It's usually a good sign when a former captain wants to talk about your storied hockey franchise.
This was not the case with Detroit Red Wings former captain Henrik Zetterberg.
In an interview with Expressen, a Swedish publication, Zetterberg shared his thoughts openly on how the Red Wings handled former GM (and captain) Steve Yzerman.
"I thought it was wrong."
Strong words from a captain that often held his tongue. Zetterberg played for the Red Wings for 15 seasons. He's seen everything from consistent success to the start of the team's current rebuild. He knows just what it takes to win a Stanley Cup just as much as he knows the importance in patience.
But he's far from fond of the team's current state. “It has been brutal,” Zetterberg said. “Things always happen, and there’s a difference between what comes out and what doesn’t, but it’s sad."
Zetterberg credits the team's myriad of early successes - from Michael Brandsegg-Nygard's success to Emmitt Finnie's breakout - to Yzerman's efforts.
“It was very hard to watch Steve step down.”
Zetterberg laments Red Wings' treatment of Yzerman
In his interview, Zetterberg had nothing but praise for the former captain.
“He’s the icon I’ve been closest to and played with the most,” Zetterberg said. “I’ve really seen how much he has meant to Detroit and to the generation that won the Cups in the late nineties and early 2000s...he’s the captains’ captain in my eyes. It’s sad that it ends this way, when he even came home to Detroit and took over as general manager.”
Yzerman stepped down in July of this year. Mounting frustrations from both CEO and owner Chris Ilitch and many disgruntled fans played a part, but we don't have a clear answer on what caused the change.
“I’m not going to go into the reasons for it or what happened,” Zetterberg said. “But it was obviously very difficult, because I thought it was wrong.”
Zetterberg is the first member of the Red Wings' leadership - current or former - to speak his mind on this. Nick Lidstrom has held his tongue for the most part, though, if Zetterberg's words are taken at face value, they all remain in close contact with one another.
“Yes, we’re definitely in touch,” Zetterberg said. “A lot of us are, because several are still inside the club It’s a great group, and we have a lot of history together.”
Red Wings offered Zetterberg a job
The Red Wings actually offered Zetterberg an opportunity to work within the organization. Unfortunately, he declined, instead sticking with Swedish Hockey League (SHL) club Timrå IK. There, he serves as a Senior Advisor, helping players like Red Wings prospect Eddie Genborg reach higher heights.
Perhaps there's a future where Zetterberg enters the fold for the Winged Wheel once again. That said, it doesn't look as if it will happen anytime soon. Zetterberg will always be known as the player who put the Red Wings on his back (often literally). To have him back in the organization would be a huge boon for a team in need of strong mentors.
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