Detroit Red Wings: Filling the Zetterberg Void

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The Detroit Red Wings will look for someone to step up and fill the void of offensive production, & leadership left behind by the captain for at least start the season. Quite possibly forever.

Captain Henrik Zetterberg has not committed to calling it a “career” yet. Zetterberg as all of you know by now will remain out indefinitely. Z will not be in attendance in a little under two weeks from now when the Detroit Red Wings open training camp.

Henrik Zetterberg will be a substantial “immediate” loss for the Wings, but it won’t be all bad. The injury will force General Manager Ken Holland‘s hand, to play a younger player and finally commit to a rebuild.

This news gives Holland an excuse if Detroit is faltering, he will speak to the media about the void Zetterberg has left behind. Yes, Henrik will leave 50 or so points in the locker room. That is if he was even able to produce such numbers anymore, that is not a guarantee.

Zetterberg had some telling quotes recently, Per Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press;

“Every time I try to amp up my workouts, I get symptoms again,” Zetterberg said. “Surgery is not an option. Since February, it has slowly gotten worse — things like nerve pain down your legs, disc-related issues. I was able to find a way to get through it, but it has slowly gotten worse. “I need someone to tell me I can’t play hockey anymore.”

The quotes indeed point to the end of the road for Henrik Zetterberg. The final comment is quite impressive. I’m sure Zetterberg is referring to a doctor or surgeon. His comments remind me of another instance I came across recently I wanted to share.

I have heard in recent weeks regarding the end of athletes careers. Under different circumstances, of course, not being injured but the battle with father time. Zetterberg is battling both, a severe injury grouped with father time.

The great Jerry Rice bounced around at the end of his Hall Of Fame football career. Rice still felt he could be an impact player during training camp with the Denver Broncos, well into his 40’s at this time.

A friend of his sat him down and showed Rice some film from 10 years prior, then from 5 years earlier and one more time from the current training camp in Denver. Almost right after, Rice decided to announce his retirement from the league. Admitting he had lost his explosion and sharp route running, being able to stick a foot in the ground and make a cut to create separation.

Understanding, it is a different situation, but as a high-profile athlete sometimes you need someone, a friend to help you make that final decision.

With the hole left in the Detroit Red Wings line-up, we look to who Jeff Blashill will turn to, helping to fill the Zetterberg void.

(Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Frans Nielsen /

Jeff Blashill has already stated Frans Nielsen will be slated to start the season as the Detroit Red Wings second line center.

Nielsen moved up the depth chart by Jeff Blashill to fill the second line void is such a “Blashill” type move. It’s the safest move the Detroit Red Wings bench boss could make. Nielsen now admitting; is the most reliable center on the club but has lost his offensive touch of late.

Young players, Michael Rasmussen and Filip Zadina were expected to learn from Henrik Zetterberg. Frans Nielsen now is the forward these young players shall look towards for guidance throughout the season. Expect one or both to flank Nielsen often this season.

Nielsen the veteran center, I could see as a leading candidate to dawn the third “A” (Alternate Captain) on his sweater this season for the Wings. That doesn’t suggest he should be elevated from his third line center position which fits him so well.

Nielsen paid like a second line center, produced as a mid-ranged third center last season. Nielsen recorded 33 total points. Frans’ on the season totaled the lowest minutes per game of his career, playing an average of 15:50 per game.

Jeff Blashill will boost those minutes this season to around 19:00 per game, but should he? Others who we will mention soon could be a better option to see the boost in minutes. Nielsen should produce much better offensive numbers playing with scoring type wingers instead of the “grinding” type players he’s been with lately.

If I were Jeff Blashill I would hold Nielsen on the third line during five on five play, but play him in more “high” pressure situations. Play him later in games that the Wings are ahead on the scoreboard. Continue to play him on special teams, the penalty kill, and power play units.

Frans Nielsen will see a “Blashill” boost. We feel he should see an increase just not quite as significant as Blashill will grant. Frans Nielsen in a perfect world should play around 17:30 minutes a game, this up and coming season.

TORONTO, ON – MARCH 24: Andreas Athanasiou /

Andreas Athanasiou would be our choice to start the season as the Detroit Red Wings second line center.

AA, has shown flashes of brilliance at times and other moments of being merely invisible. The hope is with much more consistent ice-time, Athanasiou will thrive, and the scoring chances would outweigh the times of imperfect play.

