Back Injury Forces Red Wings Captain Henrik Zetterberg to Retire

Detroit Red Wings Center Henrik Zetterberg. Photo by Allan Dranberg/CSM/REX/Shutterstock (9480555o)

Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg has been forced to retire due to an extended back injury, manager Ken Holland confirmed Friday.

With 3-years before his 8-year contract expires, 37-year-old Detroit Red Wings captain has been placed on long-term injury leave. Before the injury, Zetterberg appeared for Detroit in all 82 games for three consecutive games. Last season, the captain scored 11 goals and made 45 assists as Detroit missed the playoffs for a second season.

While describing his injury to reporters in April, the left winger expressed optimism he would get better.

“I don’t want to think I have played my last game,” – Zetterberg said then.

As of last month, the 37-year old was not yet able to get back to training. While speaking to reporters, Zetterberg said he was feeling pain in his nerves, legs and disk-related issues. While speaking to Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet, the Red Wings’ player said his problems with his shoulder started last season.

“I felt in February that something was not right, and then we decided that I would stop practicing and just play games,” he said. “That way I could complete the season.

Throughout his career, the Swedish has averaged 43 points per season. He won Gold medals in 2006 at the Ice Hockey World Champions. In 2008, he won the Stanley Cup with the Red Wings and won the MVP title the same year.