I was going to let the blog breathe until we all get back to work for real on Tuesday, but I got excited this morning when I saw this news:
Henrik Sedin (@VanCanucks) replaces Henrik Zetterberg as Team Sweden captain for World Cup of Hockey 2016. https://t.co/jbBiyw06vw #WCH2016
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) September 5, 2016
I'm pretty sure the Canucks have never had a player act as captain in an international tournament, right?
It seems surreal now to remember that Roberto Luongo was Vancouver's captain when he won the gold medal with Team Canada here at the 2010 Olympics—but he certainly wasn't the captain of the Canadian team. That bizarre experiment with the Canucks lasted two seasons—from the fall of 2008 until the end of the 2009-10 season.
Remember how, when the "C" was taken from Luongo, there was some uncertainty about whether Henrik had the right stuff to become his replacement? Now, it's becoming clearer that both he and Daniel will be remembered positively for their leadership qualities when their playing days are over. They're not the types to rely on inspirational speeches, but they should certainly be respected for their work ethic, their on-ice class and their ability to lead by example. I also like the fact that they're both getting more candid and less placid as they move into the late stages of their careers.
Henrik is now entering his seventh season as the Canucks' leader. That ties him with Trevor Linden, except Trevor's first year as captain was a tandem situation, with Dan Quinn and Doug Lidster also wearing the C in 1990-91. Stan Smyl is the franchise leader, having served eight seasons as team captain between 1982 and 1990.
As is his style, Henrik downplayed his deservingness for this latest honour. "I would never imagine I would ever have the 'C' on my jersey for the national team, especially in a tournament like this," he told Dan Rosen of NHL.com. "It's going to be, I'm guessing, captaincy by committee," Sedin said. "It's a lot of guys who can step up."
At this tournament, the twins and Henrik Lundqvist are the only three holdovers from Sweden's gold-medal team from Turin at the 2006 Olympics.
I had heard that there was some concern about Lundqvist's status after he took a puck to the ribs during practice last week, but he seems committed and ready to take the reins as Sweden's No. 1 goaltender as training camp gets underway in Gothenberg.
The Swedes have a monster defense, which I think makes them serious contenders in this tournament. From Dan Rosen's report of Sweden's first practice, at NHL.com:
(Sweden's coach) Gronborg had Tampa Bay Lightning teammates Victor Hedman and Anton Stralman together. Niklas Hjalmarsson (Blackhawks) and Oliver Ekman-Larsson (Arizona Coyotes) also were a steady pair. Ottawa Senators captain Erik Karlsson worked with Hampus Lindholm (Ducks) and Mattias Ekholm (Predators).
Also a first—have we ever seen an all-Canucks first line on any team at an international tournament?
Sweden's lines: Sedin-Sedin-Eriksson, Forsberg-Backstrom-Hornqvist, Silfverberg-Kruger-Hagelin, Landeskog-Soderberg-Rakell #WCH2016
— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) September 5, 2016
The Swedes' first pre-tournament game will be against Finland in Helsinki, Thursday morning at 9 a.m. PT. That'll be televised on Sportsnet.
Where do your rooting interests lie? I've listed the teams in alphabetical order: