How Vancouver Landed the Sedin Twins in the 1999 Draft
The article recounts how the Vancouver Canucks drafted Henrik and Daniel Sedin with the second and third picks in 1999. Brian Burke engineered trades to ensure the twins could be selected together. It also covers their upbringing in Sweden and their development before reaching the NHL.
Henrik and Daniel Sedin were born in Ornskoldsvik, Sweden, on September 26, 1980, with Henrik arriving six minutes before Daniel. They began playing together at age eight and became linemates at fourteen, with Henrik as playmaker and Daniel as goal scorer. Both later starred for MoDo in the Swedish Elite League and were named co-MVPs in their second season there.
The 1999 draft was not considered especially strong, and Czech player Patrik Stefan was expected to go first. Daniel was ranked slightly above Henrik. Their agent, Mike Barnett, said the brothers wanted to play together, while no team held multiple top-five picks.
The Sedins’ shared draft story may have given Vancouver fans a unifying narrative during a difficult period, turning two young Swedish players into figures of local identity. It could have encouraged young athletes, especially siblings, to see value in long-term teamwork and patience. For the league and media, the episode may have illustrated how draft strategy can shape fan engagement and franchise culture, though its broader social impact likely remained limited and indirect.