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A Sign of Life; Z Shows Intensity on New Line
By Chris Turner, Zetterbergfan.com, February 5th, 2012
Henrik Zetterberg hadn’t been playing with the intensity that he has had in the past when he is most productive. But, he seemed to be reenergized in the 3rd period of last night’s 4-3 shootout loss to the Oilers in Edmonton, when coach Mike Babcock replaced Pavel Datsyuk on the top line with Zetterberg.
With linemates Todd Bertuzzi and Johan Franzen, Zetterberg kicked his game into a higher gear. The result was a three assist night for Zetterberg, and a display of ability that some had begun to question if it was gone.
Henrik’s first assist of the game actually came on a fluke shorthanded goal by his penalty-killing partner Valtteri Filppula, with 37 seconds left in the 1st period. While a man down, Zetterberg won a key faceoff in the offensive zone. After a shot on goal, Edmonton forward Simon Gagne ended up with the puck and tried to clear the zone. However, Zetterberg pressured Gagne and the clearing attempt glanced off of Z’s skate to Filppula who threw the puck towards the net. It hit a defenseman and deflected into the open goal.
The Wing’s were losing 3-1 after two periods when Babcock realigned his top centers. Zetterberg had instant chemistry with Bertuzzi and Franzen. The line was buzzing, creating a ton of scoring chances. On their first shift, Zetterberg battled with Ladislav Smid behind the Oiler’s net, lifted the defenseman’s stick, maintained control of the puck, and centered it in front of the crease to Bertuzzi, who banged it in for his milestone 300th career goal.
Later in the 3rd period, Zetterberg connected with Bertuzzi again. Hank carried the puck out of Detroit’s end and through center ice, dishing it off to Bert as they entered the zone. Bertuzzi deked to beat Andy Sutton and then got the shot past Devan Dubnyk.
With the three assists tonight, Zetterberg now has 29 total this season and is on pace for 45 assists this year. If the new top line stays hot, hopefully Babcock will keep the trio together and Zetterberg can get back to his expected scoring pace.
Why Zetterberg Isn’t Scoring Goals
By Chris Turner, Zetterbergfan.com, February 3, 2012
I have been reading the articles and the forums, and listening to everyone else’s opinion as to why Henrik Zetterberg is not producing the points, especially goals, the way we are used to. I’ve thought about it, and like everyone else, I don’t think you can point to any one thing that is the root cause of Zetterberg’s scoring woes. After watching his play closely, I have come to a conclusion that it is likely a combination of things.
Many are speculating that Zetterberg is possibly playing with a nagging injury, possibly his back. Perhaps years of playing with a bad back is affecting his game. Or maybe he has just lost a step. It happens with age. Never a “speedy” player, Z always had to kick it into a higher gear to work his way around a defenseman. If he has lost that higher gear, that part of his game is gone. That doesn’t mean he can’t score. It is just one factor.
Additionally, Zetterberg has never had the strongest shot. He has cited this as a weakness in the past. If he isn’t getting shots from prime scoring areas in front of and around the net, then his softer shots, no matter how many of them he takes, aren’t going to get by NHL goalies, especially without a net front presence.
When Zetterberg has been effective in the past, he has had a “grinder” on his line. Whether it be Tomas Holmstrom, Dan Cleary, or Johan Franzen, there has been someone who created chaos in front of the netminder, and someone who could muck it up, bang bodies, and win battles along the boards. These guys could go get the puck in the corner and get it to Zetterberg in the slot or beside the crease.
With smaller skill players such as Valtteri Filppula and Jiri Hudler as linemates, Zetterberg is sort of filling the “grinder” role. He has to play along the boards and try to win battles in corners with bigger opponents. A lot of time he is losing those battles. He isn’t able to carry the puck out and get it into area he needs to be in to score regularly. This results in an increase in turnovers and penalties taken by Zetterberg.
Defenses know all this. They see the players on Detroit’s second line and they focus on Zetterberg, ensuring that he is forced along the boards. They make him take low percentage outside shots. They are taking away his real scoring chances.
But, you can’t do that without giving up a little and the beneficiaries are Zetterberg’s wingers, Hudler and Filppula, who are both having career years. That is why coach Mike Babcock isn’t making any line changes to accommodate Zetterberg’s “slump”. The Wing’s are winning. And while Zetterberg's numbers aren't where they could be, the line is scoring. Babcock, and probably even Z himself, are willing to sacrifice Hank’s statistics for the production of the entire line.
What does it mean? It means Zetterberg isn’t done. He can return to goal scoring form on a line where that is his role. That isn’t what he is being asked to do right now. You don’t hear Babcock asking for more goals from Zetterberg in the media. He realizes what he is asking of Z.
Zetterberg is still one of the best defensive forwards in the game. He is a coach’s son and plays in great position. He is a top-line two-way center and an outstanding penalty killer.
“I think it's maturity. When you're younger it's about personal stats. Here it's about winning. Steve Yzerman and Igor Larionov passed that on to Zetterberg and Datsyuk. It's strong now.''
