March 2006 Zetterberg Fan.com

King of Z World: Zetterberg's Play Propels him to Superstar Status

By Helene St. James, Free Press, March 22, 2006

When Henrik Zetterberg was 17 he spent 7 1/2 months in the Swedish army. His job was to locate the enemy and then keep an eye on him, which helps explain how he developed the skills he now uses to serve the Red Wings.
Zetterberg is, as his Detroit teammates like to call him, "a puck hound." Wherever the puck is on the ice he finds it, and then stays with it. This season, on the urging of his coaches and to the detriment of opposing goaltenders around the NHL, he has taken to shooting it on net more. The result has been a performance that has catapulted him from star to superstar.
"Let's face it, he's been a great player for a couple of years now in this league, but he's just taken his game to another level this year, where he's dominant," defenseman Mathieu Schneider said. "Right now, I think he's the best player in the world. I do. He's playing every night the same way, in traffic, five-on-five, killing penalties; he's doing everything."
Zetterberg is the only forward on the team who consistently is out on power plays and penalty kills. After 67 games he ranked first on the team in goals (35) and power-play goals (17). His ice time average - 19 minutes, four seconds - is highest among Wings forwards and third overall on the team. His plus-22 rating is tied for second-best on team. Frankly, even he is a little surprised at his success.
"I didn't think I would produce this much that I have," said Zetterberg, who has 74 points this season, "but it's fun and hopefully it will last for a while."
What stands out most is Zetterberg's consistency this season: His longest stretch without a point lasted three games in early November.
Opponents simply can't contain Zetterberg.
"He looks real confident out there when he's got the puck," defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom said. "You can tell that the other teams are backing off when he's got it. When he's got the puck he's hanging onto the puck, beating one or two guys. He's drawing two guys, too, to him, so he's just going to create so many chances - if he's not going to score, other players around him are going to score."
Chris Chelios remembers a conversation he had with Steve Yzerman when Zetterberg debuted with the Wings in the 2002-03 season; the gist of it was how Zetterberg stacked up with Pavel Datsyuk, who was just coming off a brilliant rookie season.
"Yzie was saying Hank might be the diamond in the rough when he came here three years ago," Chelios said. "Fortunately we've got a team with depth and they can be patient with a young kid like that. It just shows it paid off, with his confidence and the way he's playing. He's one of the greatest players in the league now - the best player. He's unbelievable."
Like other offensively gifted players, Zetterberg has benefited from the NHL's new rules, which seek to eradicate the hooking and holding that used to especially plague puck handlers. But that alone doesn't explain why it's so hard for opponents to strip him: That lies in his hands, his feet, his instincts.
"He's a very strong skater, low to the ice, and he does a really good job of holding on to the puck," assistant coach Todd McClellan said. "I don't know if that's a European skill that they worked on as young players or what, but Peter Forsberg obviously does it, and Hank's been compared to him quite a bit."
Zetterberg's confidence gives him a degree of fearlessness that sometimes seduces opponents: It will appear Zetterberg has trapped himself, that he's put himself in a position where he's prone for a turnover. Those who see him nightly know better.
"He puts the puck into areas where he knows guys are going to fish at it, and then when they go to fish at it, he brings it around and sneaks by guys," center Jason Williams said. "He uses his body well to protect the puck and then he rolls off of guys very well, makes tight turns, and takes it to the net. That creates a lot of room for other guys on his line, because if you beat a guy towards the net, sometimes another guy is going to challenge, and once that guy challenges, something else opens up."
Zetterberg's ability to free linemates has impressed head coach Mike Babcock so much he has all but trademarked a phrase on the topic. "If a guy isn't going I just put him with Hank and he gets going," Babcock has said numerous times.
It works, too: For example, Mikael Samuelsson had gone 13 games without a goal so, for the Jan. 30 game at Minnesota, Babcock decided to stop experimenting with Zetterberg on the left wing and move him back to center, putting Samuelsson on the right wing. Samuelsson's drought ended later that night. Finding an open teammate is still what comes most naturally to Zetterberg.
"When you're young in Sweden you try to pass, you try to make the nice play before shooting at goal," Zetterberg said. "I think that's a bit different from the kids growing up here."
Zetterberg downplayed Babcock's compliment, saying all slumps come to an end and that it might not have much to do with him. This, in turn, demonstrates another of Zetterberg's qualities: He's about as laid-back as they come.
"Absolutely, he is," Schneider said. "The best thing about Hank is his attitude. He's an extremely hard worker and he's one of the nicest guys you've ever met. He's just a pleasure to be around."
Zetterberg's army stint almost didn't happen, because at first, "I didn't want to go," he said. "But I ended up going and had a fun time. I was the guy who goes out before everybody and tries to find out where the enemy is on the field. It was something to remember."
Should the Swedish army ever call again, it might now be better served making use of Zetterberg's lethal hands.