Head coach Jeff Blashill has already committed to AA as his third line center. Andreas was expected to start the season once again on the wing, covering up his lack of defensive ability.

Darren Helm could be asked to flank Andreas to help provide defensive stability, and Helm is no slouch in the skating department, he can undoubtedly fly up and down the ice.

Andreas a fluid skater, possibly the best skater on the team hasn’t shown a constant desire to commit to the defensive side of the game. A player with this skating ability down the middle has to be better in his end. Speed is something that cannot be taught. This is the main reason Athanasiou was expected to start once again on a wing this season.

Double-A will be pressed into duty down the middle of the Red Wings line up. Sometimes a player needs an opportunity; sometimes a player needs to feel a sense of urgency. Occasionally specific players need to be forced into a role before they can thrive.

Athanasiou in eight fewer contests produced the same stat line as Nielsen last season, 16 goals, 17 helpers totaling 33 points. Nielsen was a plus 1, AA a minus 15. That is a big difference.

The area again, like a broken record, we cannot stress enough is the defensive ability. AA has a toolbox full of offensive tools; he needs to make sure he follows the diagram laid out before him to become a complete player.

Blashill, we all know prefers the safe move. Nielsen will start as the second line center, but for the future and development of the Detroit Red Wings, we prefer AA. I hope Athanasiou can unseat Frans and be the next center called upon after Dylan Larkin has completed his shift.

(Photo by Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Luke Glendening even with Henrik Zetterberg on the roster, continues to be the most reliable face-off man on the club.

Glendening a trade chip due to his team friendly 1.80 million per season cap hit. Detroit minus Henrik Zetterberg may decide Glendening is no longer expendable in favor of keeping him as their fourth line center.

Glendening was the only natural center on the Detroit Red Wings to achieve above a 50% success rate in the dot. Glendening has been north of 50% four straight seasons. Last season Luke was 58% successful winning draws.

If Ken Holland decides to keep Glendening around, expect Luke to continue to take defensive zone face-offs for the Wings on a regular basis. Last season for the second straight season he started 66% of his shifts, taking a draw in the defensive zone.

Glendening while he is in Motown, will continue to take big faceoffs and as Detroit clears their own zone, heading up the ice Luke will scamper to the bench in favor of a better offensive player.

Glendening may find himself taking offensive zone face-offs which Zetterberg would have usually taken so that Detroit can gain possession late in games and head to the front of the net.

If Detroit finds a deal that suits their wants and needs for Glendening, Darren Helm moves merely into that role, and Martin Frk or Evgeny Svechnikov will be a regular on the fourth line.

(Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images) /

The Detroit Red Wings will look to Dylan Larkin to continue to grow as a player, a leader, and star of the franchise.

Dylan Larkin has the makings of a player who will grow into the cornerstone player for the Detroit Red Wings for twelve plus years to come.

Larkin already the teams’ number one center will see himself sliding into a leadership role moving forward. A player that has often looked down the bench to Zetterberg for guidance and mentorship will now, be the player who young teammates will start to look towards for similar advice.

Larkin who demonstrated last season his crafty passing ability, to go with his fantastic speed has to find a way to see the puck into the back of the net more often. Larkin was only able to tally 16 goals last season. Larkin has 30 goal potential needs to increase that total into the 20’s or near 30 moving forward.

Larkin has yet to reach that star caliber level of play. Dylan Larkin needs to take the torch from Zetterberg and skate that proudly as the leader of the franchise.

Larkin will now find himself on the ice in all of Detroit’s critical situations all season long. Larkin already anchors the teams’ first line. He will be asked to be featured on Detroit’s leading power play unit along with the Penalty kill.

Depending on the development of Filip Zadina, Jeff Blashill may elect to skate him alongside Dylan Larkin and Anthony Mantha. Larkin has transitioned into a reliable two-way center, although he needs to be better in the faceoff dot. Larkin has improved in the dot every season but remains to hover around 50%.

I think we all expect Larkin to become the future captain of the Detroit Red Wings. That being said, Detroit, we expect will run with three alternate captains for the immediate future.

(Photo by Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Niklas Kronwall /

Don’t be fooled by the “A” on the chest of Niklas Kronwall. It might as well be a “C” with the absence of Henrik Zetterberg.

The players, coaches, and management will look to Niklas Kronwall to lead the Detroit Red Wings through the 2018-19 season. Kronwall’s play has been declining over the past few seasons. Kronwall labored through last season along with Zetterberg.