Henrik Zetterberg's NHL career is over due to a back injury

After months of speculation, Detroit Red Wings general manager Ken Holland officially declared Friday: Henrik Zetterberg's career is over.

A degenerated back problem is the cause of the 37-year-old Zetterberg stopping, as the Red Wings kicked off their training camp in 2018. Holland said the New York doctors who were consulted on the issue stated that there was no treatment that would allow him to continue playing.

"I think he wants to play, but he can not," he said.

Zetterberg, the 210th pick in the 1999 NHL draft, was unable to train this summer and last month the Red Wings captain was unable to train.

"It's moving," said Zetterberg via Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press. "It's been 15 years here and even though I knew I was in my last two years, I'd like to be able to play a little longer."

There is still three years left on the Zetterberg contract, which is worth $ 6.083 million. He is not going to retire officially, of course; that would mean foregoing the remaining $ 5.35 million due in the 2020-2021 season. The Red Wings will benefit from a lighter course by placing it in the long-term injury reserve, as CapFriendly notes.

Zetterberg, 37, broke with the Red Wings in the 2002-03 season and was named captain of the franchise in January 2013 after Nicklas Lidstrom retired. He has been a major presence in the locker room and has had a notable influence on many young Red Wings over the years.

"He is a real professional. He's a great player, a great guy, "said Dylan Larkin during the NHL media tour earlier this month. "It's definitely going to hurt not to have it. When he speaks in the room, everyone is listening.

He will help them win the 2008 Stanley Cup and will finish his career in the NHL with 337 goals and 960 points in 1,082 games. In addition to the Cup, a portion of his cabinet includes the 2008 Conn Smythe Trophy, the 2015 King Clancy Memorial Trophy, the 2006 Olympic Games Gold Medal and the 2006 IIHF World Championship, as well as two

Zetterberg is also one of 28 "Triple Gold Club" hockey players, having won the cup and gold at the Olympics and World Games.

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<p class = "canvas-atom-canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – smt Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "Sean Leahy is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @Sean_Leahy. "data-reactid =" 31 ">Sean Leahy is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @Sean_Leahy.