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Swedish paper Expressen published an interview with Z today. Sorry about my English, it's not my native language! Everywhere inside Detroits dressing room you can hear players answer questions about their captain, how much he means for his team, and what makes him so good. After the practice we're in Henrik Zetterbergs Range Rover, on our way from the worn out parts of Detroit, to the suburb Birmingham, where the main part of the players live. It's when we're getting closer, I start to see why some of the clubs greatest have chosen to stay after they stopped playing. - It's very nice out here, Zäta says. Everyone is saluting you for your captaincy. What exactly is it, that you do so good? - I really don't know. We are many players that's been here a long time, and we went the same school, with so many great leaders around us all the time. I'm not thinking about it; it's a natural leadership. It's not like you walk around thinking about what to say, it just comes to you. Can you pick something you picked up from your predecessors? - The main thing is to lead by example, both Yzerman and Lids are representatives of that. They really stepped forward when most needed, and were always there for their team mates. Exactly like Zetterberg needed to do earlier in January - when the 23 year old team mate Tomas Tatar got the message that his father had died in Slovakia. The day after Tatar won the game for the team in LA, before he went home to bury his father. You hugged him a bit extra and whispered something in his ear. It was a picture spread in many social medias. -Yes, I don't think any of us thought about it when it happened, it just was when he scored... of course it was emotional for the whole team. All the things he went through, and he was the one that got to decide the game, he stayed those two games before he went home. We won the game and it came about very naturally. It was a special moment for the whole team. Zetterberg continue to talk about to take care of the young guys. -I think I was kind of spoiled when I came to the league. No one was really unkind or though with the new guys, they took really care of us. And I really try to be there for the new ones now. If they are comfortable of course they play better too. Detroit haven't missed playoff in 22 years. This year many people are worried. The list of hurt players have been brutal, and right now it's Zetterberg that have to take a heavy load both in the offensive and defensive game. The pressure before the Olympics will be immense. -It's been pretty hard. We've had many injuries and guys hurt all the time. i don't think we had ordinary line-up in one single game. The guys from Grand Rapids are doing are doing a fine job, I think. But it would be nice to get the ordinary team gathered after the Olympics, and to a push to try to get up in the standings. Are you and Emma feeling more at home for every year? -Yes, it's more and more becoming our home. I've been here for 10-11 years. For every years that goes by it's a bigger chance that we remain here after I stop playing. We like it very much here, it's a terrific city and unbelievable nice people. It's a nice place to live in. Pavel Datsyuk. Are you able to add something about that's not been said about this hockey phenomenon? - We got close very early. He came in one year before me, and we played together, on and off for 10 years. It's a unbelievable guy, and a really good teammate. He does everything right out there. You never stop to be amazed what he does out there. Often he does a move in practice that we just laugh about, then he does it in the games too. What do you think makes him so good? - He's got an unbelievable balance. How he skates, and how strong he is on his legs. And he's got magic hands, which make him able to things in and off balance. It's hard to see what he will do. When I look back at my career I will understand how lucky I've been to play with him almost the whole time. In the Olympics I'll count on you to stop him. - Yes... it's kind of hard actually. But it's about to take away the space from him. When he's got space and is up to speed he's dangerous. He's a key player for Russia, and if you can get him off balance much is won. But it's not easy to do. He's got to stop you to, at the same time, you must not forget that. - Yes it's a bit of a balance there. To have the puck feels like a key, so that you don't have to chase him around. If you got to talk about the Sweden team in The Olympics? - We got an unbelievable good team; many have been around for a long time and been playing good in their clubs. Of course we haven't got the depth that Canada and USA got, so we got to have everyone healthy. But if we got that, gold isn't impossible. How did you celebrate the last Olympics? - The last time we didn't celebrate, I can tell you that. Of course. 2006 in Torino I meant. - That was a fantastic experience. To win with the guys, that did their last international games. Peter, Mats, Lids, Homer. It was a special team we got then. To win together with Peter, Sudden (Sundin) and Affe (Alfie), that you looked up to, since you were a kid. It also was cool to get to Stockholm to see the support there too. It's an important game immediately, against the Czechs. It can decide the group. - Yes, it's important to get a game like that immediately, so that you get a feel if something is not right, or to know if something needs to be corrected. Previous gold-tournaments an early wake-up call maybe has been good, to not just cruise through the early games and then meet a good team, and all of a sudden the tournament is over. Jagr and Nedved are two experienced guys to take care of. - Jagr, you got to say, has had a terrific year over here. Nedved, I really don't know where he is playing actually. But it will be good to get into the tournament and meet a good team straight away. Which team do you like to beat in the final? - Canada Why? - Would be nice to meet them, and defeat them in a final. It's something special to meet Canada and get to win against them. Has it something to do with Sidney Crosby, and your history in Stanley Cup? Would it be nice to win against him? - No it's not so much about him, but it would be nice to beat your coach. How is Mike Babcock anyway, he looks maniacal? Yes he can get mad sometimes. But it's a bit special, I had him as a coach for nine years now, and it would be nice to really play them in a final and win.

