Scouting the Free Agents: The Sedin Twins
Ah the allure of Swedish twins, even hockey can't keep itself away. Nothing but questions are surrounding Daniel and Henrik Sedin before they hit the free agent market this July. The biggest question is: will they sign together or will they part ways for the first time in their career?
In 1999 Vancouver used their 2nd and 3rd overall picks to take the twins, the first time twins had ever been drafted back to back in NHL history. Now the 28 year old wingers are hot topics for this year's free agency.
Rumors have been swirling since the start of the year-that the twins will only sign together. (More than likely staying with the Nucks.) That could be a scary concept for two guys who might be able to command 6.5-7.5 million dollars each. I mean really now, what team has 13-15 million dollars in cap room for only two players right now; especially with the cap regressing next year? There are also rumors swirling that the twins would be willing to take a pay cut in order to stay together.
So where do you take the risk if you had to choose one over the other? The two are quite obviously fantastic hockey players with each other but how would they do on their own? They complement each other nicely but would a new team without their twin brother suit them?
Henrik, more of the feeder, finished this season with 22 goals and 60 assists for 82 points. In his career he has 109 goals 351 assists for 460 points in 646 games. It should be noted that this was the first season Henrik ever amassed more than 20 goals, his previous season high was 18. It should also be noted that he has posted 57, 71, 61 and 60 assists his last 4 years. In this year's playoffs he had 4 goals and 6 assists for 10 points in 10 games. But aside from this year's playoffs Henrik is not a playoff performer. Excluding this year's totals he only has 20 points in 43 games.
Daniel, the goal scorer of the two, finished this season with 31 goals and 51 assists for 82 points. In his career he has 179 goals and 283 assists for 462 points in 642 games. This year in the playoffs he had 4 goals and 6 assists for 10 points in 10 games. But other than that playoff blip he also has had terrible post seasons. Not counting this year's totals he only has 18 points in 43 games. Not good.
Together this year the two combined for 53 goals and 111 assists for 164 points.
So go ahead and play GM again. In my opinion Daniel is the most well rounded of the two, but again are you going to take the risk of signing one without the other? Would you, as a GM, be willing to sign both of them to big contracts? What would be your limits and why? Or would you just take a pass on both of them? Could the Rangers even afford both? Have at it!