I have said it many times, a hockey career can be broken down into numbers. From the number a player was or was not drafted to the goals scored or points amassed. A player’s jersey number. The number of minutes a player spends on the ice per game, or the number of penalty minutes amassed over their career. The number of playoff games a player has played in and the number of playoff points accumulated in those games. The number of teams a player has played for and the number of games a player has played over their career.

On November 23, 2014, Vancouver Canucks assistant Captain, Daniel Sedin reached a milestone among the numbers that make up an NHL career: 1000 games played.

Let’s take a closer look at the numbers that make up Daniel Sedin’s career.

(Spoiler alert: Just as with Henrik’s 1000th game milestone post: “Milestone HANK”, though this is dedicated to Daniel’s accomplishment, his brother will be mentioned a time or two as their careers go together like two peas in a pod. It is near impossible to mention one without the other.)

1000 games played is a milestone in many an NHL career, but having played all 1000 games for ONE team is an even tougher feat to complete. Daniel Sedin has followed in the steps of his twin brother Henrik, yet AGAIN on THIS latest milestone. Welcome to the 1000 games played for ONE team club, Danny!

Sedin was drafted 2nd overall at the 1999 NHL draft right ahead of brother, Henrik by the Vancouver Canucks. His NHL debut was the start of the 2000-2001 season, on October 5, 2000 and he scored his first goal October 8, 2000. His NHL debut was delayed because him and Henrik had committed to play one more year with MODO (in the Swedish Elite League) before making their names known at an NHL level.

It was not until after the 2004-2005 lockout that fans and media fully realized the star potential that Daniel and Henrik were capable of on the ice. In the 686 games that Daniel has played in since the start of the 2005-2006 season, he has posted 674 points (250 goals, 424 assists).

Vancouver Canucks fans have been incredibly lucky to have seen both of the Sedins develop from promising rookies drafted in the first round of the 1999 NHL draft into the elite players that they have become today.

During the their 15-year journey, the twins have witnessed two lockouts and accomplished many feats. During the 2004-2005 full season lockout, they played for MODO in the Swedish Elite League. In 2006 they won Olympic Gold for Sweden, they helped lead Sweden to GOLD at the 2013 World Championship and in Sochi, Daniel picked up Olympic Silver in 2014. In 2010, Henrik won the Art Ross Trophy and in 2011, Daniel did the same. In February 2013, Henrik passed Markus Naslund’s 756 franchise points record, Daniel did the same in April of that year officially ranking them #1 & #2 in the Canucks record books. Last season saw Henrik celebrated the 1000 games played milestone, this season was Daniel’s turn. Daniel may have developed a knack for following in Henrik’s steps in the record books BUT he has more than made his own mark in NHL history.

This season marks Daniel’s 14th NHL season. In 1001 regular season games, Daniel has been assessed 424 penalty minutes and amassed 825 points (311 Goals…69 of which have been game winning goals + 514 Assists). Of his 311 goals, 112 have been scored on the power play. Impressive to say the least considering that early on despite all of his potential there was the question of whether he and his brother would have staying power in the NHL. Could they reach that elite level? It may have taken some adjusting but the twins have more than answered any lingering questions about their abilities over the last 15 years.

There are MANY moments to choose from and many more to come, but here are a few memorable Daniel Sedin moments:

From his very first NHL goal:

To some of the most ridiculous Sedinery moments like these:

Or THIS recent OT game winning goal, from what looked like a near impossible angle:

It is very rare to see ONE player, let alone TWO players TOGETHER play 1000 GAMES for the SAME team. Sedinery will NEVER go out of style. As a Canuck fan, I feel incredibly lucky to have been able to watch Daniel Sedin from early in his career to maturing into an elite player and now seeing him rediscover his Sedinery magic with Henrik this season.

A handful of brothers have played together in the NHL before but none have played their entire careers together from day one and the natural chemistry that the Sedins have. They seem to simply anticipate where the other is without even looking at times when making a play…and 95% of the time they are right. The twins have been there for nearly every milestone that the other has reached but THIS one moment just like for Henrik is Daniel’s to enjoy as his own. Unlike Henrik’s 1000th game when Daniel was out with an injury, this time BOTH twins were 100% healthy and Daniel celebrated THIS milestone with Henrik by his side.

It is an incredible milestone in many NHL players’ careers to reach the 1000 game mark but it is rare to see a player play 1000 games with ONE franchise, but that is exactly the case for Daniel Sedin. Just like his brother, he has played EVERY game of his career for the Vancouver Canucks. Just THREE players have suited up for 1000+ career games with the Vancouver Canucks: Trevor Linden, Henrik Sedin and Daniel Sedin.

May I ask yet AGAIN: how incredible has it been to watch Daniel’s career develop from a young rookie to the veteran leader that he has become over the last 15 years? The Sedins have had the fans and media critique them every step of the way but I ask you, Vancouver, do you realize how lucky we have been to witness the careers of these two? There will never be another pair like these two with their incredibly accurate no-look passes that turn little innocent looking plays into absolute magic not to be repeated goals.

There is NO doubt in my mind, that one day both #33 and #22 will be up in the rafters at Rogers Arena. One day, when the twins retire, it will be beyond strange, to not see the Sedins on the ice, but perhaps by then we will finally be able to fully appreciate just what these two mean to the franchise. It is not just their amazing abilities on the ice, but also the work they do off the ice with the Canucks charities and in the community that will make them irreplaceable.

Here’s to you, Daniel Sedin for 14 incredible seasons both on & off the ice. Here’s to you and Hank leading Vancouver all the way! Here’s to everything you have done in the past, the present and the future still yet to come. #DANKYOUVERYMUCH

As always, until next time, nuck said.

Sarah E.L.