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NIAGARA FALLS, Ont. – Auston Matthews has so much admiration for Henrik Zetterberg he asked the captain of the Detroit Red Wings for an autographed stick last season.
"It's in my apartment," said the Toronto Maple Leafs center. "I mean, I loved watching him play.The last two years playing against him, it was so hard to play against there."
Zetterberg, who turns 38 on October 8, said Friday he would not be able to play because of a degenerative condition on the back.
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"Clearly, health is all about sports and life in general," said Matthews, 20. "It's unfortunate, but it's a hell of a career."
Zetterberg's influence over Matthews came from Toronto Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock, who coached Zetterberg to Detroit from 2005 to 15. Matthews spent hours during his 2016-17 rookie season with Babcock watching videos from the Red Wings Center.
"I find him a very good player, sometimes a bit underrated," said Matthews. "He [could] play games, see the ice so well. Even when we played him, he made me look bad a few times, and you shook your head sometimes because [he was] a guy who still succeeds. "
Zetterberg earned 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in seven games against Matthews.
"He's an elite player, a better competitor and maybe a better person, a real leader," Babcock said. "He hurt his back … some time ago and he was able to train and fight. He has a young family and he has the rest of his life. We wish him every success.
Babcock and Zetterberg won the Stanley Cup in 2008 with Detroit.
"His leadership, motivation, competitiveness and professionalism will be missed," Babcock said. "It's a good man."
Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan was a teammate of the Zetterberg Red Wings from 2002 to 2006.
"I remember that Henrik joined our team in 2002-03 and that he had a great year," Shanahan said. "You could immediately see that he had not only incredible skills, but also great leadership.
"He's on a long list of great captains of the Detroit Red Wing."
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