After Vancouver Canucks legend Alexander Edler retired with the team on October 11th, the city, fans, and media have been reminiscing about his best moments in the green and blue jersey. To honour his legacy, Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim declared October 11th as “Alex Edler Day,” cementing Eddie the Eagle’s lasting impact on the city and the team.
Former Canucks defenceman and current Sportsnet analyst Kevin Bieksa recalled a memorable incident involving Edler during a 2013 game against the New York Rangers. In that game, Edler found himself on the receiving end of a classic John Tortorella coaching decision.
“He tried to reverse hit a guy right in front of our bench in the first five minutes of the game,” Bieksa explained. “The guy goes around him and scores, Torts comes down the bench and says, ‘He’s done’ to Mike Sullivan, the D coach. It was five minutes into the game, and we went with five defencemen for the rest of it.”
The game, held at Madison Square Garden on November 30th during the 2013-14 season, marked Tortorella’s first return to New York since his tenure as the Rangers’ head coach from 2008-2012. Unfortunately for the Canucks, Edler’s benching was emblematic of a rough night, as they lost 5-2, with Rangers rookie Chris Kreider netting a hat trick.
Bieksa continued, reflecting on Edler’s reaction: “It was an outrageous benching, but Alex just sat there and opened the door for the rest of the game. Our number one defenseman. It just shows what kind of teammate he was; he didn’t pout or complain, he opened the door for us.”
The story highlights Edler’s unwavering character, even in difficult moments. Whether he was benched or leading the team, Edler was always a rock-solid teammate, showing leadership both on and off the ice throughout his 925-game career with the Canucks. Read more about Edler’s underrated career by clicking here.