October 2007
By Mark Spector, National Post, October 31, 2007
1999, when all the talk surrounded top pick Patrik Stefan, Henrik Zetterberg was quietly slipping through the cracks:
Henrik Zetterberg hopped the boards last night in
It was the night before Halloween, and Zetterberg was dressed as perhaps the best player in hockey today, leading the league with 21 points. Stefan was overseas in
"A plane-crash survivor," is how agent Steve Kotlowitz describes Stefan, who was drafted first overall by
"We had four other guys like Henrik back then," recalled Zetterberg's agent, Marc Levine. "When he was drafted it was like, 'Henrik was drafted? Great.' "
The only Henrik anyone was talking about back in 1999 had a brother named Daniel, and then-Vancouver GM Brian Burke made one of the all-time gutsy draft-day swaps to nab both of the Sedin brothers with the second and third picks, after Atlanta had taken Stefan.
Seven years later, Stefan had moved on to
Sure enough, the puck bounced over Stefan's stick, without an Oiler in sight. The puck turned back up ice, and Ales Hemsky dangled through a stunned Stars defence to put the game into overtime. It was a highlight that made everyone's Top 10 New Year's Eve package.
"To me, that symbolized Patrik's career. He was quite unlucky," Kotlowitz told The Edmonton Journal recently. "His concussions, his broken jaw where they had to put a plate in it ? He has basically been a plane-crash survivor. He hasn't been hurt, he's been severely injured. This wasn't like he hurt a pinky and was out a month. It was one thing after another."
The irony is that Zetterberg fell through the cracks back in '99 because he was deemed too slight and fragile for life in the NHL. One Western Conference scout said he had seen Zetterberg at several tournaments, and his team classified him as skilled, but small. In other words, an afterthought.
"He wasn't on our list either," said Bob Clarke, who was running the Philadelphia Flyers in 1999. "I don't know why, but I'd guess because of his size. Everyone was always trying to get bigger. Hey -- we all missed out on [Daniel] Alfredsson too. Where'd he go? The sixth round?
"In fairness," Clarke added, "if
Stefan arrived on an expansion team in
"[Zetterberg] is the best player now in the league, no question. Him and Pavel are the best one-two punch in hockey," said
"We're playing a lot of years with each other, and you get your chemistry," Zetterberg said of his linemates, "Also, we're playing a lot of minutes. You should get some points. It was tough for us when [Yzerman] retired, but it gives a chance for other guys to step up and take charge. And we've got a lot of other players coming in."
Players like Valtteri Filppula (drafted 95th overall), Jiri Hudler (58th) and Johan Franzen (97 th). Even Lidstrom, who has three Norris trophies and one Conn Smythe, was a third-rounder.
That 1999 draft -- where the 210th player chosen could one day be known as the best of the crop -- tells you all you need to know about the career of a hockey scout. The Toronto Maple Leafs were one of three teams whose first-round pick never played an NHL game. Luca Cereda was a Swiss miss, a centreman who never had a 10-goal season as a pro, whether in
There were plenty of spare parts in Jeff Finger (
The last pick before Zetterberg was
He already has 11 points this season -- for the Frankfurt Lions.
Red Hot Henrik Leading NHL in Goals and Points
By Chris Turner, Zetterbergfan.com, October 30, 2007
Henrik Zetterberg is on fire and has been for the last year.
With a power-play goal in a 2-1 victory in
If Henrik can record a point in
Tonight’s goal, Hank’s 4th power-play goal of the season, came four minutes into the second period and broke a scoreless tie. Zetterberg was in the right face-off circle when he took a cross-ice pass from Captain Niklas Lidstrom and shot a wrister around Oiler’s defenseman Steve Staios and past
Zetterberg, the Red Wing’s leader in every offensive category, is on pace for an unbelievable 63 goals and 76 assists for 139 total points in 82 games this season. While it is highly unlikely that Hank can stay on this tear for most of the season, he does have a very realistic chance at passing his season-high marks of 39 goals and 46 assists set during the 2005-06 season. Barring injury, he should finish with about 45-50 goals and about 50 assists, close to 100 points for the year.
By John Hahn, Detroit Red Wing Director of Communications, Kukla’s Korner, October 30, 2007
Hockey hasn’t seen a 24-hour period of hype for one player since Fitzpatrick-gate. Check the three Detroit Digger Dailies and what do you see? Zeta-fest. The
Of course, it started in
Eric Duhatschek wrote yesterday that Zetterberg “may” be the best in the league. James Mirtle agreed soon after, and not so tactfully reminded me via email that he predicted a better season for the future captain than I did.
What follows is a look at the morning in Hank’s World.
Remember, it was Duhatschek that got the ball rolling yesterday.
But there could be an argument made that right now, as October draws to a close that the league’s best player could be one that wasn’t chosen until the 210th overall pick of the 1999 entry draft; who stands a modest 5-foot-11; who just turned 27 earlier this month and has quietly averaged more than a point-a-game in the two-plus seasons of the post-lockout NHL.
Not so quietly anymore Eric. If he (Zetterberg) keeps this up visiting diggers will have their hands forced. No more Chelios The Ancient stories. No more “if Hasek stays healthy” leads. Helene St. James was astounded, shocked, perplexed yesterday in the visiting room when she saw real interest in a Red Wing from a large number of media. Not the norm where she comes from, so we’ll cut her some slack.
There was a funny scene Monday afternoon in the visitors’ dressing room at
Pavel Datsyuk was attempting to clear a path to his dressing area but found it impossible because linemate and league-leading scorer Henrik Zetterberg was surrounded by reporters.
Perhaps Helene wouldn’t have found the scene so LOL-hilarious had she read James Mirtle’s blog from yesterday afternoon. Of course, the
...he’s going to fall off that pace at some point, but the only challengers within four points of him at the moment are greybeards Mats Sundin and Rod Brind’Amour, who as much a threat to win a scoring title as Chris Osgood at this point.
