The Detroit Wings and general manager Ken Holland have announced that forward and team captain Henrik Zetterberg will no longer play hockey. Friday’s announcement comes because of continued back issues.
Henrik Zetterberg’s career is over due to his back condition, GM Ken Holland announced today. #RedWings
— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) September 14, 2018
Zetterberg’s contract will be moved to the long-term injured reserve and that will free up $6 million in salary cap space. This will be done to avoid the cap recapture penalty. His contract runs until the 2020-21 season.
Henrik Zetterberg Done Playing Hockey
The announcement came with the start of the team’s training camp Friday morning. Zetterberg’s playing status has been uncertain since the end of the season. It looked like he would return when he first talked to the media earlier in the summer. However, his lingering back issues popped up and interfered with his training.
Zetterberg had only played with the Red Wings during his entire 15-year NHL career. He totaled 337 goals and 623 assists for 960 points in 1,082 career games. The Njrunda, Sweden native was originally drafted in the seventh round, 210th overall of the 1999 NHL draft by the Detroit Red Wings.
He netted 11 goals and dished out 45 assists for 56 points in 82 games for Detroit. Zetterberg added 14 penalty minutes. His Corsi was 50.6 and CF% rel was 2.7.
Zetterberg helped the Red Wings to the 2008 Stanley Cup title and Sweden to the gold medal in the 2006 Winter Olympics. He was also a two-time all-star and won the King Clancy Memorial Trophy in 2015.
What it Means for the Future
The retirement opens a giant hole in Detroit’s centre group. There’s been talk of moving Andreas Athanasiou to the pivot spot and Dominic Turgeon will get an extended look as a bottom six centre.
It also means the club will be searching for a new team captain. Many have thought Dylan Larkin would be the next in line and that would be the next logical choice. Larkin said he’s learned a lot from Zetterberg and would be a great pick.
MONTREAL, QC – MARCH 26: Henrik Zetterberg #40 of the Detroit Red Wings skates against the Montreal Canadiens during the NHL game at the Bell Centre on March 26, 2018 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Detroit Red Wings 4-2. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
