March 2007 Zetterberg Fan.com

Hank Needs Several Practices

By Ansar Khan, Mlive.com, March 25, 2007

When Babcock was asked about Henrik Zetterberg, he turned to the injured star center, who happened to be walking by and said, “Hey, they’re asking me what’s the matter with you, because I don’t know either, that’s the longest holiday in sport.’’
“I just watched him out there flying around at 100 mph, doing things good enough to play,’’ Babcock said. “Obviously, we got to do the right thing with him. That’s why coaches aren’t involved in these (decisions) because you’d walk out and see him and say, ‘Get your uniform on and play.’ ’’
Zetterberg (inflamed disc) skated again for about 15-20 minutes with three of his teammates during a light, optional practice (how light? Andreas Lilja’s kids were also skating, as well as other players’ family members).
“You got to know your body and you have to be smart, you don’t want to rush back and play one game and be out four more weeks,’’ Zetterberg said. “I hope I can (play some games before the playoffs), but it’s getting closer and closer.’’
The Wings play Anaheim on Monday and will take Tuesday off, so the soonest Zetterberg can have his first full practice with the team is Wednesday. He was asked how many full practices it’ll take before he can play.
“I would say the first practice I probably wouldn’t do any contact,’’ Zetterberg said. “If I get 3-4 good practices in with full contact I will be ready to play again.’’
So it sounds like he probably won’t return until next week, at the earliest.

Zetterberg Sees a Playoff Return

By Ted Kulfan, Detroit News, March 24, 2007

Henrik Zetterberg expects to be ready for the playoffs, but he's realistic.

With any back injury, it's a bit of a guessing game.

"If it's the same progress as it's been the last week, I'll be playing," Zetterberg said. "But you never know with the back. A little tweak, or something, and you're right back at the beginning."

Zetterberg, out since Feb 26, didn't do anything for about three weeks. This week, he has been able to put on the gear and do some light skating and shooting for about 20 minutes a day.

"Every day you get closer," Zetterberg said. "I go out there myself and get a feel for the puck. I'm still far away from playing but taking each step every day."

Coach Mike Babcock said this week he's hopeful Zetterberg could play the last few games of this season.

"We'd like to have him back as soon as we can, but we have to be smart about it," Babcock said.

The most trying thing for Zetterberg is regaining the strength in his back muscles.

Zetterberg Uncertain about Return from Back Injury

By Ansar Khan, Mlive.com, March 24, 2007

The unpredictability of back injuries makes it difficult to pinpoint a return date for Detroit Red Wings forward Henrik Zetterberg.

The club is hoping he'll play in the final few games of the regular season. But, Zetterberg said Friday that he's still "far away'' from playing. How far? It's hard to say.

"If I have the same progress I've had the last week, I will be in the playoffs,'' Zetterberg said."But, you never know with a back. Just a little tweak or something and you're right back to the beginning. So you have to stabilize your stomach and your back and just get everything back together.

"I did basically nothing for three weeks, so my body needs to get back into shape, too. It's going to take a while, but if my back still feels good, I will be back for the playoffs.''

Zetterberg, out since Feb. 26 with an inflamed disc, has skated by himself for 15-to-20 minutes in full equipment each of the last three days. He's not skating hard or taking many shots. If he doesn't experience any setbacks, he hopes to start practicing with the team after the weekend.

"No stops and starts or any battling yet,'' Zetterberg said. "I just have to be careful that there's no setbacks. So far it's been good. Hopefully, when I start practicing with the guys I'll start feeling good.''

Wings coach Mike Babcock said the best-case scenario would have Zetterberg returning at the end of next week. That would mean perhaps Friday's home game against Dallas or the April 1 game at Columbus. But, that might be optimistic considering he won't begin skating at full speed until the middle of next week, at the earliest.

"We'd like to have him back as quick as we can and yet we have to be smart about what we're doing,'' Babcock said.

“Anytime one of your best players is injured it’s a concern,” Wings general manager Ken Holland said Tuesday, before his team’s 5-2 victory in Nashville. “Our hope is to get him healthy and in our lineup for regular season games.”

Zetterberg Draws the Calls Best among the Red Wings

By Bruce MacLeod, Journal Register News Service, March 4, 2007

c doesn't the NHL keep statistics on created power plays ... the guy who draws the penalty that puts his team on the power play. The ability to create power plays is a skill that is a constant. In other words, the same names will be near the top of the category every year because they do what it takes to draw a penalty.

If you look at the Red Wings this season, it becomes obvious that there are two qualities that help a player draw penalties: being a dynamo who keeps his feet moving; or being a disliked opponent who draws wrath.

With 38 created power plays this season, Henrik Zetterberg leads the Red Wings. Zetterberg falls into the former category, the player who keeps going until an opponent needs to go against the rules to stop him.

If a power play functions at 20 percent (and the Red Wings' power play has been over that mark for the past half of the season), then Zetterberg's created power plays should have given the Red Wings eight goals. In reality, the Red Wings have scored eight goals on Zetterberg-created power plays.

That might not seem like much, but if every player on the roster contributed three extra goals, many more wins would follow.

Zetterberg, DiPietro, and Brodeur Named February 'Three Stars'

NHL.com, March 1, 2007

Detroit Red Wings left wing Henrik Zetterberg, New York Islanders goaltender Rick DiPietro and New Jersey Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur have been named the NHL's 'Three Stars' for February.

FIRST STAR -- HENRIK ZETTERBERG, LW, DETROIT RED WINGS

Zetterberg led all NHL scorers in February, tallying 25 points (13 goals, 12 assists) in 11 games. He scored five game-winning goals and posted a +9 rating as the Red Wings went 8-2-2 and reached the 40-victory mark for the ninth consecutive season (40-16-8). Playing alongside Pavel Datsyuk and Tomas Holmstrom, Zetterberg had multiple points in seven contests, highlighted by three, four-point games. He tallied one goal and three assists in a 5-3 victory over the St. Louis Blues Feb. 2, recorded two goals and two assists in a 7-4 win over the Calgary Flames Feb. 11 and recorded three goals and one assist in a 4-1 victory over the Phoenix Coyotes Feb. 17. Zetterberg leads the Red Wings in points (68), goals (33) and shots (224), and leads the NHL with 10 game-winning goals.

Hurt Zetterberg Tops in Clutch

By Kevin Allen, USA TODAY, March 1, 2007

The Detroit Red Wings, in the midst of an intense scrap with the Nashville Predators for first place in the Central Division, might be without their surging leading scorer Henrik Zetterberg for two weeks because of a back injury.

Zetterberg has already missed one game because of inflammation in a disc.

"He is feeling better, but the doctor feels rather than be reactive, we will be proactive and shut him down for seven or 10 days," said Detroit general manager Ken Holland. "He is pretty optimistic that will get the inflammation down, and hopefully he will be ready for a good long playoff."

In February, Zetterberg was the league's hottest player, scoring 13 goals in 11 games. He had three four-point games and a pair of three-point games.

Nine of his goals put his team ahead, earning him the monthly USA TODAY Clutch Scorer award, a computerized formula that rewards players for goals and assists that occur when the score is tight. All other Red Wings combined had eight go-ahead goals, and Zetterberg set up four of those. Four tie-breakers came in the third period.

The timing for Zetterberg's injury isn't good for the Red Wings because they have seven games over the next 14 days, including three against Nashville.