.
• Daniel was selected second overall by the Canucks in the 1999 NHL entry draft, one pick after Henrik at third overall.