Alex Edler: From Third-Round Pick To Vancouver Canucks Franchise Great

Before puck drop of the Vancouver Canucks game against the Philadelphia Flyers, fans will have the opportunity to celebrate Alex Edler. The franchise’s all-time leader in games played, goals, assists and points by a defenceman signed a one-day contract so that he could officially retire with the Canucks. A career that spanned over 1,000 games and almost two decades, “Steady Eddie” is one of the greatest defensemen ever to play for Vancouver.

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Edler’s journey with the Canucks started in 2004 when he was drafted 91st overall by the organization. After playing for MODO Hockey J20 for a season, he made the move to the WHL, joining the Kelowna Rockets for the 2005-06 season. Edler would play one season for the Rockets, recording 53 points in 62 games and helping Kelowna make the second round of the playoffs.

The next season, Edler would make the jump to the pro level, spending time with both the Manitoba Moose and Vancouver. He made his debut on November 4, 2006, against the Colorado Avalanche and recorded his first career assist two nights later on November 6, 2006, against the Dallas Stars. He wouldn’t have to wait much longer for his first career goal, as that came on November 30, 2006, in a game against the Anaheim Ducks. His first goal was also a game-winner, as the Canucks defeated the Ducks 2-1 on that night. During the 2006-07 season, he played 22 NHL games and even had a chance to play in his first Stanley Cup Playoffs, suiting up for three games that year.

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After another season of bouncing between the NHL and AHL, Edler became a full-time member of Vancouver during the 2008-09 season. In his first full season, Edler played 80 regular season games, as well as an additional ten in the postseason. The 2008-09 season was also the first time he recorded over 100 hits, which ended up being a consistent trend for the rest of his career.

Edler slowly developed into a top-pair defenseman for the Canucks. He was second on the team in average ice time during their run to the 2011 Stanley Cup Final at 24:47 and averaged over 23 minutes a night for ten years. Edler was also part of the 2012 NHL All-Star Game and won a Silver Medal with Team Sweden at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. While not flashy, Edler led by example, often throwing devastating body checks or laying his body on the line on a nightly basis.

Edler’s tenure with the organization came to a close after the 2020-21 season when he signed with the L.A. Kings. He would play two more years in L.A., with his final season being the 2021-22 season. In total, Edler played 1,030 NHL games, recording 439 points and 1975 blocked shots during his career.

As part of “Alex Edler Night,” the Swedish defender met with the media in the morning and reflected on his career with the organization. He said, “Obviously, very honored to get this opportunity from the organization to retire as a Canuck. This club, this organization, has meant so much to me. I’ve been so many years in this city, so I’m just very honored to be here. I feel very special to have this thing.”

Edler holds a special place in Vancouver’s history. His 925 games are the fourth most played by any player, while his 1,432 hits and 1,762 blocked shots rank first in franchise history. Ultimately, he is one of the greatest players to ever play for the Canucks, and even after eventually being passed by Quinn Hughes, he will remain near the top of franchise leaderboards for a long time.