NHL
The Red Wing’s Captain Henrik Zetterberg will Miss the Start of the Season Due to a Back Injury
The Detroit Red Wings are in disarray. With no cap space and players leaving unsigned, it seems that there is just no end in sight. In addition, the Red Wings removed “Hockeytown” off of their center ice. Unfortunately, the woes will continue with this new bombshell. Their captain, Henrik Zetterberg will miss the start of the season due to a back injury. Although his production has declined, the Red Wings will be missing a Stanley Cup-winning veteran. At 37-years old, he does not have much time left in the NHL.
On the bright side, Zetterberg may pass down his skills and knowledge to the Red Wings upcoming core of players such as Dylan Larkin and Andreas Athanasiou as Larkin was just recently resigned. As a result, this may be seen as a generational change for Detroit.
Henrik Zetterberg’s career overview
Zetterberg was selected in 7th round all the way back in the 1999 NHL draft. However, he would not become the player we know today until 2002. In his first season with the Red Wings, Zetterberg notched 44 points in 79 games. For his first season, this was considered impressive as he finished second in voting for rookie of the year. However, the best has yet to come. Two seasons later, he would notch 85 points, a new career high at the time. In 2008, he would hit a new career high with 92 regular season points. Additionally, Zetterberg’s career-defining accomplishment took place. Zetterberg won the Stanley Cup and was awarded the Conn Smythe trophy. This asserted himself as a Red Wings legend.
The following year, Zetterberg would reach the promise land once again in hopes to claim the holy grail. Unfortunately, history did not repeat itself as the Red Wings fell to the Pittsburgh Penguins in seven games. In 2013, Zetterberg was named the new captain of the Red Wings. In addition, he would tally 80 points in 80 games, averaging a point a game. That same year, he would win the NHL Foundation Player award that year, adding an additional piece to his hardware collection. In 2015, he would win the King Clancy Memorial Trophy, showing that he has what it takes to be a leader. However, the following season, he would miss the playoffs for the first time in his career. Despite putting up 68 points that season, it was not enough to keep the Red Wing’s playoff streak alive. Last season, he would miss it again.
What’s next for Zetterberg?
With this back injury, Zetterberg may not have too much time left in the NHL and he is not getting any younger. As unfortunate as it sounds, this season is most likely Zetterberg’s last.
Social Media
Follow Joey on Twitter at @JoeyGanzi
