Meet the Twins: The Rare Occurrence of NHL Players with the Same DNA

In the 1991-92 and 1992-93 Upper Deck high series, the company featured NHL brother combinations in a small insert set to the main set. Brothers playing in the NHL is a fairly common occurrence; twins playing in the NHL is another matter altogether. A quick Google search shows that one in every 250 pregnancies results in a natural occurrence of twins, with an increase in odds in instances where in vitro fertilization is used for conception. Keeping this in mind, it seems the odds of both twins playing in the NHL is even longer, with only five sets of twins having both set foot in an NHL game. However, it appears being a set of twins born in Sweden increases your odds, as three of the four sets of brothers below represent the Tre Kronor. If I've excluded any twins, feel free to email me and let me know.

Daniel and Henrik Sedin: probably the most successful set of twins, they have a combined six all-star games, five all-star teams, two Art Ross Trophies, one Hart Trophy, one Ted Lindsay Award, and three King Clancy Memorial Trophies. Combined they played in 2636 NHL games, scoring 633 goals and 2111 points. Both Daniel and Henrik were inducted in the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2022.

Rich and Ron Sutter: two of the six Sutter brothers from Red Deer, Alberta, that played in the NHL. Their careers are highlighted in the post below.

Henrik and Joel Lundqvist: King Henrik was a superstar goalie for the New York Rangers for 15 seasons from 2005 to 2020. He played in five all-star games, won the 2012 Vezina Trophy and was a first team all-star in 2012 and 2013. Henrik ranks sixth all-time in career wins and ninth in games played by a goalie. He was inducted in into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2023. Brother Joel, a centre, played 134 games for Dallas from 2006-2009. He has a much celebrated career back home in Sweden, where he captain Frolunda for several seasons as well as the Swedish national team.

Chris and Peter Ferraro: the twin brothers from Long Island have their careers recapped below.

Peter and Patrik Sundstrom: the third set of Swedish twins on this list, both started their NHL careers in the early 1980s. Patrik scored over 200 goals and 580 points with Vancouver and New Jersey, and shares the record for most points in a single NHL playoff game with eight (three goals and five assists) with Mario Lemieux. Brother Peter played over 300 games with the New York Rangers, Washington and New Jersey, playing alongside twin brother Patrik with the Devils during the 1989-90 season.

644 - Stephan & Patrick Lebeau

Stephan

Older brother Stephan scored 27 goals and 58 points during the 1991-92 season with Montreal, earning a few Lady Byng Trophy votes as well. That 58 points would be the second highest total of his career, coming in his third full NHL season. Stephan would win the Stanley Cup with the Habs in 1993, however his NHL career would be over after only two more seasons. In 373 career games, Stephan scored 118 goals and 277 points.

Patrick

Younger brother Patrick played the 1991-92 season with the Canadiens’ AHL affiliate, Fredericton, scoring 71 points in 55 games. He also represented Canada at the 1992 Olympics, scoring four points in eight games as Canada won a silver medal. Patrick appeared in only 15 games over four NHL seasons, last playing with Pittsburgh in 1998-99. He had a lengthy career in Switzerland and Germany, leading the DEL in points and winning player of the year in 2004 and 2005.

645 - The Sutter Brothers

Brian 

The eldest Sutter coached the 1991-92 St. Louis Blues to third place in the Norris Division with a 36-33-11 record. They would lose in the Division Semi-Finals to Chicago in six games. Brian had won the Jack Adams Trophy the previous season, and would go on to coach over 1,000 NHL for four different franchises. Brian also played in over 700 games with St. Louis from 1976 to 1988.

Darryl

In 1991-92, the second oldest Sutter was entering his second season as an assistant coach with the Blackhawks. He became head coach in 1992-93, taking over after Mike Keenan left for the New York Rangers. Darryl would coach just under 500 games with four different franchises, winning two Stanley Cups with Los Angeles. He also played in over 400 games for Chicago from 1978 to 1987.

Duane

The middlish Brother, Duane was a scout for Chicago during the 1991-92 season. For the next 30 or so years he had front office roles in coaching, scouting and player development. The peak of Duane’s coaching career was parts of two seasons spent as head coach of the Florida Panthers. Perhaps the least known of the six brothers, Duane won the most Stanley Cups of the six brothers, winning four with the Islanders during his playing days. He played in over 700 games between the Islanders and the Blackhawks.

Brent

The youngest non-twin Sutter, Brent split the 1991-92 season between the Islanders and Blackhawks, scoring 22 goals and 60 points, finishing fourth in Selke Trophy voting. Brent played in over 1100 NHL games for the two franchises, winning two Stanley Cups. He took his turn at coaching in the late 2000s and early 2010s, leading New Jersey and Calgary for over 400 games.

Rich

Rich played the 1991-92 season with St. Louis under the watchful eye of brother Brian, scoring nine goals and 25 points in 77 games along with 107 penalty minutes. Rich played in over 800 NHL games for seven teams.

Ron

Ron, twin brother to Rich, also spent the 1991-92 season with the Blues, scoring 19 goals and 36 points in 68 games. The last of the six brothers to retire, Ron played in over 1000 games for seven teams, and was runner up for the 1986 Selke Trophy. Ron is also the only one of the six brothers to never play for the Chicago Blackhawks franchise.

646 - Gino & Paul Cavallini

Gino

The older brother, Gino played in 66 games with St. Louis and Quebec during the 1991-92 season, scoring 10 goals and 24 points. This was the second last season of his NHL career, which spanned just under 600 games, mostly with the Blues. Gino played in Europe from 1996-2001.

Paul

Younger brother Paul also played in 66 games in the 1991-92 season, all with the Blues, scoring 10 goals and 35 points. He played in the 1990 all-star game, and led the NHL with a +38 rating that season. Paul would play just over 500 games with three franchises during his career.

647 - Valeri & Pavel Bure

Valeri

Younger brother Valeri was 17 years old during the 1991-92 season, which he spent with Spokane in the WHL, scoring 27 goals and 49 points in 53 games. At the 1992 NHL draft he was selected 33rd overall by Montreal. Valeri had a 10 year NHL career, scoring 400 points over 621 games with five teams. His best season came in 1999-00, scoring 35 goals and 70 points with Calgary, representing the Flames in the all-star game.

Pavel

1991-92 was Pavel’s rookie season with Vancouver, where he scored 34 goals and 60 points in 65 games on his way to winning the Calder Trophy. In a career shortened by injury, Pavel played in 700 games, scoring 437 goals and 779 points. He played in six all-star games, was named to three all-star teams (one first and two second), won back-to-back Rocket Richard Trophies (2000 & 2001) and was a finalist for the Hart Trophy in 2000. The Russian Rocket ranks sixth all time in goals scored per game in NHL history.

648 - Chris & Peter Ferraro

Chris

Chris played with Dubuque and Waterloo in the USHL during the 1991-92 season, scoring over two points per game. He also played for the United States at the World Junior tournament that season, scoring seven points in seven games. Chris was drafted 85th overall by the New York Rangers in 1992. He appeared in 74 NHL games over six seasons with five teams, playing in the North American minor leagues until 2009.

Peter

Twin brother Peter was teammates with Chris during the 1991-92 season, also scoring at an outrageous pace in the USHL, and adding eight points in seven games at the World Juniors. He was also drafted by the Rangers in 1992, going 24th overall. Peter played slightly more NHL games than his twin brother (92 to be exact) over six seasons with four teams. He also had a lengthy minor pro career in North America, but also made stops in Europe before retiring after the 2008-09 season. His career was highlighted with a Calder Cup victory in 1999 with the Providence Bruins, when he was named playoffs MVP.