Back in States, “Hank” Keeps Olympic Pace Going

By Chris Turner, Zetterbergfan.com, March 4, 2006

In Sweden, star forward Henrik Zetterberg is known as “Zata”. In Detroit he is known to fans and teammates as “Hank”. It’s a good American nickname given to a new Hockeytown hero. It happens to all of favorites: Stevie, Shanny, Cheli, Drapes, Lids… And now Hank.

Hank is back in the United States after playing a big role in his native Sweden’s huge Gold Medal win in the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy. Back in Sweden, he is a superstar, especially in his hometown, Njurunda and nearby Timra, where he played in the Swedish Elite League. His reputation is growing in Detroit and the rest of the cities in the NHL this season, his third in the world’s premier professional hockey league.

Playing on a Gold Medal winning team gets you world-wide exposure. Scoring three goals, three assists, and having a (plus/minus) +3 in eight games gets your name known, especially scoring a goal and an assist in the Gold Medal game. The Olympics draws the interest of casual hockey fans… even non-hockey fans. The name Zetterberg is more popular now than it was two weeks ago. If they didn’t already, all hockey fans in Detroit definitely know his name now!

Zetterberg’s productivity in the Olympics was impressive. But it isn’t a surprise to avid Redwing's fans. Henrik has been having the best season of his career so far. Hank is no longer a prospect, no longer a kid on a team of veteran superstars. Prior to the Olympics, he had a team leading 26 goals and 61 points in 55 games. And, despite ardous travel and little rest since the Olympic victory and following celebration in Stockholm, Sweden, Zetterberg has 3 goals and 2 assists in two games since returning to NHL action including 2 goals and an assist in tonights 7-3 win over the Phoenix Coyotes.

It took less than a minute into the game for Zetterberg to get an assist on Mark Mower’s opening goal. Later, at 12:36 of the first period, Hank added a goal of his own, when his centering pass deflected off of the skate of Phoenix defenseman Dennis Seidenberg and right back to him, as Coyote’s goalie (former Redwing) Curtis Joseph, went to the far side of the net, anticipating the pass getting through to the streaking defenseman, Mathieu Schneider. Zetterberg knocked it in the open side making it a 3-0 game. He added a second goal on a power-play at 15:10 of the second period, giving the Redwings a 5-3 lead. Henrik was standing alone in the slot, when center Robert Lang’s pretty set-up pass found him for a clean snap-shot into the back of the net over Joseph’s shoulder, glove-side. Zetterberg was a +2 in the game.

Zetterberg now has 29 goals, 37 assists, 66 points, and a +20 in 57 games this season. At this rate, Hank is on pace to have a career best season of 40 goals, 51 assists, 91 points, and a +25 in 79 games. He has already surpassed his previous season highs of 22 goals (in 79 games of 2002-2003 rookie season), 28 assists (in 61 games of injury shortened 2003-2004 season), 44 total points (2002-2003), and +15 (2003-2004).

In less than three full seasons, Zetterberg already ranks 71^st on the list. By the end of the season, he may be in the top 60.

For those that somehow don’t know who Hank is, they soon will!

WINGS CORNER: Swedes Need Protein, Rest

By George Sipple, Free Press, March 3, 2006

There won't be any four-hour trips to the Grand Canyon. There aren't any plans to go golfing.

Mikael Samuelsson plans to spend his day off in Phoenix getting some much-needed rest. Tomas Holmstrom plans to get a good meal. Nicklas Lidstrom plans on getting some sleep.

The Red Wings' Olympic participants -- especially the Swedes -- planned to recharge Thursday and today before starting the final leg of the regular season.

Coach Mike Babcock gave the team Thursday off in Phoenix, and it will have an early practice today. The players hope to be rejuvenated by their next game, Saturday night against the Coyotes.

"I'm going to hang by the pool and sleep and eat a nice, good steak," Holmstrom said after Wednesday's 2-0 victory over the Mighty Ducks. "No pasta; I've had so much pasta it's coming out my ears."

Any of the players who spent two weeks in Italy might say the same thing. Holmstrom, of course, was among the five Wings who made a stopover in Stockholm to celebrate Sweden's gold-medal victory after leaving Torino.

Even though Holmstrom scored his 20th goal in the victory over Anaheim, tying his career high, he said he wasn't 100% ready to play.

"Felt like head wasn't really there," he said. "Legs felt good, but the concentration and stuff like that was a bit tough -- course, easier when you have the lead, though."

Lidstrom, who had an assist against the Ducks, played the most minutes of the five Swedish Olympians, with 26 minutes, 25 seconds. He averages a league-high 28:61 per game. Niklas Kronwall played for 20:27.

Henrik Zetterberg, who had a goal and an assist, played 19:54, including 6:54 on the power play and 4:17 on the penalty kill.

"Hank played a really good game," said Samuelsson, who played for 10:52, with one shot and a roughing penalty. "You can play one game like this, but you need some rest for sure. Up here, anyway." He pointed to his head.