There’s a bit of a cushion there, with Jarome Iginla and the fellows in
It doesn’t take a Hart to get the Oil media machine moving. Just a nudge from the boys in
Detroit Red Wings high-scoring winger Henrik Zetterberg has the stylishly unruly blonde mop, well-tended facial scruff and laid-back manner of a surfer dude.
Read the article and you’ll see it isn’t entirely about MacKinnon’s man crush on Zetterberg, but focuses more on the chemistry of the Flying Circus.
“To me, that’s the best line in hockey right now,” said Draper, the 36-year-old two-way centre and three-time Stanley Cup champion with the Wings, who recently signed a three-year contract extension. “I’m very biased toward them, but they’re playing unbelievable hockey.”
Ted Kulfan, who can’t shy away from a story already covered by literally five other beat writers, clearly saw the commotion in the Wing room and maybe even took a note or two.
Zetterberg shied away from the individual attention and discussion. He preferred to concentrate on the success he and linemates Pavel Datsyuk and Holmstrom have had since being put together at the halfway point of last season.
“Good things can happen when you play with good players,” Zetterberg said.
Nearing the end of the first month of the season, there’s no question Zetterberg ranks among the better players in the league.
Maybe, the best.
By John MacKinnon, The
Detroit Red Wings high-scoring winger Henrik Zetterberg has the stylishly unruly blonde mop, well-tended facial scruff and laid-back manner of a surfer dude.
But superficialities are wildly deceiving in his case, which may explain why he was available to the Red Wings' renowned player personnel machine in the seventh round of the 1999 NHL entry draft, 210th overall.
Right now, Zetterberg is the hottest forward in the NHL with 21 points and nine goals.
He's leading the league's most potent line, which includes Pavel Datsyuk (two goals and 11 assists for 13 points) and Tomas Holmstrom (eight goals, 14 points).
What's it like to be the hottest scorer on the top line on the NHL's best team, Zetterberg was asked on Thursday.
"I don't know if we really are," Zetterberg said. "It has been working out pretty good.
"Our power play has been good all year and I think that has been one of the big keys. We're able to roll four lines pretty good and get some scoring from all the lines.
"I think the whole team has been going good. When you play with good players, it's easy to be good yourself."
If Zetterberg is self-effacing about his play and that of his line, his teammates certainly aren't shy about singing their praises.
"To me, that's the best line in hockey right now," said Draper, the 36-year-old two-way centre and three-time Stanley Cup champion with the Wings, who recently signed a three-year contract extension. "I'm very biased toward them, but they're playing unbelievable hockey."
Zetterberg, Datsyuk and Holmstrom played together a fair amount last season, until Zetterberg went down with an inflamed disc and missed the final 19 games of the season.
The chemistry has picked up this year where it left off.
"As good as they are and as well as they're playing, one reason is they have a lot of fun playing together," Draper continued. "Pav and Hank basically play keep-away with each other after practice and I think they really push each other, a very healthy type of competition.
"They try to push each other every night to be a great line, to be a dominant line. Right now, it's certainly working. For everyone in this dressing room, it's fun to watch them night-in, night-out."
The chemistry extends to the visionary defence pairing of Lidstrom and Rafalski, who often play with the top line as a five-man unit.
"Hank and Pavel are so good at reading off each other," Lidstrom said. "They both like to have the puck, but they're so good at reading off each other and finding each other on the ice.
"(Holmstrom) is creating a lot of room for them, whether it's going hard to the net, or going into the corners. He's doing a tremendous job just getting them the puck and creating space for them"
Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock reckons Zetterberg and Datsyuk are better together than they are apart, so it's fitting, perhaps, that they've taken a similar pathway to their team's No. 1 line.
Datsyuk was taken 171st overall in the 1998 draft, one season before his linemate was a seventh-rounder. They represented the next wave of incoming talent for the Wings at a time when the likes of Steve Yzerman, Brendan Shanahan and Brett Hull were beginning to wind down brilliant careers.
A little less than a decade later, Zetterberg and Datsyuk, who is in the first year of a seven-year deal, are emerging as leaders on a team whose youth movement now includes Hudler and Filppula, both 23.
Thus does a powerhouse continue to roll -- wave after wave of talent.
"They didn't bring me over here until I was ready," said Zetterberg, now an alternate captain on the Wings. "I was able to play in
"I played in the Olympics before I played over here. When I got over here, it wasn't that big of a change for me. And I played with good players right away. I played with Pavel and Brett Hull my first year."
Now, it's Zetterberg and Datsyuk's time. Both 27, they are are just hitting their prime, too. Teams are paying them the ultimate compliment, as well, says Lidstrom -- they are keying on the Zetterberg line, trying to match up against it, night after night.
So far this season, at any rate, Zetterberg, Datsyuk and Holmstrom have been more than a match for most of their opponents.
Zetterberg Showing he is NHL's Best
By Ansar Khan, Mlive.com, October 30, 2007
Somebody asked Pavel Datsyuk on Monday if his linemate, Henrik Zetterberg, is the best player in the NHL right now.
Before Datsyuk could answer, Zetterberg chimed in with an enticement: "There's a lunch in it for you, Pav."
Zetterberg doesn't need to resort to bribery. Anybody who's watched the Detroit Red Wings the first 12 games of the season can make an airtight case that Zetterberg is the most dominant player in the league. Yes, even better than the NHL's savior,
"People in
"Those two and Crosby maybe are the top three players in the league. Hank, you can arguably say, he's the best player in the league right now."
Zetterberg is the NHL's leading scorer with 21 points. He's riding a 19-game points streak, dating back to last season. Over his last 32 regular season games, he has collected 25 goals and 34 assists. His line, with Datsyuk and Tomas Holmstrom, has been virtually unstoppable since they started playing together in December of last season.
"In the (three) years that I've been in
"(With) his sidekick, Pavel, the two of them together are better than they are apart. They push one another and they obviously push our team to be better."
The Red Wings take a five-game winning streak into tonight's contest in
"I don't why he hasn't gotten the recognition, but he is getting it now, especially from opponents," Red Wings captain Nicklas Lidstrom said. "They know what he can do and try to match up against him all the time."