-General Manager Ken Holland, February 2nd, 2012.
Henrik Zetterberg is Wishing his Season was Better
By Joe Yerdon, Prohockeytalk.NBCSports.com, January 31st, 2012
Henrik Zetterberg‘s season hasn’t exactly been one he’ll want to remember.
While Zetterberg is second on the Wings in assists behind Pavel Datsyuk, he’s ninth on the team in goals with nine. While Zetterberg is counted on to be strong defensively, his offensive game is supposed to be just as strong and apparent.
“Of course you wish it would it would go a little bit better,” Zetterberg said Monday, as the Wings regrouped from the All-Star break. “Nothing you can do about it. Just work hard and hopefully it will turn around.”
Zetterberg is trying every trick he’s got in the books as he leads the Red Wings in shots on goal. When you’re cashing in at just 5.9 percent of the time, however, becoming an assist man is a better way to keep the offense going, and it’s paying off for his linemates Valtteri Filppula and Jiri Hudler who are having big seasons.
Still, if the Red Wings want to stay on top in the Central and make a run at the Stanley Cup, they’ll need more of Zetterberg’s shots to find the back of the net. Filppula and Hudler have been good and Datsyuk has been great, but Zetterberg completes the package.
Slumping Red Wings' Henrik Zetterberg plans to 'just work hard'
By George Sipple, Detroit Free Press, January 31st, 2012
Red Wings center Henrik Zetterberg has struggled to score over the first 50 games of the season. He has one goal in his last 19 games and nine for the season.
"Of course you wish it would it would go a little bit better," Zetterberg said Monday, as the Wings regrouped from the All-Star break. "Nothing you can do about it. Just work hard and hopefully it will turn around."
Zetterberg, 31, leads the Wings with 152 shots and ranks 22nd among NHL forwards. Among the league's top 30 forwards in shots, Zetterberg has the lowest shooting percentage (5.9%).
Though the goals haven't gone in lately, Zetterberg has chipped in 12 assists over the last 19 games and has 26 assists and 35 points this season.
He scored 24 goals and 80 points in 80 games last season and hasn't scored fewer than 23 goals in a season since he had 15 in 61 games in 2003-04.
Wings don't often fight, but it hasn't hindered their success
By Gregg Krupa, Detroit News, January 30th, 2012
The way hockey is often played in the NHL, Henrik Zetterberg is just the sort of player who could benefit from having guys around him who can fight.
He is a key offensive player. Zetterberg also usually covers the best forward for the opposing team; often, a bigger man.
He faces other tough battles, too. Opposing defensemen often cross-check Zetterberg's lower back, especially in the playoffs. The Red Wings forward is known to have occasional back problems, and a few stick handles thrust into it becomes a strategy.
Sometimes the referees call penalties. More often, they do not, even when the cross-checks come in a quick flurry.
Players who fight can protect teammates who are victimized and who face tough tasks against bigger men. In the NHL, some call it "keeping the flies off."
But the Red Wings rarely fight.They are dead last in the NHL.
Like many of his teammates and much of the Red Wings' brass, Zetterberg thinks the Wings' have enough guys who can toss their fists.
"I think we have pretty good fighters on this team, you know?" said Zetterberg, who has one major penalty in his nine-year career, and it was not for fighting.
"Stewie can hold his own. Big E can hold his own. Abdelkader can hold his own. Commodore can hold his own," he said, referring to Brad Stuart, Jonathan Ericsson, Justin Abdelkader and Mike Commodore. "So, I don't think you need more than that."
NHL Stars Who Must Be Better Down the Stretch
By Matt Bowen, Bleacherreport.com, January 28, 2012
Henrik Zetterberg has been a staple in Hockeytown for nearly a decade, but if he doesn't have a marvelous stretch run into the playoffs, Wings fans may begin to doubt his abilities.
Zetterberg is making nearly $8 million and has only scored nine goals in 50 games. He's also under contract for another nine years.
Yes, the Wings are tops in the Western Conference, but they also play in the best division in hockey. A few more bad games like the one the Wings had in Montreal recently and the team could go from first to sixth in a heartbeat.
If Zetterberg fails to light the lamp from here on out, there will be grumblings in Motown.
By Gregg Krupa, Detroit News.com, January 28th, 2012
Despite generally strong play in other areas, Henrik Zetterberg is well off his usual scoring pace.
After seasons of 39, 33, 43 and 31 goals beginning in 2005-06, Zetterberg had 23 and 24 the past two seasons. He is on pace for 15 this year.
Especially with all he does beyond scoring, Zetterberg plainly is due to have more puck luck. Always among the NHL leaders in shots, it seems to be far more a matter of shots going wide or high, clanging off posts or crossbars and being fired directly at goalies, rather than any loss of competitiveness due to injury, fatigue or age.
Zetterberg is due to bust out. Even if that does not happen until the playoffs, it would be a significant boost for the Red Wings.
Should the Red Wings Trade Henrik Zetterberg?
