BIOGRAPHY

Henrik Zetterberg (born October 9, 1980, in Njurunda, Sweden) is a Swedish professional ice hockey player.

He plays left wing and is an alternate captain for the Detroit Red Wings. Zetterberg goes by the nicknames of “Zäta” (pronounced “Zaeta,” which means “Z” in Swedish); and “Hank,” an anglicized shortening of Henrik that is used by his Red Wings teammates. He and his fellow linemate Pavel Datsyuk have been nicknamed by commentators and the Detroit media as the “Euro Twins” and “The Pav and Hank Show.”

Zetterberg played his youth league games for the Njurunda Sports Club. He caught the attention of the Red Wings during a tournament in Finland.

Zetterberg was selected by the Detroit Red Wings 210th overall in the seventh round of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft. After playing for Timrå IK of the Swedish Elitserien for the 2000–01 and 2001–02 seasons, Zetterberg came to Detroit to play in the NHL for the 2002–03 season.

Zetterberg, a highly touted rookie, did not disappoint. He made his debut against the San Jose Sharks on October 10, 2002. He played in 79 games his rookie season, scoring 22 goals and 22 assists for 44 points, leading all first-year players. Zetterberg finished the season as runner-up for the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year. Zetterberg returned to Sweden to play for Timrå IK in 2004–05, during the NHL lockout, leading the Elitserien in scoring with 50 points in 50 games.

As the NHL resumed in 2005–06, Zetterberg emerged as an NHL star and was also named an alternate captain.. He enjoyed his second best statistical season in 2005–06, tallying 39 goals and 85 points.

In the 2006–07 season, Zetterberg was selected for the 2007 NHL All-Star Game and scored his 100th career goal against the Phoenix Coyotes on February 8, 2007. He finished the year with 68 points in his injury-shortened 63-game season.

Zetterberg began the 2007–08 season with a 16-game point-scoring streak, breaking the record of 14 games set by former Red Wing Norm Ullman in 1960. He was voted to start for the Western Conference in the 2008 NHL All-Star Game. Despite missing time due to injury, Zetterberg recorded a career-year with personal bests of 43 goals, 49 assists and 92 points in 75 games. He went on to add a 27 points in 22 playoff games, leading the Red Wings to the 2008 Stanley Cup championship, their 11th in team history. In game six of the Finals against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Zetterberg scored the Stanley Cup-winning goal and was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoffs MVP afterwards. Zetterberg was also up for the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the best defensive forward, but finished as a runner-up to teammate Pavel Datsyuk.

Zetterberg agreed to a 12-year, $73 million contract extension with the Red Wings on January 28, 2009. The deal is the longest and most lucrative in franchise history.

With the 2008 Stanley Cup championship, Zetterberg became a member of the Triple Gold Club. The term is used for an exclusive group of ice hockey players who have won Olympic gold, World Championship gold, and the Stanley Cup. Zetterberg is one of 22 members of this exclusive club, which is formally recognized by the International Ice Hockey Federation.

International play