Jannik Hansen

Personal life

Hailing from Rødovre, a Copenhagen suburb, Jannik Hansen grew up in a hockey household. His father Bent, a carpenter, played for Denmark’s national team. Hansen first stepped on skates at age two, but didn’t pick up the sport until he was 11. In Denmark, where football dominates and no local had ever reached the NHL, he and his peers aimed for leagues in Sweden, Germany, or Finland instead. On March 3, 2013, he and his wife Karen welcomed twin sons, Lucas and Daniel.

Playing career

Jannik Hansen began his career with the Rødovre Mighty Bulls in Denmark’s Oddset League, moving up to the senior squad when he was 16. He spent a season and a half there before joining the Malmö Redhawks’ under-18 team in 2002–03, then went back to Rødovre. After putting up 19 points in 35 games during the 2003–04 season, the Vancouver Canucks picked him 287th overall in the 2004 NHL draft. His late selection was due to his small frame and the fact that few Danish players had made it to the NHL.

He remained with Rødovre for another year, notching a Danish-league best 32 points in 34 games. In the 2005 CHL Import Draft, the Portland Winter Hawks chose him 33rd overall, and he moved to North America for the 2005–06 WHL season. As the first Dane to play in the WHL, he scored at a point-per-game clip, leading all rookies with 64 points. He added 13 points in 12 playoff games as Portland fell in the second round.

In July 2006, Hansen signed a three-year entry-level deal with Vancouver. He spent the 2006–07 season with the AHL’s Manitoba Moose, scoring 12 goals and 34 points in 72 games, tops among team rookies.

International play

Hansen debuted internationally for Denmark in Division I of the 2002 IIHF World U18 Championships in Slovenia. At 16, he was the second-youngest player on the team and went pointless in four games; Denmark avoided relegation by one goal-differential over Japan. At the 2003 World U18 Championships, Denmark finished first in their Division I group, earning promotion. Hansen tied for sixth in Group A scoring with seven points in five games.

He moved to the under-20 level for the 2004 World Junior Championships in Berlin, registering an assist in three games as Denmark finished second in their group. Later that year he returned to the under-18 team for the main tournament, where Denmark placed seventh; Hansen scored seven points in six games. At the 2005 World Junior Championships, Denmark finished third in their Division I group; Hansen led his team with four goals and five points. In February 2005 he debuted for the Danish men's team in Olympic qualification, notching an assist in three games as Denmark failed to qualify.

He went pointless in four games at the 2005 World Championships, where Denmark finished 14th. At the 2006 World Junior Championships, his final under-20 appearance, he had four points in four games as Denmark placed second in Division I Group A. Later that year he scored twice in six games at the Men's World Championships in Riga, where Denmark finished 13th. At the 2008 World Championships in Canada, he scored two goals and two assists in six games as Denmark finished 12th. He missed the 2010 World Championships after spraining his ankle during the NHL playoffs.