Alexander Edler
Alexander Edler | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Born |
Östersund, Sweden | 21 April 1986|||||
Height | 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) | |||||
Weight | 205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb) | |||||
Position | Defence | |||||
Shoots | Left | |||||
NHL team Former teams |
Free agent Vancouver Canucks Los Angeles Kings | |||||
National team |
NHL Draft | 91st overall, | ||||
Playing career | 2003–present |
Ulf Niklas Alexander Edler (born 21 April 1986) is a Swedish professional
Edler turned professional in North America with the Canucks'
Internationally, Edler has competed for
Edler is regarded as one of the best Canucks defencemen of all time, holding franchise records for most goals, assists, and points scored by a defenceman for the Canucks.
Playing career
Sweden and junior (2001–2006)
Edler played at the under-17 level with his hometown district team of Jämtland in 2001 and 2002, competing at TV-pucken, a national Swedish tournament.[1] In 2003–04, he joined the professional Jämtlands HF. He played with the club in Sweden's third-tier league, recording three goals and nine points in 24 games, while also appearing in six games for Jämtlands HF's junior team.
Edler was largely unknown during his
After being selected by the Canucks, Gradin brokered a move for Edler to play with
On 29 June 2005, Edler's major junior rights were obtained by the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League (WHL); he was chosen by Kelowna in the first round, 58th overall, of the Canadian Hockey League Import Draft.[8] The Canucks encouraged Edler to move from Sweden to play junior in North America.[9] After reporting to training camp with the Canucks' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Manitoba Moose, in September 2005,[10] he was assigned to junior with the Rockets. In his lone WHL season, Edler recorded 13 goals and 53 points over 62 games in 2005–06, ranking fifth among WHL defencemen and fourth among all rookies in scoring.[11][12] He went on to help Kelowna to the second round of the WHL playoffs, where they were eliminated by the Everett Silvertips.[13] In 12 post-season games, Edler added eight points.[citation needed]
Vancouver Canucks (2006–2021)
The following off-season, Edler was signed to an entry-level contract by the Canucks on 24 July 2006.[14] Reporting to the Canucks' training camp in September 2006, his play had the Canucks slotting him in as the team's seventh defenceman.[15] However, a hip injury saw him assigned to the Manitoba Moose.[15] Following an injury to Canucks defenceman Sami Salo, he was called up to the NHL on 3 November 2006, two games into his AHL season.[15][16] He made his NHL debut the following day against the Colorado Avalanche.[2] Eleven days later, he was reassigned to the Moose, only to be recalled on 24 November.[14] He scored his first NHL goal on 30 November, a slap shot that beat Anaheim Ducks goaltender Jean-Sébastien Giguère in a 2–1 loss.[17] Edler was reassigned between Manitoba and Vancouver on several more occasions over the course of the 2006–07 season.[14] He appeared in 22 games total for the Canucks, recording a goal and two assists. With the Moose, he scored 5 goals and 26 points over 49 games and was named Manitoba's Rookie of the Year.[18]
Playing in his rookie season with the Canucks the
On 9 October 2008, at the start of the 2008–09 season, Edler signed a new four-year, $13 million contract with Vancouver.[22] The contract, a raise from his 2008–09 salary of $550,000, took effect for the 2009–10 season.[22] The following month, he missed two games sidelined with the flu.[14] Later in the season, he recorded a personal best four-point game (one goal and three assists) in a game against the Chicago Blackhawks on 7 February 2009.[23] He finished with 37 points, including a career-high ten goals. In the 2009 Stanley Cup playoffs, Edler led all Canucks defencemen with seven points in ten games as the Canucks were eliminated in the second round by Chicago. In his first few seasons in the NHL, Edler was often paired with veteran blueliner and countryman Mattias Öhlund, who he considered a mentor for him.[24][25][26]
The following campaign, 2009–10, Edler improved to career-highs of 37 assists, first among team defencemen, and 42 points, second to Christian Ehrhoff. He missed six games near the midpoint of the campaign due to a left arm injury, sustained in December 2009.[14] In the 2010 playoffs, he added 6 points in 12 games as the Canucks were eliminated in the second round, again by the Blackhawks. Edler was injured in the sixth and deciding game of the series after opposing forward Dustin Byfuglien stepped on his right ankle after hitting him along the boards.[27] Requiring a walking cast for five weeks, he rehabilitated his ankle during the off-season.[27]