By Grdhcb, Answers.Yahoo.com, Janaury 26th, 2012
It seems like Z has gone from hero to zero this year. Today, you will never see him beat a player one on one. He skates like an old man, he can't deke anymore, and his shot consists primarily of a fluttering backhand shot straight into the goalie's chest. My point is he is way too young to be playing like a 40 year old Yzerman. The guy used to be dynamite. Many even thought he was better than Pavel after the wings won the cup. Now any comparison is just embarrassing. Obviously he won't be traded, but would it be in the team’s best interest? 6.1 million a year is a lot to pay for a player who could see his role reduced to a 3rd line center in a few years.
Answer 1
The Red Wings lose a game, it's time to tear the team apart. Still best in the West, if it ain't broke don't fix it
Answer 2
Detroit is still trying to win a cup.. A player of Zetterberg’s calibre cant be replaced easily. If the Red Wings wanted to trade him, every team in the league would drool all over for him.
Answer 4
Absolutely not, the Red Wings are not an organization to give a player the boot for a bit of a slump, imagine if we had given Lidstrom the boot in 2010, Zetterberg is a talented player and he will find his way again. Remember Jiri Hudler last year? And now look at him. Every player goes through difficult struggles what makes the wings organization so successful is partly due to the fact they work with players and revitalize them instead of giving them the boot and trolling the free market with no concern of chemistry or salary issues, like other franchises.
Answer 5
No way. They have such a good deal on him. Just because he's having one bad year doesn't mean he won’t come back amazing next year. They have him under contract until '22-'23
Answer 6
Nah. Zetter is irreplaceable. The thing he does better than almost anyone in the NHL? Sacrifice stats for winning. He's like Yzerman in that aspect.
Will Zetterberg Ever Play in an All-Star Game?
By Chris Turner, Zetterbergfan.com, January 26th, 2012
Whether it be by personal choice due to injury, snubbing by the league, or other scheduled events, Henrik Zetterberg, one of the NHL’s top players over the past decade, has never played in an NHL All-star game.
Again, this season, Z was not selected as one of 27 forwards chosen by the NHL hockey operations department to play in the NHL All-Star game on Jan. 29th, 2012 in Ottawa, despite being 14th amongst vote leaders for NHL forwards with 206,852 votes.
Granted, Zetterberg hasn’t really lived up to expectations statistically this season. He has only 9 goals and 26 assists in 50 games so far. He is on pace for a career-low 15 goals, which is 14 less than his season average.
Realistically, this isn’t a great year for Zetterberg. You can’t really make an argument that he deserves to be in this year’s all star game, besides vote totals. Unless you consider the fact that he has never been there and is one of the best players on one of the league’s most storied franchises, regardless of a down year.
While, the All-Star game has lost virtually all credibility with its ever changing method of selecting “All-stars”, ballot stuffing, as well as numerous players being selected over clearly more deserving choices, most players would still consider it a great honor to be selected.
I am sure Zetterberg feels the same way, and would love to play in the All-Star game at some point in his career.
Here is Zetterbergfan.com’s history of Zetterberg NOT playing in an All-star game in his nine season career…
2002-04 Henrik wasn’t yet considered by most to be a star player on a veteran team laden with future Hall-of-Famers in his first two seasons.
2005-06 The NHL didn’t hold an All-Star game due to the NHL lockout, and again the next year because of the 2006 Winter Olympics, in which Zetterberg won the gold medal with Sweden.
2007 in his 4th NHL season, Z was selected as a reserve for his first career All-Star Game (in Dallas) by Western Conference coaches; Randy Carlyle of the Anaheim Ducks and Barry Trotz of the Nashville.
"I found out this morning…kind of surprised. It's an honor,” said the humble Zetterberg at the time.
However, after consulting with team officials and physicians, he decided to withdraw from the 2007 game in Dallas, citing a nagging wrist injury. Instead, he would have a cortisone shot to alleviate inflammation in his left wrist.
Zetterberg had been bothered by tendinitis in the wrist for nearly two years. The problem flared up again the previous off-season, forcing Zetterberg to fly to Detroit from his offseason home in Sweden to have the wrist examined by a hand specialist at Detroit Medical Center.
"He just feels that he needs to give his wrist a rest," General Manager Ken Holland said at the time. "He wants to take the opportunity to do that now rather than to continue beating on it.”
2008, Henrik Zetterberg was is seventh in NHL scoring with 26 goals and 28 assists for 54 total points in 39 games played half-way through the season, led all Western Conference forwards with 326,244 total votes from fans around the world, and was named a starter at the All-Star game at the Philips Arena in Atlanta, joining fellow Red Wings Niklas Lidstrom and Pavel Datsyuk.
Zetterberg was genuinely excited, and had this to say that year, “It’s going to be exciting! It’s always nice to have (Datsyuk) with me, it makes it a lot easier for me out on the ice. I’m proud to go, and I’m glad the fans appreciate what I do. I don't think there's a whole lot of pressure to go down there. Just be yourself and have a lot of fun and enjoy those days. You have enough pressure when you're playing in the regular-season, so those few days, go down there and just relax and enjoy your stay."