What's been the difference in Zetterberg? Not much, except that he is shooting a lot more. He leads the league with 65 shots on goal, an average of 5.41 shots per game. Last season, he averaged 3.55 shots per game. During his first two NHL seasons, he averaged a mere 1.94 shots per game.
"Even when he's coming out of the corners he's taking more shots," Lidstrom said. "I think (coaches) have been on him a little bit, in the past as well, just to get more shots through."
If he stays healthy, Zetterberg is not only a good bet to surpass his career highs in goals (39) and points (85), but he might just become the first Red Wing to win the league's scoring race since Gordie Howe did it for the sixth and final time during the 1962-63 season.
"It's been going good, but I think the whole team is playing good," Zetterberg said. "When you play with good players it's easy to be good yourself. I play a lot of minutes, get a lot of opportunity on the power play, it's been clicking. Pavel and Homer do a tremendous job for me, and it's easy for me to go out and play good."
By Eric Duhatschek, Globe and Mail, October 29, 2007
Trying to determine the NHL's best — player, Swede, coach, Zamboni driver - is usually an exercise in imprecision. So much of the analysis is subjective, for starters. Can a player be any good if his team isn't? How much does offence enter into the equation? Is preventing a goal as important as scoring one?
In the end, the correct answer usually is that things can change from month-to-month, or week-to-week, and sometimes even from day-to-day, which is why the NHL has its player-of-the-week program.
But there could be an argument made that right now, as October draws to a close that the league's best player could be one that wasn't chosen until the 210th overall pick of the 1999 entry draft; who stands a modest 5-foot-11; who just turned 27 earlier this month and has quietly averaged more than a point-a-game in the two-plus seasons of the post-lockout NHL.
That would be the Detroit Red Wings' Henrik Zetterberg who, after most of
He is currently the NHL's point leader (with 21); is tied for first in assists (with 12); and is second in goals (with nine) on a Red Wings team that is first in the Western Conference (again), despite a slow start from goaltender Dominik Hasek (he is currently nursing a hip injury) and an early-season injury to Zetterberg's fellow Swede Johan Franzen that forced coach Mike Babcock to deviate from his pre-season plan of balancing his scoring lines. Instead, he loaded up his No. 1 unit and right now, you'd be hard-pressed to say whether Zetterberg, Holmstrom and Pavel Datsyuk or the Ottawa Senators' trio of Jason Spezza, Dany Heatley and Daniel Alfredsson is the most effective line in hockey.
It demonstrates too the value of occasionally putting all a team's scoring eggs in one basket.
"For us here, unfortunately, both Mikael Samuelsson and Johan Franzen got hurt," said Zetterberg, in a telephone interview prior to the start of their three-game Western Canada road swing that continues Tuesday night in
What separates the Red Wings' top line from the others in the NHL is that all three players were chosen in the nether regions of the draft (Datsyuk 171st in 1998; Holmstrom 257th in 1994). Sometimes, a line such as the Tampa Bay Lightnings' Vincent Lecavalier, Vaclav Prospal and Martin St. Louis can have a couple of long shots deliver at the highest level, but Lecavalier at least was a No. 1 overall draft choice. Spezza and Heatley were selected second overall in their respective draft years. Rarely does it happen that three players, all of whom were long shots to play, not only made it, but made it at an elite level.
You could call it luck — and luck is an element of the equation to be sure — but it also demonstrates the value of developing players within a winning organization. None were overnight sensations. All took time to get to where they are now — and you could argue that Zetterberg was already on top of his game last February, when his back started to act up and he missed the final six weeks of the regular season. He came back in the playoffs and put on a credible performance, but never really found his stride or comfort level. It took most of the summer, working with a trainer for the first time, to get his health back again.
"It was tough there at the end of the regular season," he said. "I missed 19 games and came back for playoffs. The summer came at a good time. I did my rehab. I worked hard and I was able to do that. I feel healthy now. No complaints at all."
This isn't the first time Zetterberg has had a chance win a scoring title. Playing for Timra in
Sidney Crosby may have something to say about the NHL scoring race before all is said and done, as will Joe Thornton and Jarome Iginla and others, but if Zetterberg can continue at or near this pace, he has a chance to become the first Red Wings' player since Gordie Howe (in 1962-63) to lead the league in scoring.
"It would be nice for anyone to have a chance to do that, but it's early," said Zetterberg. "If I'm in the same spot in 65 games, I'll be a little nervous, but right now, I don't think about that. I'm just happy to be going well. We're playing good. We've had a good start. I can't say anything more than that."
Two Goals, Two More Points for Zetterberg
By Chris Turner, Zetterbergfan.com, October 26, 2007
Henrik Zetterberg was credited with scoring two goals, and had a third one disallowed in the Detroit Red Wings 5-1 victory against the San Jose Sharks at Joe Louis Arena tonight. Zetterberg was given a goal on what was originally scored by line-mate and fellow Swede Tomas Holmstrom just 39 seconds into the third period. The puck apparently glanced off of Henrik on its way past Shark’s goaltender Evgeni Nabokov, making it a 3-0 game.
Zetterberg added another goal 7:27 later when Pavel Datsyuk danced around a San Jose defender and slipped the puck to Henrik just in front of Nabokov’s crease. He had what would have been a third goal for his second career hat-trick disallowed when Holmstrom was called for interference on the goalie, outside of the crease. This is the third time in eleven games that a goal by Zetterberg has been waved-off due to a highly questionable goaltender interference call on Holmstrom.
Even without the 3 disallowed goals, Henrik now has 9 goals and total of 20 points in the first 11 games of the season, tops in the NHL. With at least one point in every game so far this season, Zetterberg is riding an 18 game points streak dating back to February 11th, 2007 at home versus the Calgary Flames. He also has a point in each of the last 22 home games.
His two goals tonight are the 117th and 118th of his career, bringing his NHL points total to 260 in 291 games. He passed Bob Probert’s 259 points to become 36th on the .
