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Want advice on the latest cutting-edge European fashions? Go see the scruffy-faced trendsetter with long, sandy-blond locks in the corner of Red Wings’ locker room. Want to know how to become one of the brightest stars in the NHL in only your fourth season of competition? Again, see the guy in the corner of the room.Henrik Zetterberg has developed into the all-around, go-to-guy both on and off the ice in Hockeytown, and he has landed himself a spot on the fast-track to stardom because of his impressive offensive statistics.The 6-foot, 190-pound left wing has progressed rapidly into one of the key members of the Red Wings, who are aiming for their first Stanley Cup since 2002.
Winning the NHL’s most desired prize is Zetterberg’s top priority at this point in his young career. Besides, a championship ring would be a nice addition to the Olympic gold medal he won with Sweden in 2006.“I would say the Stanley Cup is No. 1,” said Zetterberg, who also competed in the Salt Lake City Olympics. “That’s the thing that you want to win. That’s why you’re here every day and why you workout in the summertime. You want to be standing on the top after the season and have the Cup with you.”
He’s certainly doing his part to bring the Cup back to Detroit. Before an inflamed disk in his back forced him to sit – he missed the final 19 games of the regular-season – Zetterberg was on fire. But in the Wings’ Round 1 series win over Calgary, his productivity cooled to a pair of power play goals in Game 5.“It's small things that make a difference," he told the Detroit Free Press. “I think the legs have been there the whole time but I don't think the timing has. I maybe was in the right places that I haven't been before and now I just have to continue being there.”
He was picked as the NHL’s First Star for February, racking up 13 goals and 12 assists in 11 games. He scored six game-winners between Jan. 30 and Feb. 21, helping the Wings to reach the 40-win plateau for the ninth straight season. He finished the season with a league-best 10 game-winning goals.“He’s pretty much got the golden tools, I think,” Wings’ teammate and fellow countryman Tomas Holmstrom said. “He’s a great skater; he sees the ice well; he’s a great passer. He’s got all the tools to be a superstar. It makes it easy to play with him, for sure.”
Slowly, those outside the Wings’ organization are realizing Zetterberg’s value. Phoenix coach and managing partner Wayne Gretzky recently described Zetterberg as the “most underrated player in the NHL.”Interestingly enough, that comment was made before Zetterberg had a pair of goals and an assist in a 4-2 win over the Coyotes on Feb. 7.Underrated? Maybe to outsiders.“It just takes some time to earn the right to be (a star),” Wings coach Mike Babcock said. “There’s always been people there before him. He’s finding his way. It’s like you (media members) have finally caught on. We see him every day.”
Zetterberg was named the NHL’s top star for the week ending February 11 after he had nine points in four games. A week later, he earned the honor once again after finishing with eight points and guiding the Wings into first place. It’s all in a day’s work.“I played with him for a long time, so I know he’s a good player because of the things he does out there,” Holmstrom said. “Once in a while, he does things you don’t think he can do out there. He hasn’t reached his prime time yet. I think he’s still trying to figure out the game, and getting even better at it.”
Despite playing in only 63 games, Zetterberg led the Wings with 33 goals and was second with 68 points. He had two or more points in eight of his last 12 regular-season games before being sidelined in late February.“He’s definitely one of the elite of the elite in this league,” center Kris Draper said. “I think the one thing, to us, that we get to see night in and night out, is how he does it at both ends of the rink. I think that’s what makes him such a great hockey player is that he’s a great two-way hockey player.“He gets power-play goals for us. He’s out on the ice in the last minute when we need a goal or when we’re protecting a lead, so that shows what a well-rounded player he is and I think that’s what makes him so valuable to this hockey club and obviously such a great player in this league.”
Being surrounded by good players certainly helps Zetterberg’s cause. Zetterberg’s statistics are aided by the fact that he plays alongside Holmstrom and Pavel Datsyuk.“He’s got skill, but that’s not what makes him special,” Babcock said. “What makes him special is will and how hard he works and how hard he competes and how he brings it every night, his professionalism. “There’s lots of good players in the league, but there’s not a ton at that level that bring it every night and that’s what superstars do. Superstars bring it every night and make the people around him better. Everyone’s talking about Zetterberg, but Pavel and him playing together with Homer … you don’t do these things by yourself.”
Zetterberg broke into the league in 2002 and had a chance to play beside Datsyuk and Brett Hull. It proved to be a nice combination.Zetterberg started off his career as the runner-up for the Calder Trophy. He led all rookies in goals (22) and points (44) and finished tied for third among rookies in assists (22).“It was special,” Zetterberg said of his rookie line. “You heard a lot of stuff about Hully and you were afraid of him from the beginning and he gave you a lot of not-so-nice stuff, but always with a smile on his face. It was fun and I will always remember that I played a season with him.”
