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You’ve heard it a thousand times: the National Hockey League has never been faster than it is right now.

The funny thing is, Henrik and Daniel Sedin don’t necessarily see it that way. And they’d know.

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With more than 2,300 games combined under their belts over their 16 seasons in the league, since breaking in as fresh-faced 20-year-olds back in the fall of 2000, the Sedins have seen the game from all sides and have watched it change over the years. They acknowledge the injection of youth on almost every team around the league and the fact that players such as Connor McDavid and Auston Matthews have made their marks much sooner than their brother act achieved stardom.

But Henrik’s still not convinced the game is being played at a pace any faster now that it was even a few years back. Most of that, he says, is because of the way teams suffocate each other defensively.

“I think the game is different, but I don’t think it’s faster or guys are skating any faster than they have,” he says. “But teams are defending much better. That’s the only difference I feel. There used to be three-on-twos and two-on-ones and turnovers all the time. Even the worst teams now play well defensively and rarely give up the odd-numbered rushes.”