First of all, observers refuse to put any blame on Zetterberg for his team’s struggles. “He’s a loyal player and he has assumed a more defensive role this year,” said coach Peo Larsson who resigned due to the team’s poor start after four successful years at the helm. “The points will come for him. He hasn’t performed badly.”
That Zetterberg, who plays centre for Timrå, has a ton of offensive ability was evident in the last game of the Sweden Hockey Games where Zetterberg suited up in a more offensive role. He scored four goals against the Finns - one of them after a beautiful move that gave Swedish fans a déjà vu of Peter Forsberg’s famous “stamp goal”. Detroit Red Wings General Manager Ken Holland was in attendance and praised his prospect in the Swedish press right after the game, stating “I think he’s good enough to play in the Olympics right now.”
Perhaps there’s a personal agenda reflected in those comments, but apparently General Manager Anders Hedberg and Head Coach Hardy Nilsson agreed. The fact that he is on pace for an 29 point sophomore season after scoring 46 as a rookie doesn’t seem to be of any concern to anyone near the game of hockey.
Former NHL defenseman Ulf Samuelsson, who worked as an analyst for Swedish TV during the Sweden Hockey Games saw Zetterberg play for the first time in the tournament and was impressed: “Oh, I’ll think he’ll make it in the NHL. A few extra pounds is always helpful, but he’s good enough right now.”
If anyone knows about how demanding the physical part of the North American game is, it’s Samuelsson who spent 15 years dishing it out on opposing forwards.
Zetterberg, 21, should certainly have a bright future. After overshadowing the heralded Sedin-twins in the 2000 World Junior Championships in Sweden, he has steadily improved. Two seasons ago, he led his hometown Timrå to the Elitserien after a sparkling 30 goals and 14 assists over the course of the season. Last year in the Elitserien, he put of points that compared well to star forwards Jörgen Jönsson and Mikael Renberg who finished the season with 46 and 54 points, respectively. It should be noted that both Jönsson and Renberg had stronger supporting casts than Zetterberg did in Timrå.
He also won rookie of the year honours, far ahead of any competition. It’s highly probable that he will suit up for the Detroit Red Wings next season, and he could be the heir apparent to Igor Larionov. Henrik is smallish, only 5´11, 180, prompting some to put a question mark around his future in the NHL, but he is quick and smart enough to be one of the little guys who makes it. He is level-headed and appears focused, although that does not always include the score of the games he’s playing in; in an interview with Swedish TV, former coach Peo Larsson chuckled; “In a game against Malmö last season, Henrik suddenly looked up at the scoreboard in the second period and said ‘Have they only scored two?’”
The apparent inability to sometimes know the score of the game doesn’t stop him from scoring the important goals. He has been credited with twelve game-winning goals so far in his career.
Zetterberg displays a ton of hockey sense on the ice, almost always making the right decision with his passes. He also has a good scoring touch and the ability to finish off plays with finesse as well as powerful shots. He is a good skater and loyal to the team concept. The only question mark left about the 1999 7th round pick is when, not if, he’ll grow into the costume that suits a player of high international calibre. He sometimes looked lost and in awe when playing for Sweden at the World Championships in Germany, but still managed to score four points in nine games.
The lack of experience will probably mean that Zetterberg is used merely as a spare part on the Swedish Olympic team. Red Wings faithful might get a first look of Zetterberg’s finesse and flair in February, but it will certainly not be the last one as he is headed for a long and productive National Hockey League career.