Hank Gets Assist against
By Chris Turner, Zetterbergfan.com, October 24, 2007
Henrik Zetterberg got an assist on Tomas Holmstrom’s game-winning goal and recorded his league-leading 18th point in 10 games this season, in the Detroit Red Wings 3-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks tonight at the Joe Louis Arena.
Holmstrom scored the eventual game-winner, his second goal of the night, with 4:20 left in the second period. Canuck’s defenseman Willie Mitchell handled the puck behind his own net and tried to clear it with a back-hander with Wing’s forward Pavel Datsyuk applying pressure at the goal line. The puck hit the skate of
With the assist on the play, Henrik extended his point streak to 10 straight games to open the 2007-08 season, 17 straight games into last season, and at least one point in each of the last 21 home games dating back to December 7th, 2006 against the St. Louis Blues.
Zetterberg’s 6 game goal scoring streak ended with no goal tonight against the Canucks.
Zetterberg on Pace for his Best Season Ever
John Kreiser, NHL.com, Oct 24, 2007
The Detroit Red Wings were counting on Henrik Zetterberg to take a step forward this season and become an elite player. So far, so good.
Zetterberg has done everything the Wings could have asked so far, scoring a league-leading 17 points to help Detroit get off to a 6-2-1 start that includes a 3-1 record on its just-concluded Western trip. Zetterberg has at least one point in all nine games, and going back to last season, has a 16-game points streak. He’s had six multiple-point games this season and is third in goals and second in assists. Zetterberg is also one of the NHL’s best faceoff men. He’s won 55.9 percent of his draws and had only one game in which he didn’t win at least half of his faceoffs.
No one expects Zetterberg to keep scoring at this kind of pace, but he’s on target for his first 100-point season and he’s in position to give Sidney Crosby a challenge for the NHL scoring title, if he can stay healthy – he’s missed 15 or more games in two of the last three seasons.
By David Goricki,
Move over Sidney Crosby, Henrik Zetterberg is playing like he's ready to take over your scoring title.
Zetterberg is a threat to score every time he gets on the ice.
"It's a lot of fun," Zetterberg said. "It's still early in the season. We have a long way to go, but a lot of people didn't expect me to have this type of start."
Zetterberg, 27, is having fun because he's healthy again, fully recovered from a back injury (inflamed disc) that forced him to miss the final 19 games of 2006-07 regular season.
Zetterberg's excellent speed allows him to get open ice. His outstanding vision and passing gives his teammates quality scoring chances. He also takes a lot of shots, and only good things come from shooting the puck, just ask Wings coach Mike Babcock.
"It's not by accident, Zetterberg leads the team in shots, he also leads us in goals," Babcock said after practice Monday. "(Former Red Wing Brendan) Shanahan shot from the corner, he shot from behind the net, and that generated second and third chances."
Shanahan, now with the New York Rangers, leads the NHL in shots (44) with Zetterberg right behind with 42.
Zetterberg started the season on a line with Mikael Samuelsson and Jiri Hudler, but was reunited with Pavel Datsyuk and Tomas Holmstrom during the third game of the season. They have played together since.
"I think we like playing with each other," Zetterberg said. "It's easy to find each other. Pav's a great skater, sees the ice well and can really pass the puck. Homer gives us extra space and does a great job of getting in front of the goal."
That line has been one of the best in the league. Zetterberg, Datsyuk and Holmstrom have great chemistry and displayed it on the final goal during the Red Wings' 5-2 victory at
With 5:23 left in the game, Datsyuk, from behind the net, found Holmstrom at the left crease. Holmstrom's goal-mouth pass found Zetterberg, who scored on a wrist shot from the right crease to put the game away.
Zetterberg had a goal and an assist against the Coyotes, who are coached by his childhood idol, Wayne Gretzky.
Can Zetterberg become the first Red Wing since Gordie Howe 45 years ago to win the Art Ross Trophy? Not even former Wings Steve Yzerman and Sergei Fedorov, with all their offensive brilliance, won the Art Ross, which is awarded to the NHL scoring leader.
If Zetterberg wins the Art Ross this season, he might have to do it while playing on another line.
"We'll go away from it," Babcock said of the Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Holmstrom line. "We're better and deeper (this season) and we want to spread it out.
"We didn't have other options after (Johan) Franzen and Samuelsson got hurt. That's why we put them back together."
Zetterberg had five points, including a goal, while playing the first two games with Samuelsson and Hudler.
Red Wings enforcer Aaron Downey, who knows a little bit about stirring up trouble, says Zetterberg is an unflappable presence on the ice.
"The more you try to get under his skin the better he performs,"
Zetterberg's great start has not come by accident. He works hard on his conditioning. He felt confident coming into the season that his back would hold up.
"It was tough last year," Zetterberg said of his injury. "I was pretty confident I'd be fine after I came back to play in the playoffs last season.
"I just made sure I strengthened up the muscles by my spine. I worked on different core exercises to strengthen it."
Without much fanfare, these Zetterberg-led Wings have accumulated 13 points, third best in the league, following their 3-1 road trip.
"It was real important for us to play well on the road," Zetterberg said. "But we haven't reached the top yet. We can still play better."
Zetterberg’s Scoring Streak Continues
By Chris Turner, Zetterbergfan.com, October 20, 2007
Detroit Red Wing’s star center Henrik Zetterberg remains a top the NHL scoring leaders list after extending his scoring streak to a career-best 16 regular season games dating back to February 11th, 2007 at home versus the Calgary Flames. With another goal and assist in the Wing’s 5-2 victory over the Coyotes tonight in
Henrik assisted on Kirk Maltby’s second goal of the game, the game-winner, with just 26 seconds left in the second period.
Zetterberg added a goal of his own at 14:37 of the third period making it a 5-2
The goal and the assist give Hank career totals of 116 goals and 141 assists in 289 games with the franchise. He has now passed Walt McKehnie for 37th on the list with 257 points.
With two points in the game, Henrik now has 12 goals and 11 assists for 23 points in 17 career games against
“He doesn't get enough credit for being the elite player that he is. He's definitely in that group of players.”