Recovering in time for the
With the departure of Christian Ehrhoff, the Canucks' leading defensive scorer from the previous two seasons, to the Buffalo Sabres in the offseason, Edler assumed a larger role on the team's blueline in the 2011–12 season.[34] By mid-January 2012, Edler was ranked fourth among NHL defenceman in scoring with 7 goals and 24 points. That month, he was selected to his first NHL All-Star Game. He was selected to the competition alongside Canucks teammates Daniel and Henrik Sedin, as well as Cody Hodgson, who was named to the rookie squad.[35] Playing for Team Alfredsson, Edler logged 21 minutes of ice time in a 12–9 loss to Team Chara.[36] Edler finished the campaign having played all 82 games for the first time in his career. He recorded personal bests and team-highs among defencemen in all major statistical categories with 11 goals, 38 assists and 49 points. League-wide, he ranked seventh among defencemen in point-scoring.[37] Out of eight attempts, his four shootout goals was first among NHL defencemen.[38] His efforts helped the Canucks to a second consecutive Presidents' Trophy. Individually, he earned four fifth-place votes for the James Norris Memorial Trophy to rank 15th overall.[39] Defending their Clarence S. Campbell Bowl as Western Conference champions from the previous year, the Canucks lost in the first round of the 2012 playoffs to the Los Angeles Kings. Edler recorded two goals in the five-game series.
On 18 January 2013, Edler signed a new six-year, $30 million contract to remain with the Canucks, which took effect for the 2013–14 season and concluding after the 2018–19 season. During the summer, Edler was the talk of trade rumours at the trade deadline. The Detroit Red Wings were the team most interested in Edler, and general manager Mike Gills tried to move Edler before the no-trade clause in his contract took effect on 1 July 2013. Ultimately, no deal was reached.
On 2 March 2018, Edler recorded two assists and surpassed Mattias Öhlund's franchise record of points by a Canucks defenceman.
On 20 June 2019, Edler signed a new two-year, $12 million contract with Vancouver for the 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons worth $6 million annually.[44] On 16 January 2020, Edler overtook the record for most assists by a Canucks defenceman, previously held by Dennis Kearns.[45] With fellow long-time Canuck Christopher Tanev's departure on 9 October 2020,[46] Edler would become the last remaining player from the 2010–11 Vancouver Canucks that played in the Stanley Cup Finals.
Los Angeles Kings (2021–2023)
On 28 July 2021, Edler left the Canucks, having spent the entirety of his 15-year career with Vancouver, to sign as a free agent on a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Los Angeles Kings.[47]
Edler recorded his first point for Los Angeles on 23 October 2021, an assist in a 7–3 loss to the St. Louis Blues. On 2 December 2021, Edler scored his 100th career NHL goal in a 3–2 loss against the Calgary Flames. It was also his first goal as a member of the Kings. On 11 December 2021, Edler injured his leg and was placed on the injured reserve list. He missed 36 games as a result. He would be activated off the injured reserve list on 22 March 2022.
On 12 July 2022, Edler signed a one-year, $750k contract extension with the Kings.[48] He played his 1,000th NHL game on 31 December 2022 in a game against the Philadelphia Flyers.[49][50]
International play
Medal record | ||
---|---|---|
Representing Sweden | ||
Ice hockey | ||
Winter Olympics
| ||
2014 Sochi | ||
World Championships | ||
2017 Germany/France | ||
2013 Sweden/Finland |
Eder made his first appearance for
Edler was responsible for a knee-on-knee hit to Carolina Hurricanes captain Eric Staal in the quarterfinals of the 2013 IIHF World Championship, and was suspended for the final two games of the championship.[57] Sweden went on to win the gold medal, and Edler was awarded a medal even though he did not play in the gold medal game. On 29 July 2013, the IIHF extended the suspension to cover Sweden's first two games of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.[58] Edler later joined team Sweden during the Olympics after his two-game suspension. He recorded a goal and two assists in the tournament, helping Sweden earn the silver medal.
