Of mostly Henrik Zetterberg-related note this morning:
1. The Detroit News’s Bob Wojnowski wrote a column praising Zetterberg as he “hangs up his skates“:
He’s one of the all-time stand-up guys, always willing to face the questions after an ugly loss, offering no excuses. Zetterberg wouldn’t rip teammates, but when he said something forcefully, you knew it mattered. It certainly mattered to the team.
“He leaves a massive hole for a lot of reasons,” GM Ken Holland said. “Not only all those minutes (played), but when you’re trying to go younger, you need role models, and there was no better role model than Henrik Zetterberg. … On one hand, obviously it’s a massive downer. But on the other hand, as we move forward, there’s an opportunity for somebody in that locker room, from a leadership standpoint and time on the ice, to grab it.”
To grab it, you have to earn it, and that was what Zetterberg represented. No, he wasn’t as smooth as Lidstrom, or as gifted as Pavel Datsyuk, or as fast as others. Zetterberg had to work harder, as time passed and injuries mounted, to keep playing, and he did.
The Wings’ next captain might indeed be Larkin, although maybe not right away. He said he’s eager to take on more responsibilities but doesn’t need the “C” to do so, a mature stance in itself. Niklas Kronwall and Justin Abdelkader wear the “A” as alternate captains, and perhaps another will be added. Holland said he’d discuss it with Blashill, but it sounds like there might not be a captain this season, a symbol of how hard it is to earn, and how difficult Zetterberg will be to replace.
Lots of players endure pain, but Zetterberg also endured a pressure no Wings captain had for 25 years, missing the playoffs during a difficult (but necessary) rebuild.
2. The Free Press’s Helene St. James also wrote a tribute to Zetterberg…
Zetterberg made his Wings debut on Oct. 10, 2002, the first of 79 games he’d play that season. He delivered 22 goals and 22 assists for 44 points, leading all rookies in goals and points. He was runner-up for the Calder Trophy, losing to St. Louis defenseman Barret Jackman. A broken leg limited Zetterberg to 61 games in 2003-04, but he still produced 43 points. After spending the 2004-05 lockout season in Sweden, Zetterberg reached 39 goals and 85 points in his third NHL season. That 2005-06 season was Mike Babcock’s first year behind Detroit’s bench.
“My first impressions of him were of an ultra-competitive, really intelligent player,” Babcock told the Free Press. “Good person. Loved winning and had a skill set to back that up. Knew how to play right. Real good defensively. Real competitive in the big moments.”
Nicklas Lidstrom, who’d been teammates with Zetterberg at the 2002 Olympics, recalled the 22-year-old rookie making his NHL debut.
“I was very impressed with how he played — he handled himself really well,” Lidstrom said. “He played with such poise.”
Zetterberg’s arrival in Detroit sparked a friendship with Pavel Datsyuk, who was a year ahead of Zetterberg.
“They were amazing,” former teammate Daniel Cleary said. “They did stuff in practice that video games can’t do justice. They were always thinking outside the box. It was easy to see how much they enjoyed playing with each other, from the one-on-one battle drills in practice that could go on for 30 minutes that you try to join, and after five minutes, you’re exhausted. It was a privilege to be around them.”
St. James also continues, and her article is worth your time…
3. Hockeybuzz’s Bob Duff weighed in regarding Zetterberg’s decision to retire as it applies to the Red Wings’ rebuilding effort…
“I’ve kind of been living this for a while,” Zetterberg explained to Mlive.com. “Starting in January last year, I knew something was not quite right.
“I found a way to play through that season but kind of mid-summer here when we hoped it was going to get a little bit better and it kind of wasn’t. I went to see Dr. (Frank) Camissa (who performed Zetterberg’s 2014 back surgery) last week and got the final result and nothing really had changed, so that’s kind of when it kicked in.
“Obviously, it is emotional. It’s been 15 years here. Even though I knew I was on my last couple years, I wish that I could have played a little bit longer.”
Now that it’s certain that he won’t, it’s time for the Wings to give up the ghost and get serious about the rebuild. Zetterberg was the last real tie to the glory days in terms of superstar talent. His departure officially concludes that era. It’s time to hand the keys of the future to the kids and see what happens, knowing full well that the early returns are likely to be unpleasant.
Let Dylan Larkin, Anthony Mantha and Andreas Athanasiou drive the bus. Bring Filip Zadina, Michael Rasmussen, Filip Hronek and Dennis Cholowski on board to see if they will sink or swim.
The attempts to stop gap with journeymen veterans must end. It hasn’t worked, and no one is buying that it ever will.
4. And DetroitRedWings.com’s Arthur J. Regner and Dana Wakiji wrote an article discussing the first day of practice and several storylines related to the beginning of training camp:
Michael Rasmussen may be a man of few words, but he’s well aware of the task ahead of him during training camp.
“I just try to focus on myself and do my best with what I can do. Just focus one day at a time, one practice at a time and get better every day out there,” Rasmussen said. “I’m trying not to think about that too much (making the team). Obviously, it’s in my head a little bit but I’m just trying to, like I said, get better every day.
“It was good, practice was good. It was a tough practice. Good to see some of the guys out there and the scrimmage was a little bit one-sided (his team lost 5-1), so we got to be a little bit better there but overall it was a good day.”
Growing up in British Columbia as a fan of the Vancouver Canucks, Rasmussen has vivid memories of Zetterberg and the Wings playing against the Canucks.
“For sure, I was definitely aware of him. They (the Wings) were in the Western Conference, I don’t know when they switched, but I would always go to games and see him play and see how great he was,” Rasmussen recalled. “They definitely played the Canucks lots and I always watched that so lots of cool memories of him for sure.
“I was around him a little bit last preseason, last camp but obviously that was a big dream for me to play with a guy like that. But I don’t have necessarily one memory. I think just how he handles himself with all you guys or all the young guys. For me last year, he would come up to me and say hello. For him to do that to me, it’s a pretty cool thing and for any young guy like that. It says a lot about him.”
Update: NHL.com’s Mike Zeisberger spoke with Auston Matthews, Mike Babcock and Brendan Shanahan regarding Zetterberg’s legacy:
“He’s an elite player, better competitor, and maybe a better person, a real leader,” Babcock said. “He hurt his back … quite a while ago and has been able to train and fight through it. He’s got a young family, and he’s got the rest of his life. We wish him nothing but success.”
Babcock and Zetterberg won the Stanley Cup in 2008 with Detroit.
“They’ll miss his leadership, his drive, his competitiveness, his professionalism,” Babcock said. “He’s a good man.”
Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan was a Red Wings teammate of Zetterberg from 2002-06.
“I remember Henrik joining our team in the 2002-03 season and he had a great rookie year,” Shanahan said. “You could immediately see he had not only incredible skill, but great leadership. He goes down on a long list of great Detroit Red Wing captains.”
