PHOTO: Bildbyrån
He is one of Swedish hockey’s really big profiles.
But the question is whether Henrik Zetterberg is heading for a return to the SHL?
– We are at a good level now, “Zäta” admits to SportExpressen.
There are few Swedish hockey players who can measure up Henrik Zetterberg’s majestic track record. Sundsvallsonen has won Olympic gold, World Cup gold, the Stanley Cup and been awarded a whole bunch of individual awards over the years.
Zäta’s career
There were a total of 18 seasons in the NHL, six of which as team captain for the Detroit Red Wings, and “Zäta” scored a total of 1,082 games and 960 points in the world’s best hockey league. This weekend he returned to the ice again, five years after his last NHL game for Detroit.
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Zetterberg laced up his skates again to play the “Game for Börje” exhibition match and do his part to donate money to Börje Salming’s ALS foundation. And the old beats were still there.
– I’m almost the youngest in this team. So I’ll probably have to do this as long as I can, haha. I have a bit of an advantage so far, it wasn’t that long ago that I quit. It’s important to take care while you have the energy, says Zäta in Gävle to SportExpressen.
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SHL comeback?
The now 42-year-old Henrik Zetterberg lives a completely new life today as a hockey pensioner, far away from the ice barns actually. Together with the wife Emma Zetterberg they run two restaurants in Scania’s Mölle and Båstad.
– It’s busy! I am involved in a lot of different things. Above all, it is wonderful to be at home in Sweden close to family and friends, he says in the interview.
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One trophy that Zetterberg never got to win during his career was SM gold when he left Swedish hockey and his favorite club Timrå back in 2002 as a 21-year-old. But during the winter, Zäta has often been seen at Timrå IK’s SHL matches in the NHC Arena, 20 years after leaving the club in his heart.
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The hockey legend admits that he has a close contact with Timrå, but when asked if he can imagine a role within the club, he talks frankly about his feelings.
– Doing something official takes too much time. So we are at a good level now. It’s the most fun to follow and support as best I can, he says to the evening newspaper.
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