But, Zetterberg had recently missed five games with back spasms and had missed 19 games the season before for the same reason. When they flared up again, Hank withdrew himself from the 2008 game.
“Of course I’m disappointed,” Zetterberg said after having to pull out of the All-Star Game for a second straight year (last year it was because of a sore wrist). “Especially this year, I got voted in by fans, and I was really looking forward to going. We decided it was probably best not to go and get this squared away and get healthy for the rest of the year.”
2009, Zetterberg was outright snubbed when he was not voted in or selected as a reserve for the All-star game in Montreal. Zetterberg’s slight dip in statistics might have been sighted as a reason why he was overlooked. With “only” 16 goals, 23 assists, and 39 points in as many games, he was off his pace of the previous season’s career highs of 43 goals and 49 assists. He was “only” 13th among Western Conference forwards in overall points.
But in 2009, Hank established himself as a top-five player in the NHL and deserved a selection based on the entire year when he lead the team in goal-scoring and play-off points, winning the Conn Smythe trophy as the play-offs MVP and leading his team to a Stanley Cup Championship while out-playing the league’s wonderboy Sidney Crosby.
When asked how he felt about not being named to the All-star team, Hank was as modest as he usually is, having this to say, “I'm not sad or mad, or anything. I haven't played like I did last year, a lot of guys have played a lot better. I'm not real surprised I didn't get picked. I have to be better next year to have a chance."
However, most hockey experts and other NHL players had another opinion. Two other star forwards who were omitted from the line-ups that year thought Zetterberg should have been there too:
"They have to pick one guy from each team. You look at other teams that had other guys that maybe should be there. You don't have someone like Zetterberg in the all-star game, a guy that won the Cup and had success, and he's having a great season again. And, just because they're allowed to take so many guys and every team has to be represented. Not always the best players are there," said Patrik Elias of the New Jersey Devils, who did not represent the Eastern Conference regardless of his 19 goals and 29 assists for 48 points in 41 games, good for 5th best in the East at the time.
The most glaring mistake in the Western Conference team that year might have been Patrick Marleau of the San Jose Sharks who had 23 goals and 23 assists, 46 total points in 41 games, which is also 5th place in the West.
Marleau said, “It’s just one of those things. I looked around the league, there’s some other guys like Zetterberg and Hossa who aren’t going. That’s good company!”
Marleau, Hossa, and Zetterberg, three of the top forwards on the conferences two best teams didn’t skate in the league’s exhibition featuring its’ finest players, but the following “stand-outs” did: Jonathan Toews, Chicago Black Hawks (11 goals, 21 assists, 32 points, 29th in the conference, +5), Milan Hejduk, Colorado Avalanche (13 goals, 18 assists, 31 points, 30th in the Conference, -5), Keith Tkachuk, St. Louis Blues (14 goals, 15 assists, 29 points, 37th in the Conference, -11), Dustin Brown, Los Angeles Kings (14 goals, 14 assists, 28 points, 40th in the conference, -7), and Mike Modano, Dallas Stars.13 goals, 13 assists, 26 points, 46th in the conference, +1). They weren’t even the leading scorers on their own teams early that season.
2010, there was no NHL All-star game because of the Vancouver Winter Olympics, in which Zetterberg once again played with team Sweden.
2011 Zetterberg was omitted from the roster by the NHL after having had an 11-game points streak, including six goals and ten assists and being tied for sixth in the NHL with 49points, and is fourth in assists (33) at the time of all-star selections.
Shortly thereafter it was speculated, based on tweet’s by Pierre LeBrun and Darren Dreger, that Red Wings General Manager Ken Holland asked the league not to select Zetterberg, because he is still nursing a sore back.
@DarrenDreger: “I'm sure Zetterberg or the Red Wings asked the NHL to excuse the star from the ASG for health reasons.”
Brendan Shanahan of the NHL hockey operations department confirmed later that indeed some teams and players had requested to be left out.
Whether or not the Red Wings contacted the NHL or Zetterberg was simply snubbed, I am sure that General Manager Ken Holland didn’t mind Hank getting the time off to rest his back. That sentiment was shared by most Detroit fans as well.
2013? If he is able to rebound and play at his typical point-per-game pace for the next year, maybe in 2013, Zetterberg’s 10th NHL season, at age 32, he can play in his first All-star game, barring injury or snubbing, or the NHL scrapping the thing all-together.
You have to wonder if Zetterberg has missed his chances at playing in the ASG. No doubt that if he continues to play like a star then fans will continue to vote for him. But, will the league ever select him under the current format? He has declined the invite to play on several occasions. If the league doesn’t care, or doesn’t believe, that he missed those games due to injury, maybe they won’t give him another opportunity. It would be crazy if a player who is on pace for potential Hall of Fame numbers never plays in the showcase for the league’s best players.
By Sean Gordon, Globe and Mail, January 25th, 2012
When 31-year-old winger Henrik Zetterberg, another of the Red Wings' elite players, was asked how it is that Detroit has managed to keep its veterans in the fold, he deadpanned: “We give them contracts.”