With a couple more days of rest, the Wings' 5-1 loss to San Jose on Tuesday -- when they were without the Swedish Olympians -- should become a distant memory. "We had our team tonight," said Kris Draper, a Canadian Olympian, after Wednesday's game. "Everyone's excited to see the five Swedes who won the gold medal. I'm sure they were excited to get back after having a couple days to enjoy it. The bottom line is we gotta win some hockey games here."

WINGS CORNER: Travel Takes a Toll on Five Gold Medalists

By George Sipple, Free Press, March 2, 2006

Henrik Zetterberg was wearing a T-shirt and jeans after Wednesday's morning skate at Arrowhead Pond.

Did winning the Olympic gold medal mean the Swedes had instituted a new, casual dress code among the Red Wings?

"I didn't bring my suit," Zetterberg said with a smile. "We didn't have a chance to go back home (to Detroit). This is what I'm going to wear tonight."

Zetterberg and the other four Swedish Wings probably would have been more comfortable wearing pajamas after spending 30 hours traveling to Anaheim from Stockholm. After winning the gold medal Sunday, they decided to return to their homeland for a celebration with the rest of their team before returning to America for Wednesday's game.

And where was the Olympic bling?

"I have it back in the hotel room," Zetterberg said. "Going to show Pavel (Datsyuk) it today.

"They were heavy. It was real heavy. But it looks real good."

The Wings should begin to look better after surrendering five power-play goals in a 5-1 loss to the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday night without their Swedish teammates in the lineup.

All five Swedes had a hectic schedule since Sunday.

Niklas Kronwall spent an entire day traveling from Stockholm to London to Los Angeles "before cabbing to Anaheim," he said.

The four other Swedes -- Zetterberg, Nicklas Lidstrom, Tomas Holmstrom and Mikael Samuelsson -- traveled back to the United States together.

Samuelsson said the four were a little drained from their trip, which included a missed connection to Detroit. The group went from Stockholm to Paris to New York to Los Angeles.

"It's been a hectic last few days," Lidstrom said.

Lidstrom said winning the Olympic medal compared to winning a Stanley Cup.

"I would rank it up there with winning Stanley Cups because you only get an opportunity every four years," he said. "We've had our bumps in the road the last couple Olympics. Finally being able to end up on top is just a great feeling, especially for the people back in Sweden, too. This is really a big deal back there."

It seemed like the entire team was relishing the thought of having Thursday and Friday off to get back to normal.

"At least we get a couple days in between games after tonight," Lidstrom said. "That's going to help us a lot."

Swedish players power Wings

Gold medalists Holmstrom, Zetterberg score in the first period and Lidstrom adds assist

Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News, March 2, 2006

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- The Swedes were back and so were the Red Wings.

The five Swedish Red Wings players who won Olympic gold medals returned to North America and made an immediate impact in a 2-0 victory Wednesday night over the Anaheim Mighty Ducks.

Tomas Holmstrom and Henrik Zetterberg, part of the Swedish delegation, scored in the first period.

The goals came 46 seconds apart near the midway point of the first period, and the Wings protected the lead with smothering efficiency the rest of the game.

Incidentally, Zetterberg assisted on Holmstrom's goal and Holmstrom assisted on Zetterberg's. Nicklas Lidstrom also assisted on Zetterberg's goal, which came on the power play.

Holmstrom, Zetterberg, Lidstrom, Mikael Samuelsson and Niklas Kronwall were coming off a 30-hour odyssey, flying from Stockholm to Paris to New York to Los Angeles and then a driving to Anaheim.

"It's been hectic," Lidstrom said of the time since Sunday's victory over Finland, which included a celebration in Stockholm on Monday morning.

In his first start since Jan. 30, Chris Osgood stopped 24 shots and earned his second shutout of the season and first victory since Jan. 18.

Sharks Hand Red Wings an Unhappy Return; Detroit is Shorthanded until Olympians Return.

By Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News, March 1, 2006

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- The first game back after the Olympics proved to be as difficult as expected for the Red Wings.

Playing with 19 players, one under the league limit, and with several still jet-lagged after returning from Italy Monday, the Wings lost to the San Jose Sharks 5-1 on Tuesday.

All five Sharks goals came on the power play.

The Wings were without gold-medal winning Swedish Olympians Nicklas Lidstrom, Tomas Holmstrom, Niklas Kronwall, Henrik Zetterberg and Mikael Samuelsson, all of whom took part in a team celebration Monday in Stockholm.

The Swedes flew into Anaheim on Tuesday and will play in Wednesday's game against the Mighty Ducks.

The Wings six-game winning streak was stopped. The Sharks extended their winning streak to four games.

Brett Lebda scored the Wings' goal.

Lebda scored his third of the season at 18:29 of the second period, beating Vesa Toskala from the circle.

The Wings went 0-for-4 on the power play, including two in the third period with an opportunity to tie the game.

Nils Ekman, Jonathan Cheechoo, Patrick Marleau, Christian Ehrloff and Joe Thornton scored for the Sharks.