Playing style
Edler plays in the style of an offensive defenceman. One of his strongest offensive assets is his slapshot. At the Canucks' 2008 SuperSkills event, he beat the team's reigning hardest shooter, Sami Salo, with a 99.3 mile-per-hour shot and has gone on to win the competition in 2009 and 2010, as well.[59][60] He is also known for his poise and confidence with the puck,[61] allowing him to make strong first passes out of the defensive zone to forwards.[62] Many within the Canucks organization, such as assistant coach Rick Bowness, have asserted this as a reflection of his calm off-ice demeanor.[61]
Despite Edler's imposing physical characteristics,[61] he was not known to be an aggressive defender early in his NHL career.[6] However, he has gradually shown a capability for physicality and to hit opposing players hard.[63][64] Looking back on his transition to North American hockey with the Kelowna Rockets, Edler noted the most difficult adjustment was the physical aspect of the game, which was more pronounced than in Sweden.[9] During the Canucks' 2011 playoff run, teammate Kevin Bieksa compared him to Edler's former defensive partner, Mattias Öhlund, commenting, "He [Edler] was like Bambi when he first came into the league but now he realized how big and strong he is. When he hits guys, he hurts them."[65]
Personal life
Edler was born in Östersund, Sweden. He has a brother, Jens, and a sister, Katarina.[66] He began playing hockey at the age of six.[6] Edler has a permanent home in Vancouver, where he met his wife Amanda and where his daughters Emme and River were born.[67]
Career statistics
Regular season and playoffs
Regular season
|
Playoffs | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
2001–02 | Jämtland | TVp | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2002–03 | Jämtland | TVp | 8 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2003–04 | Jämtlands HF | SWE.2 U20
|
6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2003–04 | Jämtlands HF | SWE.3 | 24 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2004–05 | Modo Hockey | J20
|
33 | 8 | 15 | 23 | 40 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | ||
2005–06 | Kelowna Rockets | WHL | 62 | 13 | 40 | 53 | 44 | 12 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 12 | ||
2006–07 | Manitoba Moose | AHL | 47 | 5 | 21 | 26 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2006–07 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 22 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
2007–08 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 75 | 8 | 12 | 20 | 42 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2008–09 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 80 | 10 | 27 | 37 | 54 | 10 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 6 | ||
2009–10 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 76 | 5 | 37 | 42 | 40 | 12 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 10 | ||
2010–11 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 51 | 8 | 25 | 33 | 24 | 25 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 8 | ||
2011–12 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 82 | 11 | 38 | 49 | 34 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 | ||
2012–13 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 45 | 8 | 14 | 22 | 37 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | ||
2013–14 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 63 | 7 | 15 | 22 | 50 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2014–15 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 74 | 8 | 23 | 31 | 54 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | ||
2015–16 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 52 | 6 | 14 | 20 | 46 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2016–17
|
Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 68 | 6 | 15 | 21 | 36 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2017–18 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 70 | 6 | 28 | 34 | 68 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2018–19 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 56 | 10 | 24 | 34 | 54 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2019–20 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 59 | 5 | 28 | 33 | 62 | 17 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 20 | ||
2020–21 | Vancouver Canucks | NHL | 52 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 58 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
2021–22 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 41 | 3 | 16 | 19 | 34 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 14 | ||
2022–23 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 64 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 34 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ||
NHL totals | 1,030 | 104 | 334 | 438 | 733 | 93 | 8 | 32 | 40 | 78 |
International
Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2006 | Sweden | WJC
|
5th | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | |
2008
|
Sweden
|
WC
|
4th | 8 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 12 | |
2013
|
Sweden | WC | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 25 | ||
2014 | Sweden | OG | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | ||
2017 | Sweden | WC | 10 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | ||
Junior totals | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | ||||
Senior totals | 24 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 41 |
