Jannik Hansen

Hansen developed with the Rødovre Mighty Bulls of the Danish Oddset League, joined the senior team at age 16. He played in Rødovre for a season-and-a-half, then was invited to play for the Swedish Malmö Redhawks's under-18 team in 2002–03. Hansen played the remainder of the season in Malmö, then returned to Rødovre the following season. After recording 19 points over 35 games in 2003–04 with Rødovre, Hansen was selected by the Vancouver Canucks, 287th overall, in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. Despite his success the previous season, his selection was delayed to the latter stages of the draft due to his small stature and a traditional lack of NHL players coming out of Denmark.[8] Hansen stayed with Rødovre another season following his draft and recorded a Danish career-high 32 points in 34 games.

Selected by the Portland Winter Hawks of the Western Hockey League (WHL) 33rd overall in the 2005 Canadian Hockey League (CHL) Import Draft,[8] Hansen moved to North America and joined the club for the 2005–06 season. Hansen's proficiency in English played a part in Winter Hawks general manager Ken Hodge selecting him.[8] Canucks management also wanted him playing major junior in order to better his transition to the more physical North American style of play.[8] Becoming the first Danish player to compete in the WHL,[8] Hansen scored at a point-per-game pace, leading all rookies with 64 points.[9] He continued his scoring pace in the playoffs with 13 points in 12 games as Portland was eliminated in the second round.

In July 2006, Hansen signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Vancouver Canucks.[10] Playing the 2006–07 season with the Canucks' minor league affiliate, the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League (AHL), he scored 12 goals and 34 points over 72 games, leading all team rookies in scoring.[11]

During the 2007 Stanley Cup playoffs, Hansen was called up by the Canucks.[12] He became the first born-and-raised Danish player to compete and register a point in the NHL post-season — Frans Nielsen had played and scored the first point by a born-and-raised Dane in the regular season earlier that year.[notes 1][1] The point was scored in Game 3 of the first round against the Dallas Stars by assisting on a goal by Jan Bulis.[15] The Canucks advanced past the Stars in seven games to meet the Anaheim Ducks in the second round. In Game 5 of the series, with the Canucks facing elimination in overtime, Hansen played an instrumental part on the ice when the Ducks scored. Attempting to carry the puck out of the defensive zone, he was hit to the ice by Ducks forward Rob Niedermayer. While Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo had his arm up in the direction of the referee, protesting the lack of penalty, the puck came loose to Ducks defenceman Scott Niedermayer, who scored past the distracted Luongo.[5][16] Following the Canucks' elimination, Hansen was sent back to the Moose for their 2007 Calder Cup playoffs.[12] Back in the AHL, he was pointless in six games as the Moose were defeated by the Hamilton Bulldogs in the second round.

The following season, Hansen was plagued by injuries, initially suffering a broken thumb in the pre-season with the Canucks.[12] After recovering, he was assigned to the Moose in early-October, but was re-called by the Canucks within a month.[12] In January 2008, Hansen was re-injured, suffering a concussion. Later in the campaign, he earned his second call-up of the season in April.[12] Finishing the season with the Moose, he finished with 43 points in 50 games for the third-highest point-per-game average on the club, as well as a team-high plus-minus rating of +23.[17] In NHL play, he was pointless in five games.

Hansen pursues Los Angeles Kings defenceman Jack Johnson along the boards during the 2010 playoffs.

Hansen played his first full season with the Canucks in 2008–09, making the roster out training camp and establishing himself as a third-line forward.[3] He became known as a player for his speed and work ethic, lending to his effectiveness in puck-pursuit and forechecking.[3] Also responsible defensively, he began to be used consistently on the penalty kill.[18] Hansen has recalled the transition to the NHL requiring a change in his style of play to incorporate more physicality and abrasiveness. Prior to making the NHL, he relied more on skill and finesse, having been a go-to offensive player for teams up to that point.[5]

Hansen scored his first NHL regular season point on 11 October 2008, an assist on a Ryan Kesler goal against the Calgary Flames.[19] He scored his first NHL goal two games later against goaltender Chris Osgood in a 4–3 win against the Detroit Red Wings.[20] Midway through the season, Hansen was briefly sent back to Manitoba for the Canucks to make room on the roster for the recently acquired Mats Sundin.[21] He was, however, recalled within three days.[12] In late-February, he broke his finger and was sidelined for 14 games.[12] He completed the season with 21 points in 55 games, ranking 26th in scoring among NHL rookies.[22] In the off-season, he became a restricted free agent before re-signing with the Canucks to a one-year, two-way contract worth a reported US$550,000.[23]

