Henrik Zetterberg to Be Detroit Red Wings Captain, Tomas Holmstrom to Retire

Henrik Zetterberg will be named the next captain of the Detroit Red Wings and fellow Swede Tomas Holmstrom will soon announce his retirement, according to Ansar Khan of MLive.com.

Zetterberg will become just the third captain of the Red Wings since 1986, replacing Nicklas Lidstrom, who took the captaincy in 2006 following Steve Yzerman’s retirement. 

The Red Wings selected Zetterberg 210th overall in the 1999 NHL entry draft. The 32-year-old Swedish forward has spent his entire NHL career in Detroit and has served as alternate captain since the 2006-07 season. 

Zetterberg was an integral part of the 2008 Stanley Cup run and was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP. In 668 career games Zetterberg has recorded 252 goals and 327 assists for 624 points. 

As for Tomas Holmstrom, the Red Wings have been aware of his plan to retire for some time, according to Khan. However, they have been waiting for the lockout to end to make the announcement. 

Holmstrom is best known for his play in front of the opponent's net, and like Zetterberg he has spent his entire NHL career in Detroit. The Red Wings selected the winger in the 10th round (257th overall) in the 1994 NHL entry draft. 

Holmstrom, who turns 40 this month, won the Stanley Cup with the Red Wings in 1997, 1998, 2002 and 2008. Holmstrom and Lidstrom were the last players left from the 1997 and 1998 championship teams still playing for the Red Wings last season.

In 1,086 career games Holmstrom scored 243 goals and 287 assists for 530 points. He also recorded 97 points in 180 playoff games. 

Zetterberg and Holmstrom have both represented Sweden at a number of international tournaments, including the 2006 Olympics where Sweden captured gold. Holmstrom was supposed to join Zetterberg, Lidstrom and Niklas Kronwall at the 2010 Olympics, but a knee injury kept him out of the lineup. He was replaced by Red Wings teammate Johan Franzen.