THN Archive: Wings' Zetterberg Excelled In Outdoor Games

Detroit Red Wings superstar forward Henrik Zetterberg was one of hockey's top all-around performers. And in this story from THN's Jan. 27, 2014 edition, Zetterberg's impact on the team – and in outdoor games – was unsurpassed by most mere mortals.

A decade ago, the Detroit Red Wings were hosts for a massive NHL outdoor “classic” game at the University of Michigan. And in this feature story from The Hockey News’ January 27, 2014 edition – Vol. 67, Issue 14) this writer captured the scene in Ann Arbor, Mich. – and in particular, the impact of Wings star center Henrik Zetterberg, who had the primary assist on Detroit’s first goal of the New Year’s Day game against Toronto.

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In his 16-season NHL career, Zetterberg – “Hank” to those close to him – was one of the most complete players in the game. And he was particularly comfortable in outdoor games: In 2017, he racked up three assists in Detroit’s 5-4 loss to Toronto, giving him seven points in four outdoor games. And his teammates and hockey observers knew he was a special competitor, and worthy of being the Wings’ captain.

“That’s one of the things about our organization – they don’t bring in just anybody,” Detroit defenseman Niklas Kronwall said of Zetterberg. “They’re very particular in knowing who fits in where in the room. In ‘Hank’s case, they sat him beside Steve Yzerman for years and then they had him close to Nicklas Lidstrom after Steve retired. So it’s just been so natural for Hank to be our next captain. The organization picked the right person.”

Part of Zetterberg’s appeal was his strong effort as it pertained to the fundamentals of the sport. He wasn’t a gazelle on the ice, but he maximized his skating talents to give him the best position he could ask for during games.

“I don’t think I have the perfect stride or anything, but you just have to skate,” Zetterberg told THN. “Over my career, it’s not like I’ve been getting so much for free with my skating. You always have to skate and work hard and I kind of got used to that. That’s helped me. You can’t take off practices or games. When you have the same effort, when playoffs come around you’re used to it.”

Zetterberg won a Stanley Cup with Detroit, and he was named winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy as the NHL’s top playoff performer in 2008 after he scored the Cup-winning goal against Pittsburgh. Health issues forced him into retirement at age 38 in 2018, but his legacy with the Red Wings was cast in stone long before then.

“Z’s a special, special player,” then-Wings coach Mike Babcock said of Zetterberg. “But he’s also a special man. His leadership ability and his ability to understand the game and demand a lot from others is because he gets so much out of himself. He’s a huge part of our team. Every team has guys that drive the bus and he’s one of them for us.”

By Adam Proteau

January 27, 2014

ANN ARBOR, MI – Once again, Mother Nature smiled upon the NHL’s annual New Year’s Day outdoor game. The 13 degrees Fahrenheit/-11 degrees Celsius game-time temperature wasn’t entirely comfortable weather for the 105,491 in attendance at Michigan Stadium to see the Red Wings host the Maple Leafs, but the league had to be pleased to showcase its product in the most idyllic setting possible.

Sooner or later, the environment is bound to be less cooperative. And on that day, the NHL will have even fonder feelings for how fortunate it’s been with its marquee-event the past six seasons. One day, when it’s too hot or moist to guarantee safe ice or too frigid to guarantee safe viewing, team owners and advertisers will remember how fantastic the experience was in this small University of Michigan town and curse their misfortune in a climactic roll of the dice.

But it’s not always the case that you won’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.

Look at the Red Wings. They knew full well what Henrik Zetterberg meant to the team before he was sidelined in early December with a herniated disk, so when Detroit’s fortunes went south in the 11 games their captain missed, it was hardly a revelation. But knowing what was coming didn’t make it easier. The Wings were 14-7-7 at the time of his injury. Without him, they lost seven of their next eight games and went just 3-6-2 until he returned Dec. 28.