41 year old Nicklas Lidstrom, who is out of contract next season, remains the key to Detroit’s success. Lidstrom missed Wednesday’s game (against Montreal) with a touch of flu, and will skip this weekend’s (All-Star) festivities to rest up.
Zetterberg jokingly lamented that decision, saying Lidstrom won’t have a chance to be swayed by their fellow countryman, Daniel Alfredsson, the Ottawa Senators 39 year old captain. “He looks 45,” Zetterberg quipped.
Alfredsson has hinted that he is not quite ready to retire, and the Wings fervently hope that Lidstrom will follow suit.
“We hope he can play for many more years,” said Zetterberg. “This summer was a nervous time for all of us.
“He waited a long time before he made his decision to play again. Hopefully he'll make a quicker decision this summer and decide to come back and play another year. It all comes down to him and his family and how he feels and how his body feels and whether he's healthy enough to play another year. He works hard off the ice and that's one reason he can still play at the top level.”
“It's going to be different for sure when he leaves,” said Zetterberg. “We would have to pick it up and players would have to step in, but it's tough for one player to do that. All the guys have to chip in when he leaves and try to fill his spot.
“It is amazing the way he still plays at 41. I think Gordie (Howe) played until he was 50. Hopefully he can go like that.”
By Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press, January 24th, 2012
After finding out, thanks to a release from Panda licorice, that the Finnish product is a favored snack of NHLer Teemu Selanne, the question was put to the Wings' Finn, Valtteri Filppula, whether he, too, likes to indulge.
Locker stall neighbor Henrik Zetterberg overhead the question and broke in laughing. "Yes, he does, because Fil likes anything Teemu Selanne likes. If Selanne does it, Fil does it."
Filppula said he does, in fact, eat Panda licorice. When asked whether he also enjoys Angry Birds (also a Finnish export), Zetterberg interjected, "Yes, because there's not a lot of things you can do in Finland. Just eat licorice and play Angry Birds."
Henrik Zetterberg won't be suspended for push that injured Columbus' Nikita Nikitin
By Ansar Khan, MLive.com, January 22nd, 2012
Detroit Red Wings center Henrik Zetterberg will not be suspended by the NHL for the push to the back that injured Columbus defenseman Nikita Nikitin, general manager Ken Holland said on Sunday.
Zetterberg received a (1st career) major penalty for boarding and a (1st career) game misconduct at 3:31 of the third period in Detroit's 3-2 shootout win over the Blue Jackets.
Nikitin crashed into the boards and left the game and, according to the Columbus Dispatch, injured his knee and will miss at least two games. But it does not appear to be a significant injury.
NHL vice president of player safety Brendan Shanahan felt there was no intent to injure.
Red Wings' Henrik Zetterberg says he deserved major penalty, will wait to hear from NHL
By Ansar Khan, MLive.com, January 21st, 2012
Here is some reaction about the play in which Detroit Red Wings center Henrik Zetterberg received a five-minute major for boarding and game misconduct for pushing Columbus defenseman Nikita Nikitin, who injured hurt his left ankle:
--Zetterberg, on the play: “The puck went down to the corner and I chased down their defenseman. I had my hand on his back. I don’t think I pushed him hard. He went down. It looked bad, it looks really bad, so I can’t blame the referee for giving me five minutes. ... I really don’t know what to say, it looks bad.”
--Zetterberg, on potential disciplinary action by the NHL: “It’s up to (NHL vice president of player safety Brendan Shanahan). Shanny and the league are going to review this and see what they feel. The rule is the rule, I made contact and he went down. Hopefully he’s OK, I didn’t mean to hurt him and we’ll have to wait and see.”
--Red Wings coach Mike Babcock: “There wasn't (anything malicious), but still that's the way they're calling it. They're trying to protect the D-men. I talked to (referee) Denny LaRue right away. I just said, 'Denny, is that the way you're calling it?' and he said that's the way. So why wouldn't they (call it)? We're trying to protect the players. It was an unfortunate play. I hope the guy's not hurt.''
--Columbus captain Rick Nash: “It's a dangerous play. But the whole league knows that (Zetterberg) is not that kind of a player. I thought he was going for the puck. I don't think Zetterberg is that kind of player.”
--Columbus coach Todd Richards: “I did see it. I looked at the replay. He obviously goes into the board awkward. It looks like Zetterberg puts his hand on his back just as he’s getting close, so it will be something that the league will have to look at and then make a ruling on.”
--Richards: “It’s that danger area, where guys are going into the boards and at full speed when guys are moving it’s dangerous. ... And that’s really where the danger comes. It’s not the physical hit. It’s throwing a guy off-balance, which I think in looking at it … the hand on the back throws him off-balance a little bit. The game is moving so fast now that, again, just a little bit here or there and you’re going into the boards at full speed.”
