{allcanada} Henrik, Daniel Sedin giving Canucks bang for their buck

 

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The Vancouver Canucks pay 19.6% of their salary cap allotment to two players who combined to directly create 33.1% of their goals last season.

While critics suggest the Sedin twins, now 35, may be beyond their expiration date in terms being keys to the team's future, the better argument is that Henrik and Daniel remain among the league's higher value stars.

"Our goal is always to come into camp in the best shape on our team," Daniel told USA TODAY Sports. "That's what we aim for…For us, 34, 35…it's just a number. Lot of people, the media and fans back home, say we are going to slow down. But if we keep working out, and stay healthy, there's no reason why we can't keep producing."

Daniel led the NHL with 35 first assists last season, meaning his pass or shot led directly to a goal. Henrik ranked in the top 10 with 28 first assists.

When you factor in that Daniel also scored 20 goals, he either scored or set  up 23.9% of all of the Vancouver goals. Henrik was at 19.1% in that statistic. Daniel's 3.03 points per 60 minutes played last season made him one of 14 regulars to be above 3.00. Henrik was just below him at 2.87 points per 60 minutes played.

Over their careers, Henrik has recorded the first assist on 179 of Daniel's 327 regular-season goals. Daniel has tallied the first assist on 96 of Henrik's 211.

The Canucks are getting their money's worth on the Sedins' $7 million cap hit, which lasts through 2017-18. Given that top scorers around the NHL in general are scoring less these days, Daniel's 76-point season is probably similar to the 82- and 85-point performances he was having in 2008-09 and 2009-10. The Sedins' Corsi ratings ranked first and second on the Canucks last season, according to war-on-ice.com.

"Last year, we came out and had a good year. Everyone counted us out after the year before," Henrik said. "I feel as good as I did 5-6 years ago. "

Neither brother shows any sign of breaking down. Henrik has missed only 22 games in 14 seasons and 12 of those games came in 2013-14. Daniel has missed 53 games in 14 seasons. Both played all 82 games last season.

The Sedins are as consistent in their workouts as they are in their performances on the ice. Their workouts have evolved through the years as they figured out what was important and what wasn't. In the early years, they ran frequently and did heavy lifting. Early in their careers they played at close to 200 pounds, but now chose to stay in the 187-190 range.

"The last 2-3 years, we've had shorter workouts but more intense," Henrik said, "(We are) trying to keep the speed there."

Teams often regret giving out contracts that last until the player is 37 or 38 , but that is not the case in Vancouver. The Canucks will be infusing younger talent into the lineup this season, but their plan is for the older players, namely the Sedins, showing them the way. They lead by example.

"I think it's easy to say all the right things," Daniel said. "But if you don't show up and do it, it's nothing."

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