Henrik Sedin is the NHL scoring champion and the first Canuck to do so nearly 40 years and hundreds of players after the franchise first took to the ice in 1970.
Henrik clinched the Art Ross Trophy for most points in a season early yesterday when Washington’s Alex Ovechkin failed to record a single point against Boston. He finished with 112 to Ovechkin’s 109. Sidney Crosby, who started the day at 104, rallied for five points against the New York Islanders but still failed to catch Henrik.
“I am very proud of the season that our team and my teammates have put together,” Henrik said on Twitter.
Also yesterday, the Canucks found out they’ll face the Los Angeles Kings at GM Place on Thursday in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
The Detroit Red Wings beat the Chicago Blackhawks in overtime, dropping the Kings into sixth. The Canucks won the season series 3-1 against the team from L.A.
On his way to the scoring title, Henrik on Saturday surpassed Pavel Bure’s Canucks record of 110 points in a season set in 1992-93. Bure scored 60 goals then, but Henrik finished this season with 83 assists, smashing the previous record of 71 also held by Bure.
Henrik’s banner year has likely put him in contention for the Hart Trophy, awarded to the player deemed most valuable to his team. He was involved in 41 per cent of the Canucks’ goal scoring this season, while Ovechkin was a factor in 34 per cent of the Capitals’ goals.
Henrik’s twin brother, Daniel, also had a career year, scoring 85 points despite missing 19 games due to injury.