Video of Zetterberg “Push” on Nikitin
Moving Up the All-time Greatest Swedes List
By Chris Turner, Zetterbergfan.com, January 17th, 2012
Henrik Zetterberg moved up to 16th amongst All-time Swedish NHL scoring leaders (passing Patrik Sundstrom with 589 points in 632 career games), on his 2nd period assist on goal by linemate Jiri Hudler, in tonight’s game at Dallas.
Patrik Sundstrom played 679 career games in 10 seasons in the NHL, including 5 years with the Vancouver Canucks (1982-87) and 5 more seasons with the New Jersey Devils (1987-91). He recorded 219 goals and 369 assists in his career. His best season was 1983-84 when he scored 38 goals and had 53 assists. Sundstrom scored at least 40-points nine times. He helped New Jersey reach the conference finals in 1988.
Zetterberg just recently moved into the 17th spot on January 3rd ,also in Dallas, passing former Red Wing Fredrik Olausson with 582 points in 625 career games) which he recorded on a 1st period assist on goal by linemate Valtteri Filppula.
Fredrik Olausson played 1022 career games in 16 seasons in the NHL, including 8 years with the Winnipeg Jets (1986-1993). He recorded 147 goals and 434 assists in his career. His best season was 1991-92 when he scored 20 goals and had 42 assists. Olausson retired from the NHL after winning the Stanley Cup in 2002 with Detroit.
Zetterberg Breaks 13-game Goal-less Streak,
Scoring 1st Career Goal against Buffalo Sabres
By Chris Turner, Zetterbergfan.com, January 16th, 2011
I knew that my first article after three months away would be for a good reason, and I had a good feeling for Henrik Zetterberg going into tonight’s game at the Joe Louis Arena. The Buffalo Sabres were the last team in the NHL that Hank had never scored a goal against in his nine seasons in the league. What better way to end a 13-game goal-less streak?
And that is just what he did…with the opening tally in a 5-0 victory over netminder Ryan Miller and the Sabres.
Zetterberg’s goal came just 5:20 into the 1st period when he picked up a loose puck from linemate Jiri Hudler along the right face-off circle, skated through the slot and fired a wrister back across the crease and over Miller’s glove.
It is just Zetterberg’s ninth goal of the season. He is on pace for just 16 goals this year. His career low is 15 goals in 2003-2004, when he played only 61 games due to injury. He has scored over 22 goals a season in every other year.
Are We Witnessing the Slow Decline of Henrik Zetterberg?
By Matt Hutter, Bleacherreport.com, January 15, 2012
True, we've seen it created before, but watching Henrik Zetterberg execute what has simply come to be called "The Forsberg Move" against Phoenix goalie Mike Smith during last Thursday's shootout, one feels as if they're witnessing nothing short of a work of art being made before their eyes.
Clearly, Henrik Zetterberg is still capable of breathtaking on-ice beauty.
However, after 44 games played this season, one wonders if we'll be seeing these things with less and less frequency.
Zetterberg is on pace for what could be his most disappointing season ever.
He may score as few as 14 goals, his fewest ever in the NHL. And, despite being completely healthy, his point totals are tracking far behind those of years in which he was sidelined for long stretches of time.
He has just eight goals this season, which ties him for seventh in team scoring and he's yet to record a single multi-goal game.
Though he is second only to Pavel Datsyuk in assists (24), his meager plus-one rating demonstrates that his once superior two-way play may be listing disappointingly to one side.
As I pointed out in a related piece last week, Zetterberg is getting plenty of ice-time and is putting tons of shots on net. However, he's got relatively little to show for it.These are the facts facing a player and a team that have already entered into what equates to a lifetime contract.
As such, the most pressing question about Zetterberg's lackluster season to date isn't "When will he get out of his slump?" but "What if he doesn't?"
Star players can have bad seasons, and with improved depth, the Wings aren't running short of offense.
What's more, to my mind, star players who have contributed as much to their teams as Zetterberg has to Detroit have earned the right to go through extended periods of under-performance.
I, for one, am not about to give up on Hank, and neither is his team.
Nevertheless, even the best players don't stay that way forever and with Zetterberg's game remaining consistently ordinary this year, wondering if we're watching the decline of a superstar isn't exactly crazy.
Zetterberg is signed through the 2020-21 season and will hit the Wings' cap at over $6 million each and every year leading up to that final season.
He doesn't have a no-trade clause, but the length and cost of his contract effectively provide him the kind of security such clauses are intended to guarantee.
Both he and the Red Wings are committed to each other for the long haul, which at least implies the acceptance of the familiar vow of "for better or worse."Though only a monumental second half will allow Zetterberg to end his season in his customary 70-plus point territory, he still has an opportunity to make everyone forget about what is likely to be a disappointing regular season with an outstanding playoff performance.
That, after all, is what he has delivered for seven seasons and is the primary reason GM Ken Holland committed the time and money he did to Zetterberg in 2009.
If (and I believe, when) Zetterberg once again becomes a dominant playoff force in a few months, any thoughts of his decline will be swiftly forgotten.