Ever since the beginning, Zetterberg proved he was ready to tackle this league. He recorded his first point in his debut on Oct. 10, 2002, assisting on Sergei Fedorov’s game-winning goal at San Jose. Two games later, Zetterberg scored his first goal.Despite missing more than 20 games in his sophomore season because of a leg injury, Zetterberg finished with a career-high 28 assists, seven power-play goals and a plus/minus rating of plus-15.After the lockout, Zetterberg showed no signs of rust in 2005-06.He had a career-high 39 goals, 46 assists and 85 points, and led Detroit with 17 power-play goals. He took time off during the Olympic break to go and win a gold medal.This season stands to be even better.
Zetterberg was named to his first All-Star Game in January, and before February’s conclusion he had tallied an impressive 33 goals and 35 assists.“Hopefully he’ll just keep getting better, better and better,” Babcock said. “On this team, you can play until you’re 50, so he’s got a long time to go.”
DECISION TIME
Zetterberg’s athletic career began when he was a child growing up in northern Sweden. He loved staying active with both soccer and hockey.When he was 13, he hung up his cleats and decided to focus on hockey.“The seasons were mixing into each other and I had to make a choice,” Zetterberg said. “It was an easy choice to make to play hockey. I’m from up north in Sweden and hockey is bigger up there than soccer. So it was an easy choice.”It was a very wise choice.Zetterberg played at various levels for the Timra IK hockey club and he had the honor of being the only non-NHL player to appear on Sweden’s Olympic roster in 2002.Zetterberg is such a star back home that in April 2002, his No. 20, which was worn while playing for the Swedish Elite League, became just the second number ever retired in the history of the Timra IK club.
Zetterberg’s athletic career began when he was a child growing up in northern Sweden. He loved staying active with both soccer and hockey.When he was 13, he hung up his cleats and decided to focus on hockey.“The seasons were mixing into each other and I had to make a choice,” Zetterberg said. “It was an easy choice to make to play hockey. I’m from up north in Sweden and hockey is bigger up there than soccer. So it was an easy choice.”It was a very wise choice.Zetterberg played at various levels for the Timra IK hockey club and he had the honor of being the only non-NHL player to appear on Sweden’s Olympic roster in 2002.Zetterberg is such a star back home that in April 2002, his No. 20, which was worn while playing for the Swedish Elite League, became just the second number ever retired in the history of the Timra IK club.
There’s much more to Zetterberg than just hockey. At 18, he fulfilled his military obligation and enlisted in the army.It’s one of those little known facts about him.Yes, he spent 7 ½ months in a basic training group that was made up primarily of elite athletes. Zetterberg learned how to shoot guns and was taught how to seek out the enemy in wooded, snowy areas. “It was a lot of fun,” he said. “We had our own group that was just athletes. I think we got a little bit of special treatment.”Fun and army in the same sentence? Does that mean there’s an alternative career path? “No,” he said. “I don’t think if Sweden would be in a war, they would call our group.”Thankfully, the Wings did draft him, making him their seventh round selection in 1999.
FASHIONABLY WAITING
Zetterberg was sitting in the stands and watching for part of the Wings’ playoff run toward the Cup in 2002. It’s an experience he’ll never forget. Of course, those memories will be put aside as soon as he can live it firsthand.He doesn’t have any regrets, even if his rookie campaign came just shortly after all the champagne had been sipped out of Lord Stanley.“It was special to be here and see all that,” he said. “Of course you want to be a part of it, but if I would have been there that year, I don’t think I would have played that much. I just have to wait my time.”
Zetterberg was sitting in the stands and watching for part of the Wings’ playoff run toward the Cup in 2002. It’s an experience he’ll never forget. Of course, those memories will be put aside as soon as he can live it firsthand.He doesn’t have any regrets, even if his rookie campaign came just shortly after all the champagne had been sipped out of Lord Stanley.“It was special to be here and see all that,” he said. “Of course you want to be a part of it, but if I would have been there that year, I don’t think I would have played that much. I just have to wait my time.”
Zetterberg hopes that waiting game will be played here in Detroit. So far, so good – considering he signed a four-year contract in 2005.“The only thing that I want to do is stay here for the rest of my career over here, but I don’t know how long that will be because that’s up to my body,” he said. “As long as my body’s healthy and I feel that I can contribute something to the team, I will stay.”
Zetterberg helps his case by spending summers back home in Sweden lifting weights, running outdoors and boating.During the season, he enjoys passing time by corresponding with family and friends via e-mail and keeping track of news in Sweden on the Internet.Of course, Zetterberg also finds time to monitor all the latest fashion trends overseas. “I think it’s fun to dress nice and have your own style,” he said.
Sure, there are times when Zetterberg’s fashion statements draw some ribbing from teammates, but it’s all in good fun.“He has no problem throwing on an outfit and having all the confidence in the world to wear it in the dressing room,” Draper said. “If guys say something, which most of us always do when we get a chance, he just kind of laughs it off and goes about his business.”Maybe the guys are just jealous.“He seems to be a little bit ahead of the fashion that comes over here,” Draper said. “He’s setting trends and certainly ahead of the trends, and the older guys are kind of watching and looking.”The older guys are not just watching Zetterberg for his fashion, but for style on the on-ice, where he hopes to strike a pose with the Stanley Cup this spring.