The following 2009 pre-season, Hansen injured his hand during a fight against Edmonton Oilers forward Gilbert Brulé,[24] He returned to the lineup in mid-November 2008 after missing 19 games.[12] On 1 January 2009, he was assigned for to the Moose for 10 days on a conditioning assignment,[12] scoring two assists in five games. Back in Vancouver, Hansen completed the season with nine goals and 15 points over 47 games. He added three points in 12 playoff games, while playing through a sprained ankle suffered in the second round against the Chicago Blackhawks.[25]

Hansen during the 2011–12 season

Becoming a restricted free agent for the second consecutive summer, Hansen was taken to salary arbitration by the Canucks. Following his hearing on 20 July 2010, he was awarded a one-year, one-way deal worth $850,000, which the Canucks agreed to.[26] Recording career-highs of 9 goals, 20 assists and 29 points over 82 games in 2010–11, Hansen received the Canucks' Fred J. Hume Award as the team's "unsung hero" (voted by the Canucks' booster club).[27] He added three goals and nine points over 25 games in the 2011 playoffs as the Canucks advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals, where they were defeated in seven games by the Boston Bruins. In the off-season, Hansen filed for salary arbitration.[28] Prior to his hearing, Hansen and the Canucks avoided arbitration by agreeing to a three-year, $4.05 million contract.[29] Many in the media, including those from the local Province newspaper, suggested that he ceded to the Canucks' negotiations, to which Hansen responded, "If you want to be in a position to win, you have to make some sacrifices."[30]

In the first month of the 2011–12 season, Hansen was hit from behind by defenceman Shea Weber in a game against the Nashville Predators on 20 October 2011. While he was uninjured on the play, Weber was fined $2,500 — the maximum allowable financial penalty — by the League the following day.[31] The following month, Hansen earned a brief stint playing on the Canucks' first line with Daniel and Henrik Sedin, replacing Alexandre Burrows.[5] Enjoying a career season, he surpassed his previous personal best of nine goals in the NHL by December 2011.[32] He continued to play the majority of the campaign on the Canucks' checking line and finished with 16 goals and 39 points over 82 games. Although Vancouver won their second consecutive Presidents' Trophy in 2011–12, they lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Los Angeles Kings. Hansen had one goal in the five-game series.

Hansen earned praise from local and league-wide media amidst a strong start to the lockout-shortened 2012–13 season.[33][34] He finished the campaign scoring at the most prolific rate of his career, with 10 goals and 27 points over 47 games, ranking third in team scoring behind Daniel and Henrik Sedin.[35] Playing the San Jose Sharks in the first round of the 2013 playoffs, Hansen failed to record a point in four games as the Canucks were swept. On 29 September 2013, Hansen signed a four-year deal with the Canucks.

On 23 November 2014, Hansen recorded his first career hat-trick in a 4–1 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks.[36]

Hansen spent much of the 2015–16 season playing on the Canucks' top line with the Sedin twins, following a 5–3 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on 10 November 2015 which saw the line tally 11 points. Hansen responded by scoring a career-high 22 goals that season; scoring at least 20 goals for the first time in his career.[37]

In the 2016 off-season, the Canucks signed free agent Loui Eriksson to be the Sedins' new linemate. As a result, Hansen started the 2016–17 season on the second line with Markus Granlund and Brandon Sutter. Hansen scored his 100th career NHL goal on 20 October 2016; against Robin Lehner in a 2–1 win over the Buffalo Sabres.[38]

On 28 February 2017, Hansen was traded by the Canucks to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for Nikolay Goldobin and a conditional 4th round-pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.[39] Hansen was placed on the Shark's top line with Joe Pavelski and Joe Thornton.[40]

On 2 August 2018, having reached the end of his 12-year NHL career, Hansen signed for Russian club, HC CSKA Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League.[41] In the 2018–19 season, Hansen continued to play his two-way defensively responsible role on the third line, contributing with 7 goals and 18 points in 45 games. In the playoffs, Hansen posted 3 points in 9 games to help CSKA claim their first Gagarin Cup.

On 27 April 2019, Hansen announced his retirement from professional hockey following 16 professional seasons, citing physical inability.[42]