However, if he continues to play as he has through the playoffs and into next season, well, we may have to look back to 2011 as what might have been the beginning of the downslope of a theretofore outstanding career.
Zetterberg Shows Off Handles on Winning Shoot-out Goal
By Anthony Fenech, Free Press.com, January 13, 2012
Set your DVR, Hank. VIDEO
Henrik Zetterberg put an exclamation point on the Detroit Red Wings’ 3-2 shoot-out victory over the Phoenix Coyotes on Thursday night with a beautiful misdirection move on Coyotes goalie Mike Smith.
The move, mimicking longtime NHL star -- and fellow Swede -- Peter Forsberg, locked up Wings coach Mike Babcock’s 400th career victory and goaltender Jimmy Howard’s 100th career victory.
"I don’t get a chance that often anymore," said Zetterberg, who hasn’t had a lot of success scoring in shoot-outs. "When I get it, might as well try something fun. It’s for the fans.
"If I missed that, I kind of look kind of stupid. It was a gamble, but it worked. Had a few options in my head, when I crossed the blue line I kind of made my decision and went with it. I might DVR (’SportsCenter’)."
Zetterberg said he "might DVR (‘SportsCenter’).” If you didn't, here’s your chance to see Hank’s pretty handles:
Henrik Zetterberg's shootout goal wins it for Red Wings
By Ted Kulfan, Detroitnews.com, January 12th, 2012
The Wings won a 3-2 shootout over Phoenix Thursday when Henrik Zetterberg, in the fourth round, beat Phoenix goalie Mike Smith with a drag move made famous by one of his favorite Swedish players, Peter Forsberg, in the Olympics many years ago.
"It was fun," Zetterberg said. "I've done it a few times (the drag move). It's worked a few times and not a few times. You kind of look stupid when it doesn't work, so it's fun when it goes in.
"You have to have the goalie with you. The goalie has to bite and leave his skates because when he leaves his skates it's tough for him to stop."
By Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News, January 12th, 2011
Zetterberg is creating goals for others but not himself.
It's been 11 games since Zetterberg last scored, Dec. 17 against Los Angeles. During that span, Zetterberg has assisted on 10 goals.
With 32 points (eight goals, 24 assists) in 42 games, Zetterberg's numbers are down. But Babcock likes what he's seen from an all-around sense.
"I didn't think he started great by any means and probably was frustrated by it," Babcock said. "But he's been real determined."
Said Zetterberg: "You try not to think about what you've done in the past and just focus on the game in front of you."
Zetterberg Struggles to Explain Difficulties On Power Play
By Ansar Khan, MLive.com, January 11th, 2012
Henrik Zetterberg has been a force on the power play for the Detroit Red Wings, averaging 30 points a season the past six years.
That is why his power-play output this season -- one goal, four assists -- is startling.
It is even more puzzling because the team has been strong on the power play (sixth in the NHL at 19.7 percent before Tuesday’s 5-1 loss at the New York Islanders).
Zetterberg can’t explain it. Coach Mike Babcock is perplexed as well.
"If I knew I would fix it and have more points," Zetterberg said. "You just try to do the right things — shoot the puck, work hard and get there for second chances."
Zetterberg’s overall production is down this season, too. He has only eight goals and 32 points in 42 games. But, after a slow start, he has 26 points in the past 24 games.
"I didn’t think he started great by any means and probably was frustrated by it," Babcock said. "I thought he was great (Sunday) in Chicago once he got his legs. But he’s been real determined, strong on the puck, he’s made good plays.
"Scoring might not be where he’d like it to be, and yet he’s scored so little on the power play, which makes no sense to me. Normally he scores better on the power play and most of his points have been at even strength. But we’ll sure live with how he’s playing. He seems to be getting better."
With 40 games remaining, Zetterberg believes there’s enough time to make up for lost ground.
"I think the past 25 games have been pretty good, if you just look at the points," Zetterberg said. "I had a tough start, slow start point-wise, but I’m feeling pretty good now.
"Trying not to think about what you’ve done in the past, just focus on the game you have in front of you and make the best of that."
Henrik Zetterberg Still Struggling to Find Answers
By Rob Grabowski, Thefanhub.com, January 11th, 2012
The struggles that Detroit Red Wings forward Henrik Zetterberg has gone through this season have been unlike anything he has ever experienced. Now in his 9th NHL season, the 31-year-old Swede has seen a dip in production to a level that he hasn’t been at since his second year in the league, and no one can really figure out why.
A big part of it, however, is due to Zetterberg’s lack of production on the power play. As Ansar Khan of MLive.com notes, Zetterberg has averaged 30 power play points a season for the past six years, and has inexplicably produced just 5 (1 goal, 4 assists) this season. It’s certainly not due to a change in personnel, as the Detroit power play stalwarts of Pavel Datsyuk, Tomas Holmstrom, and Nicklas Lidstrom are still there, and the team as a whole is among the league leaders in power play percentage (6th best in the NHL), as they usually are.