Awards and honors
Award | Year | |
---|---|---|
NHL | ||
YoungStars Game | 2008 | |
NHL All-Star Game
|
2012 | |
Vancouver Canucks | ||
Babe Pratt Trophy | 2012, 2018, 2019 | |
Daniel & Henrik Sedin Award | 2020 |
Notes
References
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- ^ "2005 CHL Import Draft". McKeen's Hockey Prospects. 20 March 2005. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
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- ^ "Canucks 5, Wild 0". Vancouver Canucks. Associated Press. 7 April 2011. Archived from the original on 13 June 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
- ^ "2010–2011 – Regular Season – Vancouver Canucks – Defensemen – Summary – Total Points". National Hockey League. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
- ^ "Canucks need only minor tweaking: GM". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The Canadian Press. 17 June 2011. Archived from the original on 23 June 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
- ^ "2010–2011 – Playoffs – Defensemen – Summary – Total Points". National Hockey League. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
- The Vancouver Sun. Archived from the originalon 8 October 2011. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
- ^ Kuzma, Ben (13 January 2012). "Sedins, Edler, Hodgson earn stars". The Province. Vancouver: Postmedia News. Retrieved 14 January 2012.[permanent dead link]
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- ^ "Fisher scores, Predators defeat Canucks in overtime". nhl.com. 2 March 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
- ^ Vancouver Canucks [@Canucks] (23 December 2018). "7️⃣8️⃣2️⃣ games played, most by a #Canucks defenceman ever! That's a @Wolfblasswines milestone. Congrats Edler! 🦅🙌" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Alex; Edler, er; Press, The Canadian (26 February 2019). "Benning: Edler declined to waive no-trade - TSN.ca". TSN. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
- ^ Vancouver Canucks [@Canucks] (29 March 2019). "🦅 was already the #Canucks franchise leader for games played, points and power play points by a defenceman. Now Alex Edler is also the leader for GOALS! 🚨🙌🐐" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Edler signs two-year contract to stay with Canucks". National Hockey League. 20 June 2019. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
- ^ Vancouver Canucks [@Canucks] (17 January 2020). "Another #Canucks milestone is set as Edler moves into first all-time for assists by a defenceman. You'll never guess who leads for D-men in goals and points…🇸🇪🔥" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "Calgary Flames, defenceman Chris Tanev agree to terms on four-year, $18M contract - TSN.ca". TSN. The Canadian Press. 9 October 2020. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
- ^ "LA Kings sign Alex Edler to a one-year, contract". Los Angeles Kings. 28 July 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
- ^ "Kings Sign Defenseman Alex Edler To One-Year Contract Extension". 12 July 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
- ^ "Alexander Edler at 1,000 NHL games — 'It's professional. All the way through'". 31 December 2022. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
- ^ "After reaching the 1,000-game milestone, a reflection on the player and person that is Alex Edler". 1 January 2023. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
- ^ "Game Summary" (PDF). IIHF. 30 December 2005. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
- ^ "Final Ranking" (PDF). IIHF. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
- ^ "Tournament Progress" (PDF). IIHF. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
- ^ "Game Summary" (PDF). IIHF. 5 May 2008. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 July 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
- ^ "Game Summary" (PDF). IIHF. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 July 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
- ^ "Player Statistics By Team" (PDF). IIHF. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
- ^ "Edler to miss two last games". IIHF. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 June 2013. Retrieved 2013-05-17.
- ^ Käck, Andreas (29 July 2013). "Klart: Stjärnan avstängd i OS". Sportbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 29 July 2013.
- ^ Jory, Derek (5 January 2008). "Superskilled Canucks put on a show". Vancouver Canucks. Retrieved 13 December 2009.
- ^ "Canucks SuperSkills". Vancouver Canucks. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
- ^ a b c "Calm demeanor Edler's calling card". The Province. 20 March 2007. Archived from the original on 9 November 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2010.
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- The Vancouver Sun. Postmedia News. Retrieved 17 June 2011. [dead link]
- The Vancouver Sun. Archived from the originalon 25 June 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-24.
- ^ Willes, Ed (14 April 2011). "Canucks winning with defence". The Province. Vancouver: Postmedia News. Retrieved 17 June 2011.[permanent dead link]
- The Vancouver Sun. 26 January 2008. Archived from the originalon 9 November 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2010.
- ^ "Alex Edler hopeful of keeping place in Canucks' bright future - Sportsnet.ca". www.sportsnet.ca. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
External links
- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database