After reeling from Henrik Zetterberg not being elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame, to being left off the quarter-century team, we decided the best course of action was to take to the Twitterverse.
Series Intro
In the post, we asked fans to share their fondest memories of former Detroit Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg. Of course, there are endless stories of our beloved leader. Thankfully, Red Wings fans poured their stories into the thread. Not to give too much away, but moments about a goat and two kids, the overtime goals, hat tricks, and plenty more anecdotes of the calm, confident Swede.
Number 40 had charisma that few other players, if any, have shown. Disciplined when he had to be, amusing when he got a chance, and a pain in the rear to play against at any stage in his career.
The 6-foot 196 196-pound guy from Sundsvall, Sweden, who was drafted in the seventh round of the 1999 National Hockey League (NHL) Entry Level Draft, defined two-way play for a generation of hockey. While there are names that are spoken louder, covered more prominently, and have been admired in the public sphere. For Detroit fans, we all know the truth.
Zetterberg brought a calm, cool head
Zetterberg went toe-to-toe with the best in the NHL. He didn’t have to bring flash. Instead, he brought calm, consistent play that could read and create moment swings in a breath. There was no need to cheat or force a play, he knew he would get his chances. When he did, he buried them. For people not paying attention, they don’t get to appreciate how truly impactful Zetterberg was to his franchise for nearly two decades.
Honestly, it’s for the best. The Detroit Red Wings keep the star players hidden from the outside world. Whether it’s the play of upcoming stars or retired Triple Crown winners, Red Wings fans know their worth, and that’s all that matters.
Coming next
Throughout the week, we will feature some of our favorite Zetterberg highlights from his time with the Detroit Red Wings. So, as we continue to press further into the offseason, sit back, relax, and enjoy some enjoyable moment from the captain's career.
This will be a multi-part series. So, if you think of something fun we may have missed, you can still chime in! Give @OctopusThrower_ a follow and reply to this message and maybe we will feature it!