In fact, both Datsyuk and Zetterberg got off to slow starts this season before rallying in the past two months. But while Datsyuk’s production is back to its usual levels, Zetterberg’s rebound hasn’t been quite as extreme. Yes, he has 26 points in his past 24 games, but only 5 goals in that span, and has now gone 11 games without finding the back of the net.
“If I knew I would fix it and have more points,” Zetterberg said. “You just try to do the right things - shoot the puck, work hard and get there for second chances.”
The good news for the Wings and coach Mike Babcock that despite his lack of goal production, Zetterberg is still his usual self away from the puck. A former Selke Trophy finalist for the best defensive forward in the league, he is still one of the team’s top penalty killer, and knows to contribute on the ice even when he’s not putting up a ton of points. For that reason, and his usual leadership in the locker room and on the ice, that he has not seen a significant drop off in ice time. Thus, it’s likely only a matter of time before Zetterberg finds his stride, and the Wings really take off.
-Henrik Zetterberg, January 11th, 2012
Grading the Detroit Red Wings: Midseason report card
By Ansar Khan, Mlive.com, January 10th, 2012
Henrik Zetterberg (C+) -- With only eight goals and 32 points, he’s on pace for his lowest production since 2003-04. He’s not shooting as often as he usually does and has a career-low shooting percentage (6.2). He has only five points (goal, four assists) on the power play. He’s the player with the biggest room for improvement.
5 Things the Wings Need in Second Half of Season: A Better Aim from Henrik Zetterberg
By Matt Hutter, Bleacherreport.com, January 10, 2012
Henrik Zetterberg is currently on pace to amass 16 goals this season. If he hits that mark, it would be just the second of his eight NHL seasons he finishes below the 20-goal plateau.
Zetterberg logs an average of 19:21 minutes of ice time per game, the most among all Wings forwards.
However, he leads the team in total shots with 130.
Regardless, he is the worst among the team's top six forwards in shooting percentage, making good on just six percent of his shots.
Top forwards, like Zetterberg, need to score goals for the Red Wings to be successful.
Zetterberg isn't scoring goals.
The 2012 Tim Hortons NHL® All-Star Game in Ottawa .
NHL.com, January 4th, 2012
The 3 Forwards with the most votes were selected to the 2012 Tim Hortons NHL® All-Star Game in Ottawa.
OTT Daniel Alfredsson 897055
OTT Jason Spezza 817483
OTT Milan Michalek 743977
TOR Phil Kessel 701833
TOR Joffrey Lupul 520843
PIT Sidney Crosby 504393
PHI Claude Giroux 385253
CHI Jonathan Toews 341419
DET Pavel Datsyuk 313783
PIT Evgeni Malkin 303726
PHI Jaromir Jagr 255178
CHI Patrick Kane 244136
PIT James Neal 230848
DET Henrik Zetterberg 206852
Zetterberg Racks-up 3 Assists in 1st Period against Dallas
By Chris Turner, Zetterbergfan.com, January 3rd, 2012
Henrik Zetterberg assisted on a goal by Valtteri Filppula and two more by Jiri Hudler for three 1st period helpers, as the Detroit Red Wings built a 3-1 lead and went on to beat the Stars 5-4 tonight in Dallas.
Filppula’s goal came 8:02 into the period when Z sent a cross-ice pass that found Filppula with the puck facing an empty net behind the sprawling Stars’ netminder, Kari Lehtonen.
Hudler’s first goal was credited to him when Zetterberg’s blast from the slot hit Jiri’s skate and deflected in, making the score 2-0 with under three minutes left in the period.
Hudler’s second tally and Zetterberg’s third assist of the period came with just one minute remaining when Hank out-hustled two defenders and dished a pass to Filppula, who in turn sent the puck cross-crease to Hudler, who banged it in, giving Detroit the two goal lead heading into the 1st intermission.
With the three assists tonight, Zetterberg has 6 assists in the past 5 games, and 21 total in 39 games this season.
Hudler-Filppula-Zetterberg Send Wings to Win over Stars
By Associated Press, January 3rd, 2012
Jiri Hudler, Valtteri Filppula and Henrik Zetterberg form what's supposed to be Detroit's No. 2 line.
Whatever the label, they're performing at a high level for the Red Wings.
Hudler scored twice, Filppula added a goal and two assists, Zetterberg had three assists and Detroit hung on to beat the Dallas Stars 5-4 on Tuesday night.
The trio combined for eight points in the first period, getting their team off to a flying start.
"The puck kind of followed us for a few shifts," Zetterberg said. "Everything we tried worked. It was good for the confidence. (Filppula and Hudler) are having career years. The only one not having a career year is me, but two out of three isn't bad."
VIDEO: Henrik Zetterberg spills Alexander Pietrangelo
“It's not good, obviously. We need to score more goals when we have a chance. It's something we need to work on. That's the way it goes through the year, you have your peaks and you have times when the puck won't go in. You keep doing the same things and all of a sudden the pucks go in. Just keep shooting and go after the second chances.”
-Henrik Zetterberg, January 3rd, 2012. On Red Wings string of 11 straight power play chances without a goal.