-Wayne Gretzky,
Zetterberg Proves his own Worst Enemy
By Helene St. James, Free Press, October 19, 2007
"I got cross-checked," he said. "No, actually it was in the warm-ups, I got a puck there. I shot the puck and it hit Ozzie and then hit me back. But you can say it was a cross-check or high stick or something."
Can Zetterberg be NHL's Top Scorer?
By Ansar Khan, Mlive.com, October 19, 2007
It's been 45 years since a Detroit Red Wing led the NHL in scoring.
Even in recent years, when the team has been dominant during the regular season, no player has come close to finishing No. 1 in points. That's because this club's scoring is usually spread out among several players and multiple lines.
Could it be different this season? Henrik Zetterberg, who started the day tied for the league lead with 13 points, had a goal and an assist in Thursday's 4-2 victory over the San Jose Sharks at the HP Pavilion. He has at least one point in all eight games this season, 15 total.
Gordie Howe was the last Red Wing to win the Art Ross Trophy as the league's top scorer, during the 1962-63 season. Red Wings coach Mike Babcock noted that it will be difficult for Zetterberg to maintain this pace because he's an all-around player who takes as much pride in his defensive abilities as he does in his scoring prowess.
"He's a really talented guy, but he's a team player, he's not going to be about racing for the point total,'' Babcock said. "I think (Steve) Yzerman's commitment to changing when Scotty (former coach Bowman) came here years ago had kind of set the bar that way. That (statistics) doesn't seem to be a big goal. Winning seems to be the biggest goal.''
Babcock said he can't understand why Zetterberg doesn't get more recognition as a leading candidate for the Selke Trophy, awarded to the NHL's top defensive forward.
"Z plays against the best forwards and shuts them down. I think he's the best two-way player in the game, bar-none,'' Babcock said. "Can he continue to score at this pace? Maybe, but winning continues to be our focus.''
Zetterberg said after the morning skate that he felt some tightness in his groin during Sunday's game in
No Jail Time: Zetterberg was disappointed that he and seven friends weren't able to get tickets to tour
"There was a lot of people there, it was tough to get tickets,'' Zetterberg said. "We just walked around, had some lunch. It was a fun day.
He lists "Escape from
Henrik Zetterberg Soars with Workout
By Helene St. James, Free Press, October 19, 2007
A boring summer has turned into a boon for Red Wings forward Henrik Zetterberg.
A minor groin injury that held him out of a practice had faded enough by Thursday that he declared after the morning skate he would be ready for the evening's game against the Sharks, giving him a chance to extend his torrid scoring pace.
Midway through the game he extended his goal-scoring streak to five straight games, and he also assisted on Pavel Datsyuk’s goal to accumulate 15 points in eight games. He’s had multiple-point performances in five of those games.
Few players sustain the same pace throughout the season, so Zetterberg’s current projected total of 154 points in 82 games is just that – a projection. But it does bear note Zetterberg is also on pace for a plus-51 rating, since that shows just how good he is in his own end, too.
“Z plays against the best people and shuts them down,” Mike Babcock said. “I think he’s the best two-way player in the game, bar none.”
Last spring, Zetterberg missed the last 19 games of the regular season because of back problems. That prompted him to spend the off-season focusing on how to make the area less prone to injuries.
“I strengthened up the whole of my core, basically the small muscle around the spine, that’s basically what I did,” he said. “A lot of boring exercises, but I think it helped a lot. I didn’t do any surgery and the back feels good now.”
Five Game Goal Scoring Streak for Red-hot Henrik
By Chris Turner, Zetterbergfan.com, October 18, 2007
Despite missing practice due to suffering a groin strain last Sunday in Los Angeles, Henrik Zetterberg was able to rest for a few days and was ready to go for tonight’s game against the Sharks in San Jose. Hank was able to continue his red hot pace with two more points this evening in a 4-2 victory for
After taking a centering pass from defenseman Brian Rafalski, Zetterberg scored a power play goal, with fellow Swede Tomas Holmstrom screening Shark’s net-minder Evgeni Nabokov, giving the Red Wings a 2-1 lead halfway through the second period.
The goal was Henrik’s 6th of the season and his fifth in five straight games. He later assisted on a 5-on-3 power-play goal by Pavel Datsyuk on a well executed cross-crease pass at 10:40 of the third period, putting the game out of reach for
The goal and the assist tonight also give Zetterberg a league leading 15 points through 8 games so far this year. He now has a regular season point streak of 15 games dating back to February 11th, 2007 at home versus the Calgary Flames.
Henrik played a career high 25:03 in this evenings match.
www.forecaster.ca/thestar.com, October 18, 2007
Detroit Red Wings' forward Henrik Zetterberg is off to a blazing start. His eight goals and 13 points are good for the early lead in the NHL scoring race, tied with
But this early season surge is not so much a short-term blip as it is a continuation of last season--Zetterberg is simply picking up where he left off.
Zetterberg, who turned 27 last week, ended the 2006-07 campaign with 49 points in his final 31 contests. Including this year's 13 points, that works out to 62 points in his last 38 regular season games, which pro-rates to 134 points over a full season.
Coach Mike Babcock says that Zetterberg is as complete a player as one can get and that if a young hockey player was looking for an idol, the Njurundal,
He's smart, he's shifty, he boasts sound two-way instincts and he's just now entering his prime. So far this year, Henrik Zetterberg has proven to be the most valuable player in the league.
