Daniel Sedin not progressing like brother
Canadian Press
1/29/2003
VANCOUVER (CP) - Daniel Sedin has a lot on his mind. Too much he admits.
With just one goal in 16 games, Sedin, the second pick in the 1999 NHL draft, found himself scratched for the Vancouver Canucks' 2-2 tie with Minnesota on Tuesday night. It's the third time this season, and the fourth since last March, he's watched a game from the press box.
``It's frustrating,'' the 22-year-old left-winger said following practice Wednesday. ``When you score you don't think.
``That's what I'm trying to get back to, don't think when you get the chance, just shoot the way you always do.''
Canuck general manager Brian Burke looked like a genius when he made several draft-day deals to take Daniel and his brother, Henrik, second and third overall. The Swedish-born twins were hailed as the next Canuck stars, but in their third NHL season they remain role players.
After scoring 20 goals in his rookie season, Daniel notched just nine last year. In 49 games this year he has eight goals and nine assists.
Henrik, the centre who has been Daniel's setup man most of his career, has shown more progress. Although he has only two goals this season - he had 16 last year - his 21 assists is more than the 20 he recorded in his first two years in the league.
Henrik suspects his brother's confidence has been shaken.
``I would be surprised if it hasn't,'' he said. ``He knows he's here to score.
``That's his biggest job. He's not doing that.''
Henrik has seen Daniel go through scoring droughts before in Sweden.
``A couple of weeks or so, but not like this,'' he said. ``This is a tougher league.
``Back in Sweden we had a chance a shift or four or five a period. That's a big difference.''
Coach Marc Crawford, who has played the brothers on different lines this year, would like to see more fire in Daniel's game.
``Daniel has to do two things a little bit better,'' said Crawford. ``The first is play the game with a little bit more, I don't want to say passion, but just a little bit more exuberance.
``If he does that it will really pick his play up.''
Crawford stopped just short of questioning Daniel's heart.
``He has to be a little bit more determined,'' Crawford said. ``We always look for determination in our players and scoring is a lot of determination. ``Let's face it, Daniel is a scorer, he's a got a great shot. In order to be a great scorer you've got to get yourself into a position with your determination to use your assets and he can pick that up a little bit.''<
Daniel said he needs to shoot the puck more.
``You have to take the shot when it's there, don't look for a better chance,'' he said. ``If you shoot seven shots a game, some of them have to go in.
``If you shoot zero shots you won't get a goal.''
The brothers are in the final year of contracts that pay them a base salary of just over $1 million U.S. Critics have been harsh on the twins, suggesting they are overpaid and haven't reached expectations.
``I try not to listen to that,'' shrugged Daniel. ``It's going to get too frustrating if you do.''
Defenceman Mattias Ohlund, a fellow Swede, said it's too early to write the twins off.
He pointed to Markus Naslund, the Canuck captain who is second in league scoring with 35 goals and 65 points, as a player who took time to develop.
``It took him four or five years,'' said Ohlund. ``Some guys take longer to adjust.
``It is a big difference from playing 45 games at home and no travelling. I think they are improving.''
Cheers,
Aquaman