After last night’s 4-3 OT loss to the New York Islanders, Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg told the media that the realities of the Red Wings’ “rebuild on the fly” have hit the players…
And, as MLive’s Ansar Khan notes, it appears that Zetterberg wants to be a part of the rebuild, despite his back issues:
Zetterberg, who will turn 38 at the start of next season, made it clear that he’s coming back for at least one more year. He has played all 82 games three years in a row and missed only five games the season before that. Even he couldn’t have predicted that after major back surgery in 2014.
“I didn’t practice since January,” Zetterberg said. “I wish I could practice every day and go out and fly around like some other guys do in here, but I know that I can’t do it,” Zetterberg said. “But you never know, have a good summer and I might be flying around.”
Zetterberg finished second on the team in scoring with 56 points (11 goals, 45 assists). He is 40 away from 1,000, a milestone reached by only four Red Wings (Gordie Howe, Steve Yzerman, Alex Delvecchio and Nicklas Lidstrom).
“There were days where I wasn’t sure if he was going to be able to play,” Blashill said. “He’s as tough a person as you’ll ever be around, like true toughness, being able to handle pain and endure that. Lots of days he’s good, so I don’t want to overdo it, but I think that the impressive thing isn’t that he’s played the games, but it’s the level at which he’s played. He’s still lots of nights an elite two-way player.”
Khan continues, and he posted a video of Zetterberg’s post-game comments:
Happy to have Captain Hank back. Though, I’m sure that not having long Play-off runs are helping him stay on the ice for all 82 games. Looking forward to him hitting 1,000 points next season.
Thats all i want for him, 1000 points, a stanley cup and a conn symthe should make him a lock for HOF
Devil’s advocate.
Was he ever the best player on his own team before these past two years? Did Datsyuk lead to Z never winning a major award besides the conn smythe (for example, lady byng or selke)?
I believe Z’s best finish for the Hart is 10th. At any point in his career, would you have considered Z a top player at his position (center is tough, I know)?
Don’t have to answer all of this, let alone at all. Just throwing it out there.
don’t forget, he has a gold medal (I think) and the HHOF is an international HOF so the induction criteria is for every team he’s played on and every award he has earned not just NHL awards.