Top Lines are Major Point Producers
By David Goricki, The
Five of the top lines in the NHL:
1. Dany Heatley, Jason Spezza, Daniel Alfredsson,
2. Tomas Holmstrom, Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg,
3. Vaclav Prospal, Vincent Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis,
4. Petr Sykora, Sidney Crosby, Jordan Staal,
5. Kristian Huselius, Daymond Langkow, Jarome Iginla,
With Goal Vs Ducks, Zetterberg Extends Point Streak to 14 Games By Chris Turner, Zetterbergfan.com, October 15, 2007 Henrik Zetterberg scored his fifth goal of the season in a 6-3 loss tonight in Zetterberg got the goal 11:59 into the second period when he banged in a rebound off of a Matt Ellis shot past Duck’s goalie Ilya Bryzgalov. Zetterberg's Strong Start Earns Weekly Award Red Wings forward Henrik Zetterberg was named to the NHL's 'Three Stars' for the week ending October 14. Zetterberg was named the No. 3 Star, following Zetterberg Leading the League after Three Point Night By Chris Turner, Zetterbergfan.com, October 14, 2007 Red hot Red Wings forward Henrik Zetterberg had a three point night with a goal and two assists in a 4-1 win over Los Angeles Kings at the Hank assisted on goals by line-mates Pavel Datsyuk and Tomas Holmstrom prior to netting one of his own, giving Zetterberg now has 252 total career points (113 goals and 139 assists), passing Marty Pavelich for 38th on the list. By Ansar Khan, Mlive.com, October 11, 2007 Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg were just out of this world on Wednesday. Their teammate, Kris Draper, confirmed it, after the dynamic duo led the Detroit Red Wings to a 4-2 victory over the Calgary Flames at Joe Louis Arena. "Those guys, it's like they're on another planet right now," Draper said. Datsyuk and Zetterberg, along with linemate Tomas Holmstrom, controlled the puck, dictated the tempo, generated scoring chances and gave "Pav and Hank are playing awesome, and Homer is a great ingredient to that line," said Red Wings goaltender Chris Osgood, who made 19 saves in his first appearance this season. "The three of them together are the top line in the league, to me anyways. They're dynamite. When we need them to get some pressure or scoring chances or get a goal, they do." It was the second consecutive game Red Wings coach Mike Babcock used the line, after Johan Franzen sustained a knee injury. Datsyuk and Zetterberg centered their own lines through exhibition play and the first two games of the season. "We're fortunate to have them," Babcock said. "Z and Pav are real good centermen. Pav's a good winger, too, and Homer creates so much space for them by going to the net on a continual basis. They can play with such tempo that they make it hard on the opposition." Because he is so strong on the puck, Zetterberg drew a pair of penalties, leading to power-play goals (the Red Wings have seven in four games) that opened and closed the scoring. Zetterberg scored at 8:08 on a pass from Datsyuk, after "We play a lot of games with each other, so of course it's easier for us to find each other out there," Zetterberg said. "And Homer played really good for me and Pav created a lot of room and gives us the extra second to make the plays, and that's huge for us." "The thing they do, which a lot of people don't really talk about, is how well they play at both ends of the rink," Draper said. "They're so responsible offensively and defensively, they have it going on right now. It's unbelievable, just to be a part of it and watch it night in and night out." Zetterberg, in his typical humble fashion, noted room for improvement. "Still, we got to be a little more effective," Zetterberg said. "We got a lot of chances, we should be able to put some more behind Kipper." http://redwingscorner.blogspot.com/2007/10/big-line-sparks-wings.html By Bruce MacLeod, Redwingscorner.blogspot.com, October 10, 2007 Whether Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk and Tomas Holmstrom play together as a line is neither here nor there to Detroit Red Wings' opponents. That those three Red Wings are playing at all is the problem.
Zetterberg was the only player during the 2006-07 season to earn back-to-back No. 1 Star recognition for his efforts betweek February 5-18. He was also named the player of the month for February, scoring 13 of his 33 regular-season goals.
THIRD STAR – HENRIK ZETTERBERG, F, DETROIT RED WINGS
Zetterberg tied for the league lead among scorers for the week with seven points (3-4--7) as the Red Wings posted three wins in four games. He began the week with two assists in a 4-2 win over
Zetterberg scored the game's first goal, Wednesday, and Holmstrom added his fourth goal in four games to help the Red Wings to a 4-2 victory over the Calgary Flames at Joe Louis Arena. The three
Of
"Pav, Hank and Homer … they're on another planet right now the way they're playing," said Detroit Kris Draper. "They are so good. Every time they go out there, they're creating something. And they're doing it in both ends of the rink. Those guys are playing some unbelievable hockey right now."
The trio has played all four games this season as
Last night, it was Datsyuk, who created the opportunity that turned into the game's first goal with 8:08 gone by. Datsyuk fooled
"They're good," said
Zetterberg Extends Regular Season Point Streak, Tied for League Lead
By Chris Turner, Zetterbergfan.com, October 10, 2007
With a power play goal to open the scoring tonight in a 4-2 win against Mikka Kiprusoff and the Calgary Flames, Henrik Zetterberg of the Detroit Red Wings now has two goals and six assists in four games, and is tied for the league lead with eight points to start the NHL season. He has at least one point in each of the last regular season games dating back to February 11th of last season, and also has a nineteen game point streak at Joe Louis Arena dating back to December 7th, 2006.
Zetterberg is just two points short of 250 total for his career.
Wings Search for Old Magic, Datsyuk on line with Zetterberg
By Dave Waddell,
No matter the pre-season plans to keep them apart, Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk seemed destined by fate, injuries and their ability to overwhelm opponents to keep returning to the same line.
All three factors have combined again this week and it was just too tempting for Wings coach Mike Babcock not to watch the duo work their magic with Tomas Holmstrom.
"I changed my mind about 15 times and then I decided that's just what I was going to do," said Babcock, who wasn't sure if he'd keep the trio together for tonight's game against
"I've got to get Pavel shooting the puck. I thought playing with (Zetterberg) he'd get more opportunity to shoot."
Datsyuk (0-2-2 in three games) had three shots in Monday's 4-2 win over
"I wanted one line to dominate and I knew that would happen," Babcock said.
Zetterberg has grown used to being shifted around to help spark his linemates.
His nomadic existence in the Wings' lineup certainly hasn't affected his ability to generate points.
Through three games, he's tied for second in the league in scoring with seven points (1-6-7).
"It's always nice to get some points up on the board," Zetterberg said. "I got a few easy assists and you've got to be happy when those come.
Another Multi-Assist Effort for Zetterberg
By Chris Turner, Zetterbergfan.com, October 8, 2007
Through the first three games this season, Detroit Red Wings forward Henrik Zetterberg has two assists per match, having added two more helpers in this evening’s 4-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers at home in the Joe Louis Arena.
