Detroit Red Wings: Teammates Praise Henrik Zetterberg

The Detroit Red Wings were anything but “shocked” when the news broke that Henrik Zetterberg would not be able to continue his professional hockey career.  The Wings players and fans were definitely more “heartbroken” than shocked.

It still hasn’t fully set in yet, that Detroit Red Wings captain Zetterberg is finished.  It’s a shame it has to end this way but we know all roads end at some point. The stand-out, future Hall of Fame center has been able to navigate his way through forks in the road up until this point.  This time the roadblock was too much to overcome.

After the news broke it caught some attention around the league. Players like New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist who sent his good wishes to Hank and mentioned he will miss playing against him.  The pair had previously been teammates for Team Sweden.

Dylan Larkin had some beautiful words for his captain after day one of Detroit Red Wings training camp completed Friday.  In a story published by NHL.com written by Nick Cotsonika, Larkin had this to say;

“I watched him a ton,” said Red Wings center Dylan Larkin, 22, who grew up in the Detroit suburbs. “I idolized him.”When new sticks came out each season, Larkin wanted the Easton with the Zetterberg curve. Before Larkin’s rookie season with the Red Wings in 2015-16, he met Zetterberg for the first time at an informal skate at Joe Louis Arena. There he was, 19 years old, nervous around his hero — and another Red Wings legend too.“Ted Lindsay walked into the locker room and was shaking everyone’s hand,” Larkin said. “I got to sit next to Ted and talk to him, and Henrik came up. It was pretty special.”

What a thrill it must have been over the last three seasons for Dylan Larkin to be able to play and learn from Henrik Zetterberg.  Larkin had a sophomore slump two seasons ago and was able to bounce back last year, I’m sure Hank had some encouraging words for Larkin along the way.

Larkin would go on to say;

“I didn’t really understand how good of a playmaker he was, how he knew where everyone was on the ice,” Larkin said. “Playing with him, you don’t even need to call for the puck. You know it’s coming. He’s going to find a way to get it to you. You’re on a 2-on-1 or you’re … there’s a stick in the lane or there’s a couple guys there, he’s going to get the pass through, which is, I think, amazing.”

Larkin has become a gifted playmaker himself of late.  We would like the goal total to increase into the 20’s near 30 but his passing ability was displayed often last season.  Hopefully, Dylan can take these traits he talks about from Henrik Zetterberg and improves his own game.

Helene St.James of freep.com spoke with Niklas Kronwall and he had some kind words to say about Hank;

“Without him in the locker room, it is going to be weird,” Kronwall said. “He has been there ever since I got here, and he’s always been the backbone of the team.“I can’t say enough good things about him, all the stuff he has battled through. I don’t think people realize what he’s gone through to still be able to play three full seasons in a row, it really is incredible.”“Words can’t express how much he means to this organization,” Kronwall said. “Always best when needed to, regardless of the state of the game. That’s what stands out among the great players. He’ll be remembered for it.

Henrik Zetterberg will go down in history as one of the greatest Detroit Red Wings players of all-time.  Henrik Zetterberg has been a staple for the city of Detroit, he was willing to do anything to help his team win hockey games and Hank will be clearly missed among his teammates.