Henrik Zetterberg

Lore & Background

Zetterberg started his youth league career playing for Njurunda SK. At age 15 he left for Timrå IK. He caught the attention of Detroit Red Wings Assistant General Manager Jim Nill and Director of European Scouting Håkan Andersson during a tournament in Finland; while Andersson was trying to point out Mattias Weinhandl, Nill noticed 'this little Zetterberg guy who always seemed to have the puck.' He was selected 210th overall in the seventh round of the 1999 NHL entry draft, a draft for which Detroit was criticized for 'mortgaging its future.' After playing for Timrå IK of the Swedish Elitserien for the 2000–01 and 2001–02 seasons, he signed his entry-level contract on 16 May 2002.

Zetterberg made his NHL debut on 10 October 2002 at Joe Louis Arena. In his rookie season he played 79 games, scoring 22 goals and 22 assists for 44 points, leading all first-year players, and finished as runner-up for the Calder Memorial Trophy. In his second season he missed 21 games due to a broken leg suffered against the Vancouver Canucks on 5 November 2003. During the 2004–05 lockout he returned to Timrå IK and led the Elitserien in scoring with 50 points in 50 games. In 2005–06 he emerged as an NHL star, tallying 39 goals and 46 assists for 85 points, second in team-scoring to Pavel Datsyuk, and was part of the 'Swedish Five' along with Tomas Holmström, Mikael Samuelsson, Nicklas Lidström, and Niklas Kronwall. All five played together at the 2006 Winter Olympics, helping Sweden to a gold medal.

Zetterberg was named an alternate captain in the absence of team captain Steve Yzerman in 2005–06. After Yzerman's retirement, Lidström was named captain and Zetterberg remained an alternate. In 2007–08 he recorded a career-year with 43 goals, 49 assists and 92 points in 75 games, and added 27 points in 22 playoff games, leading the Red Wings to the 2008 Stanley Cup championship. In game six of the Stanley Cup Final against the Pittsburgh Penguins, he scored the Stanley Cup-winning goal and was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy. On 28 January 2009 he agreed to a 12-year, $73 million contract extension, the longest and most lucrative in franchise history. On 15 January 2013 he was named captain of the Red Wings, succeeding Lidström. He played his 1,000th game on 9 April 2017, the last game at Joe Louis Arena.

Reader's Guide

Henrik Zetterberg's significance lies in his entire NHL career being spent with the Detroit Red Wings, culminating in a Stanley Cup championship in 2008 and the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. He was a key part of the 'Swedish Five' that also won Olympic gold in 2006, making him a member of the Triple Gold Club. His rookie season saw him lead all first-year players in scoring and finish as runner-up for the Calder Memorial Trophy. He set a franchise record with a 16-game point-scoring streak to start the 2007–08 season, breaking Norm Ullman's 14-game record from 1960. He was named captain of the Red Wings in 2013, succeeding Nicklas Lidström. His 12-year, $73 million contract extension in 2009 was the longest and most lucrative in franchise history. He reached the 300-goal milestone on 6 November 2015, becoming the seventh Swedish player to do so and the fifth Red Wings player with 300 goals and 800 points. He played his 1,000th game on 9 April 2017, the final game at Joe Louis Arena. On 24 February 2018 he recorded his 335th career goal, tying Ted Lindsay for fifth all time in goals scored in franchise history.

Did You Know?

• He won the Conn Smythe Trophy as MVP of the 2008 Stanley Cup playoffs.
• He was part of the first team to win both the 2006 Ice Hockey World Championships and the 2006 Winter Olympics in the same year.
• He was named captain of the Detroit Red Wings on 15 January 2013.