Okay some intermission entertainment, been doing this on the side while watching the game.

I don't know about you guys but for me, f*** the extra point. I'm not even mad about that. I'm pissed off that we have lost three games to the Florida Panthers honestly. It's a pride thing for me at the moment. They have our number this year and it's ******* frustrating. I cannot believe we lost again to them.

There's another point lost if we miss the playoffs. Awful coaching, play and goaltending in the 3rd period.

Alfie just glides in looking like the controller disconnected

Brad Boyes Brad Boyes Whatcha gonna do Whatcha gonna do when they Kronwall you

Seriously the shooters should have been Tatar jurco and sheahan.

I swear the Florida Panthers must have some kind of devil worshipping ceremony in their locker room before Red Wings games. This is ridiculous. This game should be over.

Love it when Tatar works his ass off in the offensive zone like that!

Holy friggin Tatar

Hey Babcock now would be a great time to use that TO

I LOVE SHEAHAN. Biggest surprise this season. Wasn't excepting this at all.

Yes ! The Overripe-line.

Babs told the kids there would be a pizza party at Chuck E Cheeses after the game if they lit it up tonight.

Wait, why weren't these players in the lineup when the season started?

That blown call on what should have been our 4th goal s*** on our momentum.

Didn't Cleary have the same goal called back last game against Florida with Thomas flopping? I can't even get mad at Cleary for that one. Garbage call. Thomas should go back to the farm and DIVE in a hole.

IT WASN'T SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE THIS

So now that he's officially gone, can we wish him well in life? I liked the guy, and was sad when he left. I love how he made me look like an idiot by scoring twice against Pittsburgh after I had told a friend how he couldn't score to save his life. Good luck, good health, and good fortune to you and your family, My Dear Swede.

I hope it rains and the NHL learns their lesson about sunbelt blah blah blah and that too much of something is not good. 1 Winter Classic and 1 Heritage Classic. Done.

I think if there is anyone worth the risk who's legitimately available, it's Weber. The Wings are in a position now where they have to take risks. Like the previous poster mentioned, the Wings never really had to make big trades before, because we always had a competitive team, and it just need tweeking. I'm still not holding my breath that it'll happen, but I think it'd be well worth a few prospects. I think a top 2 defenseman would make a world of difference. While it would seem like it would take a King's ransom to get him, I'm always surprised when a "star" player is traded. My first thought is always "that's it? That's all they got for him?" So it may not take as much as we think. I guess it all depends on how much the Preds want to shed the salary. Last I checked, they weren't in the playoffs, so they might be thinking we can miss the playoffs without having to pay this big salary. I also am not as schooled on our prospects that many here are. I don't know how they are valued around the league. What would everyone talk about if we got a big tough Canadian defenseman in his prime? I don't think we'll ever find out, but an interesting thought

*runs into thread* *throws confetti* *runs out of thread*

Drunk/impaired driving is wrong, make no doubt about it. But people get on their high horse about this issue like none other, when virtually EVERY person who has ever drank at a bar and then driven home has probably broken DWI laws to some degree. And if you don't drink, but use your smartphone while driving every once in awhile, don't try to tell me you're any better than a drunk driver, either. Sheahan did a bad thing, and the law will punish him for it to the extent sorted out by the system. If it happens again, we can start to talk about a pattern. But the way people "discard" people with a DWI as if they must be "alcoholics" bothers me, even if the underlying offense IS wrong. You don't have be an alcoholic or chronic screw-up to make a mistake.