Zetterberg’s first assist of the game came on Tomas Holmstrom’s game-winning power-play goal just 27 seconds into the second period. Henrik got another assist in the last minute of the game. With
With the two points tonight, Zetterberg is off to a hot-start and now has a team-leading goal and six assists for seven points in three games this year.
With a total of 247 career points, Henrik has passed Vaclav Nedomansky for 39th place on the .
Zetterberg celebrates his 27th birthday tomorrow. Happy Birthday Hank!
Model Behavior
by Jason Kay, THN.com, October 6, 2007
My friend and colleague, Mike Brophy, maintains Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk are very good players, but more suited to supporting roles and are not the types to carry a team to the Stanley Cup. I disagree.
In particular, I think Zetterberg has the skill and will to put the Wings over the top. This is a team that came within a whisker of taking a 3-1 stranglehold over
It's typical for great champions to take their lumps before they reach exalted status (see Yzerman, Mario Lemieux, Ray Bourque, etc.). These Wings are the real deal.
Zetterberg and Teemu Selanne featured in EA Sports
By Chris Turner, Zetterbergfan.com, October 5th, 2007
Detroit Red Wings Swedish star forward Henrik Zetterberg and retired Finnish legend Teemu Selanne are the featured personalities in EA Sports advertisements for NHL’07 in
Commercial # 1 (Zetterberg a No-show for interview)
Commercial # 2 (Selanne skips out early on interview)
Three Assist Night for Hank in Shoot-out Loss against
By Chris Turner, Zetterbergfan.com, October 6, 2007
For the second straight game openening the 2007-08 season, Henrik Zetterberg of the Detroit Red Wings was unable to net a game-deciding goal in the shoot-out, as the Chicago Blackhawks came back from a 3-1 deficit to win their home-opener 4-3 tonight in
While, so far, Hank is off to a very productive season offensively, four of his five points have come with the man advantage while on the ice with familiar line-mates Pavel Datsyuk and Tomas Holmstrom, and not with his wingers Mikael Samuelsson and Jiri Hudler. It is apparent to me, and hopefully to head coach Mike Babcock as well, that the line is having trouble getting any rhythm going, as is Detroit’s “top line” of Datsyuk, Holmstrom, and winger Johan Franzen. Hudler and Samuelsson seem to be prone to making defensive lapses that Zetterberg has so far been able to cover for. Henrik is an uncharacteristic (plus/minus) -3 through the first two games.
Franzen left tonight’s game early with what looked like a knee injury and did not return. If Franzen is unable to play in Monday’s game against Edmonton, Babcock will be required to juggle his lines a bit, but that might not prompt him to re-unite Zetterberg with Datsyuk and Holmstrom, or even break-up the Zetterberg, Hudler, Samuelsson trio.
Zetterberg Scores First Goal and adds Assist in Season Opening Win
By Chris Turner, Zetterbergfan.com, October 3, 2007
Henrik Zetterberg scored the Detroit Red Wings first goal of the 2007-08 season and added an assist in a 3-2 shoot-out win over the defending Stanley Cup Champion Anaheim Ducks tonight at the Joe Louis Arena.
The opening goal of the year came on the power-play, 9:46 into the first period. Zetterberg took a pass down low from Pavel Datsyuk, circled around in the right face-off circle, and fired a wrist shot that deflected off of the leg of Duck’s defenseman Francois Beauchemin and past goalie Ilja Bryzgalov on the short side. Henrik now has three goals in five career games against Bryzgalov.
Although Zetterberg and Datsyuk were centering separate lines, the Wings were not able to score while at even strength. The talented centers generated several great scoring chances, but did not seem to have solid timing with their wingers. However, there was obvious chemistry when the two were re-united on the power-plays with line-mate Tomas Holmstrom.
Detroit’s second power-play goal of the game, 4:04 into the third, happened when Zetterberg lost a face-off to Ryan Carter but won a battle to the puck in the right face-off circle and dropped a pass back to Brian Rafalski on the point. Rafalski blasted a shot off the end boards that rebounded back towards the net. Henrik corralled the bouncing puck with his right skate and re-directed it to his stick, chipping a pass over the crease behind the scrambling Bryzgalov. It found the stick of Holmstrom who lifted a shot over the sprawling net-minder. The goal tied the game at two-a-piece.
The game ended with a 2-2 tie and had to go to a shoot-out to determine an outcome. Datsyuk and Zetterberg both missed on shoot-out attempts. Hank faked a forehanded shot, deked, and attempted to guide the puck in with the back of his stick-blade, a move that has worked for him in the past. Zetterberg’s line-mate Jiri Hudler won the game with his shoot-out tally.
Zetterberg played a career high 24:54 in tonight’s home-opener.
Big Shots: Young Stars Zetterberg, Datsyuk Keep Red Wings Near the Top
By Helene St. James, Free Press, October 3, 2007
In their final game of the season, in as tense of a situation as hockey can create, Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg combined for three goals and one assist, pushing the Red Wings tantalizingly close to victory.
Their performances in that elimination game of the 2007 Western Conference finals, ultimately won by
The whole experience, in fact, of advancing three rounds into the playoffs is central to the enthusiasm with which the Wings start the 2007-08 season tonight.
The 2007 playoffs infused the team's younger pillars -- a group headlined by Datsyuk and Zetterberg -- with the bone-deep confidence that they can deliver when it matters.
Datsyuk and Zetterberg have been, as their coach puts it, really good players for quite some time, but the recent journey through three demanding playoff series is a major reason why this season looks so promising. The two produced in each round, against
"Since I've been in
Zetterberg and Datsyuk are destined to each man a line this season. Zetterberg has a familiar face on his right side in Mikael Samuelsson, who scored 23 goals two years ago and whom the Wings hope will recapture that touch after a disappointing 2006-07. On Zetterberg's left will be Jiri Hudler, who showed last year that he doesn't need much time to score but now must show he can handle the responsibilities of being on a top line.
Datsyuk and Zetterberg often have been linemates, but they're relishing the chance to lead separate lines and unite on power plays.
