Getty Images On a points per game basis, last season was Henrik Zetterberg‘s worst since 2003-04.
Not that 69 points in 82 games is pitiful by any means — it was still the most on the Red Wings — but there were definitely times when he was wishing things were going better.
He’s not wishing that right now. With 18 points in 12 games, Detroit’s new captain is third in league scoring and drawing rave reviews from teammates.
“Hank has been huge for us,” defenseman Niklas Kronwall said, per MLive.com. “Right now, he may be as good as I’ve seen him, the stuff he does out there, all the little things right. He’s outworking everybody. Him and [Pavel Datsyuk] are just tremendous.”
Zetterberg’s hot start is actually a continuation of his play in the second half of 2011-12. Post All-Star break, he had 34 points in 32 games.
Things are going pretty well for the team, too. Despite being forced to deal with numerous injuries and the loss of Nicklas Lidstrom, one of the greatest defensemen in NHL history, to retirement, the Red Wings are 7-4-1 — good for sixth in the Western Conference — heading into tonight’s game against the Blues.
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City of Glendale meets; questions remain about Coyotes deal
Jun 19, 2013, 11:57 AM EDT
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Meanwhile, the clock keeps ticking.
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Persistent Preds sign another: D-man Bartley, three years, $2 million
Jun 19, 2013, 11:35 AM EDT
GM David Poile might be the busiest man in hockey.
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Based on a couple of reports, the answer appears to be yes.
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Sens’ Murray has ‘talked to a number of teams’ about moving up at draft
Jun 19, 2013, 11:17 AM EDT
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“If you move up, there’s a chance to maybe get that better player.”
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The duo spent the last three seasons together in Vancouver.
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He’ll be in charge of working with defensemen.
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Chicago has once again found themselves behind the Bruins.
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Both were scheduled to become restricted free agents this summer.
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Ken Cruise showed off his work at Game 3.
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Boston has a 2-1 series lead.
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Looks like Seth Jones might not be the number one selection.
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Wednesday’s collection of links.
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It’s the first NHL game on NBCSN to surpass 4 million viewers.
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They beat the Syracuse Crunch in six games.
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“It’s going to be a strong, solid franchise just like Winnipeg is now.”
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Report: Flyers will buy out Briere, Bryzgalov another story (Updated)
Jun 18, 2013, 9:27 PM EDT
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Things are getting dramatic in Philadelphia.
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His annual cap hit is a hefty $7,727,273.
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Coburn might be heading the other way.
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He also loves 2013 NHL Draft prospect Darnell Nurse.
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The coach already had him picked as Plan B if Marian Hossa couldn’t play.
