Jannik “*Honey Badger” Hansen* was born in Rødovre, Denmark on March 15, 1986. His father Bent Hansen was a Danish hockey player that played for the local team and also the Danish national team from 1969-1987.
Growing up, Jannik had the opportunity to play for the Rødovre Mighty Bulls senior team at the age of 16. After 1.5 seasons in Denmark, Hansen was invited to play for Malmö’s U18-team in Sweden. After half a season with Malmö, Hansen returned to Rødovre in 2003-04 and produced 19-points in 35-games.
He was then selected by the Vancouver Canucks 287th overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft (9th Round). A longshot to make the NHL, but Hansen was determined to make his way to North America.
The following year, Hansen was selected by the Portland Winterhawks 33rd overall in the CHL Import Draft. Portland GM, Ken Hodge, selected Hansen in part because he had proficiency in speaking English already. Hansen became the first Danish player to play in the WHL and performed well for the Winterhawks in the 2005-06 season. He had 64-points in 64-games. He even had 13-points in 12-games of the WHL Playoffs.
The following year, he was deemed ready for professional hockey and joined the Canucks AHL Affiliate, Manitoba Moose. Hansen had 34-points in 72-games which was best amongst team rookies.
In the 2007 playoffs, Hansen was called up by the Vancouver Canucks. He became the first Danish (born & raised) player to play & record a point in the NHL postseason when he assisted a Jan Bulis goal in Game 3 of the first round versus the Dallas Stars.
In 2008, he only played 5 NHL games. He had a few minor injuries from a broken thumb in the pre-season, to later getting a concussion that sidelined him for a brief period of time. In 50 AHL-games that year, he had 43-points.
Hansen officially became a full-time NHL’er in the 2008-09 season when he made the team out of training camp. In order to stay in the NHL, Hansen adapted his game to be more physical and tough to play against rather than offensively minded. His work ethic and relentless forechecking gave him the opportunity to earn lots of penalty killing minutes and he quickly became a fan-favourite for his undeniable effort each and every shift. His playstyle is also what earned him the “Honey badger” nickname.
Hansen scored his first NHL goal against Chris Osgood & the Detroit Red Wings in October, 2008. Midway through his first full NHL-season, Hansen was sent down to Manitoba in a paper transaction in order to make room on the roster for Mats Sundin. Hansen was recalled three days later. He also broke a finger that year and missed some time. He finished the season with 21-points in 55-games.
In 2009-10, Hansen fought Gilbert Brulé in the pre-season and ended up missing 19-games with an injured hand. He had 15-points in 47-games plus 3-points in 12-playoff games that year.
In 2011, he set a career high with 29-points in 82-games. Hansen was voted as the unsung hero of the team. He followed up a solid regular season with a great playoff performance. He had 9-points in 25-playoff games. That bitter summer, Hansen took one for the team in arbitration when he signed a 3-year $4.05 Million contract. Hansen was quoted saying “If you want to be in a position to win, you have to make sacrifices.”
Unfortunately for Hansen & the Canucks, they never made it back to the Stanley Cup Finals, but Hansen continued to improve as a player. He earned a stint with the Sedins on the top line and primarily played on the top checking line in 2011-12. He set a career-high 39-points in 82-games.
The following year was a lockout shortened season, but the Honey Badger took it in stride and was one of Vancouver’s top producers. He had 27-points in 47-games, ranking third in team scoring behind Daniel & Henrik.
Hansen then signed a 4-year extension with Vancouver in 2013. He got his first career hat-trick in 2014 against the rival Chicago Blackhawks. In 2015-16, he continued to get opportunities with the Sedin twins and finished the year with a career-high 22-goals.
The following year, GM Jim Benning signed Loui Eriksson as a first-line winger for the Sedins. A move that totally didn’t backfire at all, Hansen was left playing down the lineup with Brandon Sutter and Markus Granlund that season. That year he did manage to score his 100th career NHL goal against Robin Lehner & the Buffalo Sabres.
With Vancouver starting to *rebuild* under Jim Benning, Hansen was traded to the San Jose Sharks at the 2017 deadline for Nikolay Goldobin and a conditional 4th round draft pick.
Hansen played two seasons with the Sharks before going to Russia and joining CSKA Moscow in the KHL. Hansen retired from professional hockey after the 2019 season in Russia.
In addition to being a great player I find his radio spots really honest and insightful. He is not a player I would have expected to do media after his career.
*A little bit of Jannik Hansen?*
I’m his mailman; he’s a Good guy. I put a sharpy and a hockey card with an envelope in his mailbox and it came back to me signed a few days later. I bumped into his wife one day and asked if he’d mind and she was like “do it! He’d get a kick out of it!”
