Canucks honor Daniel Sedin with pregame ceremony for reaching 1,000 point milestone

Alec Gearty

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Canucks honor Daniel Sedin with pregame ceremony for reaching 1,000 point milestone image

Vancouver Canucks forward Daniel Sedin's first NHL point was a goal scored against the Tampa Bay Lightning in October of 2008. The goal, assisted by his brother Henrik, tied the game with under two minutes left and paved way to the Canucks 5-4 win. Nine hundred and ninety-nine points later, the younger Sedin was feted by the Canucks before Saturday's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Sedin recorded his 1,000th career point on Nov. 30 against the Nashville Predators, a power play goal, assisted by brother Henrik, who reached the 1,000 point plateau last season.

Fellow Swede, and former teammate, Markus Naslund began the ceremony with a personal message to Sedin.

"I'm not surprised," Naslund, who spent 12 seasons with the Canucks, emphasized in his message. "But I'm very impressed."

Trevor Linden, another former teammate of Sedin's and currently Vancouver President of Hockey Operations, also saluted Daniel before the game.

"It's an incredible accomplishment," Linden said . "And to do it with one organization is pretty special."

Being with one team for nearly two decades is an accomplishment in its own right, but that's what makes Sedin's milestone so unique. He is the 87th player in NHL history to reach the 1,000 point plateau — only the eighth active. Of the 87 players, only 19 did it with one organization.

When it came time for the gift-giving portion of the ceremony, Derek Dorsett -- whose career was just cut short this week because of a neck issue -- was on-hand to present Sedin with some new hardware. 

Dorsett's appearance brought a huge ovation from those in attendance. To conclude the festivities, Sedin took a lap to thank the fans in Vancouver.  

Alec Gearty