Alex Edler retires as a Vancouver Canuck

Listening to the roar of the gang in Rogers Enviornment final spring twigged Alex Edler’s feelings.

The longtime NHL defenceman had introduced his daughter to look at a Canucks playoff sport and the expertise stirred reminiscences for Edler, who spent elements of 15 seasons with Vancouver.

“I sort of forgot how loud this constructing may be,” he stated. “It was virtually emotional once we had been right here and I heard the gang.”

Edler heard the cheers once more Friday as his years of service had been acknowledged on the ice earlier than Vancouver took on the Philadelphia Flyers.

The 38-year-old Swede signed a one-day contract to formally finish his profession as a Canuck.

“I’m very happy with all that I’ve completed,” he stated Friday morning. “I had so many good leaders round me, in order that made it simpler for me and to be taught what we have to do to play on this league for some time. There are literally so many good reminiscences from this group.”

The Canucks all wore jerseys with Edler’s No. 23 throughout warm-ups on Friday night time and, earlier than the sport, a video montage of his profession highlights set to Seal’s “Fly Like an Eagle” performed on the massive display screen.

Clad in a jersey and leaning on a stick, Edler watched from the Zamboni tunnel, then skated to centre ice to take a ceremonial faceoff in entrance of a cheering crowd. His daughters Emme and River dropped the puck.

Chosen by Vancouver within the third spherical of the 2004 draft, Edler performed 925 regular-season video games for the Canucks, contributing 409 factors. He made 82 post-season appearances, together with throughout Vancouver’s 2011 run to the Stanley Cup ultimate.

“There’s so many reminiscences. I bear in mind my first NHL sport, clearly our Cup run,” he stated. “However I believe largely, it is simply all of the those that I’ve come to know right here through the years. I made so many associates for all times, labored with so many good individuals. So it is at all times very particular to come back again right here.”

Edler went on to play two seasons with the L.A. Kings and completed his profession with 104 targets and 335 assists over 1,030 regular-season NHL video games.

He holds the franchise file for targets (99), assists (310), and power-play factors (177) amongst Canucks defencemen, however he is aware of these marks will not final endlessly — particularly with Quinn Hughes on the roster.

“I’ve these data as a result of I used to be right here for therefore lengthy. He’s going to interrupt each file, and that is simply because how good he’s,” Edler stated of Hughes, who gained the Norris Trophy because the NHL’s prime defenceman final season.

“They’re going to be damaged very quickly. And he deserves that as a result of — you all see him on the market — he is a prime participant.”

Hughes is simply one of many younger gamers Edler watched develop into stars over the course of his profession, and people athletes have made watching the Canucks thrilling lately, he stated.

“Throughout my time right here, we had some nice years once we’re actually good, after which we sort of had a little bit of a rebuild,” he stated. “You at all times wish to be a part of a superb crew, but it surely’s sort of particular to see younger guys coming in and growing.”

It has been greater than a yr since Edler performed his ultimate NHL sport. He spent final season in L.A., the place he now lives together with his household, absorbing moments that he’d miss on the highway, like holidays and faculty features.

What comes subsequent is not clear but, he stated, however Edler is aware of he’ll be again round a rink ultimately.

“I see myself doing one thing in hockey, for certain,” he stated. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Oct. 11, 2024.