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36. Jannik Hansen — 565GP | 105G | 130A | 235P | 2007-2017*
Jannik “*Honey Badger” Hansen* was born in Rødovre, Denmark on March 15, 1986. His father Bent Hansen was a Danish hockey player that played for the local team and also the Danish national team from 1969-1987.
Growing up, Jannik had the opportunity to play for the Rødovre Mighty Bulls senior team at the age of 16. After 1.5 seasons in Denmark, Hansen was invited to play for Malmö’s U18-team in Sweden. After half a season with Malmö, Hansen returned to Rødovre in 2003-04 and produced 19-points in 35-games.
He was then selected by the Vancouver Canucks 287th overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft (9th Round). A longshot to make the NHL, but Hansen was determined to make his way to North America.
The following year, Hansen was selected by the Portland Winterhawks 33rd overall in the CHL Import Draft. Portland GM, Ken Hodge, selected Hansen in part because he had proficiency in speaking English already. Hansen became the first Danish player to play in the WHL and performed well for the Winterhawks in the 2005-06 season. He had 64-points in 64-games. He even had 13-points in 12-games of the WHL Playoffs.
The following year, he was deemed ready for professional hockey and joined the Canucks AHL Affiliate, Manitoba Moose. Hansen had 34-points in 72-games which was best amongst team rookies.
In the 2007 playoffs, Hansen was called up by the Vancouver Canucks. He became the first Danish (born & raised) player to play & record a point in the NHL postseason when he assisted a Jan Bulis goal in Game 3 of the first round versus the Dallas Stars.
In 2008, he only played 5 NHL games. He had a few minor injuries from a broken thumb in the pre-season, to later getting a concussion that sidelined him for a brief period of time. In 50 AHL-games that year, he had 43-points.
Hansen officially became a full-time NHL’er in the 2008-09 season when he made the team out of training camp. In order to stay in the NHL, Hansen adapted his game to be more physical and tough to play against rather than offensively minded. His work ethic and relentless forechecking gave him the opportunity to earn lots of penalty killing minutes and he quickly became a fan-favourite for his undeniable effort each and every shift. His playstyle is also what earned him the “Honey badger” nickname.
Hansen scored his first NHL goal against Chris Osgood & the Detroit Red Wings in October, 2008. Midway through his first full NHL-season, Hansen was sent down to Manitoba in a paper transaction in order to make room on the roster for Mats Sundin. Hansen was recalled three days later. He also broke a finger that year and missed some time. He finished the season with 21-points in 55-games.
In 2009-10, Hansen fought Gilbert Brulé in the pre-season and ended up missing 19-games with an injured hand. He had 15-points in 47-games plus 3-points in 12-playoff games that year.
In 2011, he set a career high with 29-points in 82-games. Hansen was voted as the unsung hero of the team. He followed up a solid regular season with a great playoff performance. He had 9-points in 25-playoff games. That bitter summer, Hansen took one for the team in arbitration when he signed a 3-year $4.05 Million contract. Hansen was quoted saying “If you want to be in a position to win, you have to make sacrifices.”
Unfortunately for Hansen & the Canucks, they never made it back to the Stanley Cup Finals, but Hansen continued to improve as a player. He earned a stint with the Sedins on the top line and primarily played on the top checking line in 2011-12. He set a career-high 39-points in 82-games.
The following year was a lockout shortened season, but the Honey Badger took it in stride and was one of Vancouver’s top producers. He had 27-points in 47-games, ranking third in team scoring behind Daniel & Henrik.
Hansen then signed a 4-year extension with Vancouver in 2013. He got his first career hat-trick in 2014 against the rival Chicago Blackhawks. In 2015-16, he continued to get opportunities with the Sedin twins and finished the year with a career-high 22-goals.
The following year, GM Jim Benning signed Loui Eriksson as a first-line winger for the Sedins. A move that totally didn’t backfire at all, Hansen was left playing down the lineup with Brandon Sutter and Markus Granlund that season. That year he did manage to score his 100th career NHL goal against Robin Lehner & the Buffalo Sabres.
With Vancouver starting to *rebuild* under Jim Benning, Hansen was traded to the San Jose Sharks at the 2017 deadline for Nikolay Goldobin and a conditional 4th round draft pick.
Hansen played two seasons with the Sharks before going to Russia and joining CSKA Moscow in the KHL. Hansen retired from professional hockey after the 2019 season in Russia.
In addition to being a great player I find his radio spots really honest and insightful. He is not a player I would have expected to do media after his career.
*A little bit of Jannik Hansen?*
I’m his mailman; he’s a Good guy. I put a sharpy and a hockey card with an envelope in his mailbox and it came back to me signed a few days later. I bumped into his wife one day and asked if he’d mind and she was like “do it! He’d get a kick out of it!”