"I think this is going to make the team even better, to have two lines that are, hopefully, going to put some points on the board," Zetterberg said. "Both me and Pav want to play center, and this is probably the first year we can. Last year, we had Langer (Robert Lang), who was a center, so this is a great opportunity for us to really show that we can have me and Pav as centers.
"I'm really excited to get it going here, and I think Pav is, too."
Steady Guard: Young Players Benefiting from Guidance of Key Veterans
By Ted Kulfan,
Not too long ago, it was Henrik Zetterberg sitting quietly at his locker stall and soaking up the atmosphere.
When he thinks back to those days, it still amazes Zetterberg at the opportunity he was afforded.
"For a young guy, just to be able to be around the veteran guys helps you a lot," said Zetterberg, helping explain how young players such as Valtteri Filppula, Jiri Hudler, Tomas Kopecky and Igor Grigorenko have benefited in their short time with the Wings.
"You learn just watching them. For me, I was able to be around guys like Luc Robitaille, Igor (Larionov), Sergei (Fedorov) and just watched those guys and how they did things, how they handled situations. For me, it was such a big help."
Funny, but six years later, Filpulla, Hudler, and the rest, are watching Zetterberg and (Pavel) Datsyuk, taking mental notes on how the stars go about their business.
"I'm getting old," said Zetterberg, who'll be 27 on Oct. 9. "I'm not that young anymore. But it's all about being comfortable, and getting adjusted. This is home now."
As Zetterberg said, there have always been veterans around, usually Hall of Fame players. For a young kid learning what it takes to be an NHL player, there isn't a better learning tool.
Around the Wings locker room, nobody doubts players such as Hudler, Filppula and Kopecky can handle bigger roles.
Hudler scored 15 goals in limited time last season. Most scouts believe Filppula has the potential to be a Zetterberg-type player.
"They've been here for a few years, and now, they're going to get the opportunity," Zetterberg said. "You have to earn your ice time, and the more you play, the more you have the chance to succeed. "Those guys want to be a bigger part of this team. It's going to be huge for us to have those guys come in and contribute this season."
By Ansar Khan, Mlive.com, October 03, 2007
Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock has every right to be enthusiastic about his club's youth. The Red Wings boast a large group of skilled players in their 20s who have helped stop the aging process in
The dynamic duo of Datsyuk and Zetterberg alone assures some level of success. They were dominant while playing on the same line (with Holmstrom) for much of last season. They will start this season centering their own lines, providing scoring balance for a club that got little production from its second line last season.
"They got a chance to play a lot of minutes and they responded," Lidstrom said. "They've been probably the top duo of centermen in the league."
It was especially important for Datsyuk to deliver in the playoffs. He ended a 26-game postseason goal-scoring slump to lead the club with eight goals and finished second to Lidstrom with 16 points. For Datsyuk and Zetterberg, their best years are ahead of them.
"The good thing for us is we've been here for a while and we've been playing with some great players, learning for a few years now," Zetterberg said. "Now it looks like we have to take a bigger step and bring a little more to the table."
Among their duties is to aid in the development of the younger players. The pair has a habit of making people around them better, which bodes well for Franzen, a big, versatile player who will play left wing on Datsyuk's line with Holmstrom, and for Hudler, a small player who displayed a finishing touch (15 goals despite limited ice time) as a rookie and will play with Zetterberg and Mikael Samuelsson.
After Zetterberg and Datsyuk, Filppula is the young forward with the biggest upside. The third-line center is a terrific skater strong on the puck and has good playmaking and defensive abilities -- much like Zetterberg.
ZETTERBERGFAN'S PRE-SEASON PREDICTIONS
By Chris Turner, Zetterbergfan.com, October 1st, 2007
Coming out of a pre-season in which he had four goals and three assists and was a (plus/minus) +8 in four exhibition games, Henrik Zetterberg is looking to have a career year leading the Detroit Red Wings in their bid to win the Stanley Cup.
Zetterberg is reportedly close to being 100% healthy, despite being out of the lineup for the final pre-season match-up against the Toronto Maple Leafs. There are some fears that Henrik may still be recovering from last season’s lower back injury that cost him the last nineteen games of the regular season. Also, chronic tendonitis of the left wrist has troubled the 26 year-old Swedish star for several years. However, the word out of
If this is the case, and “Zata” can stay injury-free for most of the year, I expect big things from the Red Wings leading goal scorer this season. Barring health problems, Henrik should be able to be near his career high in games played, around 77-79. I think he would get a few days of rest going into the playoffs, even if he isn’t nursing any serious pains.
If he is able to play the full season, he will have a career year offensively. Look for Zetterberg to lead
I also think Hank will tally about 45 assists, possibly setting a new season high. He had 46 assists in 77 games in 2005-06. If Zetterberg scores 40 goals and 45 assists, he should be able to match or better his 85 points from two years ago.
Some milestones that are sure to be reached this season are 300 career games. Henrik needs to play only 20 to get there. He should have almost 360 games played in the NHL by next May. With just 19 assists this year, Zetterberg will have 150 in his career. If he gets 60 total points in 2007-08, he will get to the 300 mark. He needs just 70 career points to pass Mickey Redmond (310) for 25th on
Here are my predictions for the Red Wings this year. With the decline of the Nashville Predators and a weaker central division, I expect
Wings Recognize Datsyuk as Leader, Alternate Captain
By Helene St. James, Free Press, October 1, 2007
Pavel Datsyuk was signed to a seven-year extension last spring, and this fall, the Red Wings are going a step further in demonstrating how important he is to their club.
Datsyuk will join Henrik Zetterberg and Kris Draper as alternate captains serving alongside captain Nicklas Lidstrom, a move the Wings decided upon over the summer.
"We're going to name him one of our assistant captains because we think he's a big part of our leadership group," coach Mike Babcock said. "We want Datsyuk to understand that."
Since only two skaters per game can be alternates the Wings will have to figure out a rotation, but that sort of calculation is worth making given the sums Datsyuk put up in the playoffs: eight goals plus eight assists equaled 16 points in 18 games.