Though teammate Pavel Datsyuk is the player who has the most complete game of any current Red Wing, Zetterberg is the engine that pushes the franchise forward. That was apparent as soon as he came back from injury: at Michigan Stadium, Zetterberg was the driving force behind the first goal of the outdoor game when he threaded a perfect pass to teammate Daniel Alfredsson. “Z’s a special, special player,” says coach Mike Babcock. “But he’s also a special man. His leadership ability and his ability to understand the game and demand a lot from others is because he gets so much out of himself. He’s a huge part of our team. Every team has guys that drive the bus and he’s one of them for us.”

The partnership on that Winter Classic goal is part of an ongoing dream come true for Zetterberg, who was elated when Alfredsson signed with the Wings in the summer. “When ‘Alfie’ decided to come here, it was special for our group, but it was special for me, too,” Zetterberg says. “He was one of the players I’ve looked up to my entire career. I’ve played in the Olympics with him, I’ve played in world championships with him, but I never thought I’d have the chance to play with him on a club team. Just having him around is pretty special and something I’ll always remember.”

Zetterberg, 33, arrived on the NHL scene in 2002 from his native Sweden and instantly bonded with Datsyuk, which one teammate acknowledged by giving them nicknames like the “Euro Twins” and “Wonder Twins.” In the decade that followed, and in concert with a long list of current and future Hall of Famers, the duo helped Detroit to a Stanley Cup in 2008 and more playoff appearances than any other team.

Now, the incurious fan could point to the fact Datsyuk has won more individual NHL awards as an indication he’s of greater value than Zetterberg (whose sole individual award came when he won the Conn Smythe Trophy in ’08), but management didn’t give Zetterberg the captaincy as a consolation prize for taking a backseat to his Russian pal. No, Zetterberg is celebrating his first anniversary as Wings captain in mid-January because there’s no better player or presence for the job. He’s as consistent as anyone – a 20-to 30-goal-scorer and point-per-game player on track to do the same this season – and, more importantly, his even-keeled approach and expectant demeanor set the tone for his teammates.

Whereas Datsyuk is soft-spoken and just wants to play, Zetterberg is vocal in the dressing room and relentless in his desire to win. If he doesn’t have the nearly perfect game his fellow Wonder Twin possesses, he makes up for it in determination and selflessness. When you consider he’s had as many as 43 goals in a season, yet has always finished with more assists in each of his 10 NHL campaigns, it speaks to his willingness to sacrifice personal glory for team advancement.

If you examined Zetterberg’s game in the early days, you might have focused on his skating as an area he could improve. He didn’t move effortlessly across the ice like countryman and former Wings legend Nicklas Lidstrom (then again, how many do?) and in a league where every aspect of a player’s game is broken down to its formative atoms, this was a knock. But in short order, Zetterberg allayed all doubt with superior on-ice vision and smarts. He isn’t caught out of place. He thinks the game effortlessly, but acts on that thinking with maximum exertion. Every skating stride might look like work, but that’s the important thing: he’s working like a maniac with each leg extension and retraction. 

“I don’t think I have the perfect stride or anything, but you just have to skate,” Zetterberg said. “Over my career, it’s not like I’ve been getting so much for free with my skating. You always have to skate and work hard and I kind of got used to that. That’s helped me. You can’t take off practices or games. When you have the same effort, when playoffs come around you’re used to it.”

Zetterberg, still called ‘Hank’ by friends and teammates, isn’t signed through 2021 because he’s the flashiest guy on the ice. It’s because he’s the soundest investment Wings GM Ken Holland could make. He’s always working, always thinking. And he’s the right choice for a team that’s specialized in appropriate choices of leaders. 

“That’s one of the things about our organization – they don’t bring in just anybody,” says defenseman Niklas Kronwall. “They’re very particular in knowing who fits in where in the room. In Hank’s case, they sat him beside Steve Yzerman for years and then they had him close to Nicklas Lidstrom after Steve retired. So it’s just been so natural for Hank to be our next captain. The organization picked the right person.”

How appropriate, then, that on a day when the weather worked out for the game, Henrik Zetterberg continued to work out for the Wings.

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