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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.

@Bill_Roose: The #RedWings have placed veteran forward Mikael Samuelsson on waivers today. Right decision I think

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

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.

Took management only half a season to realize what the fans believed all along.

Finally, a good roster move decision! Cleary next and we'll be getting somewhere.

And so draws to an end the Mikael Samuelsson era, not with a bang, but with a whimper. To all those thinking he'll not report to GR and will retire - dream on. All the guy has to do is ride buses for 3 months and he picks up another $1.5M What an absolutely brutal contract. 2 years?? Why Kenny, why? $3M per year? ?? Why Kenny, why? NTC?? Why Kenny why? Why could you not give a 35 year old with no leverage, a 1 year contract for $1.5M and no NTC????? Its not like you were in a bidding war for the guys services!!!

What? Not a lot of interest in hockey in LA? Too many outdoor games? Nothing like taking a good idea and ruining it with overexposure Bettman, you filthy little money grubbing troll.

Its a shame they are overdoing this really, its kind of like knowing there is going to me a multi car pile up just outside your window you have to watch. I have seen enough though looks too un natural to me and the puck is bouncing all over the place like a rubber ball. Im glad to see most people dont like it, seems most of us agree this game is too tacky.

I don't mind the location so much as I mind the number of outdoor games, it diminishes the novelty.

Specifically I was surprised by the raise AND the term AND the NTC. Seems like one or two of those should've made the deal more favorable, but apparently not. Holland finally throws cash around to bring in a free agent and he does it for friggin Samuelsson.

I think John Tortorella has a better chance of winning a Nobel Peace Prize than Sammy has of getting picked up on waivers.

its like Kenny has held his hand up and admitted he made a complete b##ls up with the signing of Sammy. If he had given him a deal worth $1.5m per year then maybe it wouldn't have been so bad but $3m a year was a major overpayment.

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.

If it's snobbery to think a red carpet at a hockey game is ludicrous, then I'll gladly embrace the snob label. It was turned into a circus and a place to be seen rather than an opportunity to enjoy a hockey game. Don't you think you're being a little overly sensitive? And where is anyone ragging on a team? I don't understand your comment about the Kings. I say if they want to play an outdoor game, great, we'll be happy to host it for you. Come on over.

There's definitely too many outdoor games and having Kiss play was awful, but the snobbery in this thread is hilarious. And people aren't being honest with themselves about the level of play in the Winter Classic under those conditions. Also, a few people don't seem to realize the Los Angeles Kings have been in the NHL for 47 years.

Cleary is scratched today? I'm gonna go buy a lottery ticket!!!!!

esteef

Kennys finally realized the kids are our ticket to the post season and admitted to his faults by sitting all 3 dead weight vets. Im expecting great things between now and the olympic break.

Not even if they kept half his salary and took Samuelsson straight up for him. I don't want a d-man who can't defend.

who knows, but who gave Ericsson a chance when he was selected last overall in his draft year.

Glendening has been up over Callahan because every forward who has missed a bunch of time except Alfredsson have been centers, or wings who can play center when needed. If they needed a 4th line winger, I'm sure Callahan would have have his chance. The Wings are loaded with guys who project to be solid to good NHL players. Up front they're lacking top center depth though. If Jarnkrok doesn't develop into a top line guy, they'll have to find one in trade or free agency. Jurco could easily be a 25-30 goal guy, Mantha will either be a stud goal scorer or complete bust, depending on how bad he wants it. Sheahan could have a Dan Cleary type career where he's a 40 point guy capable of playing on any line. Pulk could be a 25+ goal a year sniper. Callahan is one of those guys who will do whatever it takes to win, I think he's going to be a hell of a checking line winger. Glendening is probably going to be an ok 4th line guy/reserve forward. Ferraro has speed and works hard, so he should have a decent pro career, but he's probably going to top out as a 4th line energy player. The other guys are farther out, but I'm not ready to write Frk or Tvrdon off quite yet, and Athanasiou is looking like a potential stud with good size and excellent speed. At the very least he should be a high end checking line guy. Janmark has picked up his scoring pace in Sweden, too, and there are a few other guys with a decent chance of being NHL players. Defense is even more loaded. Sproul and Ouellet are potential top pairing guys. Backman and Marchenko project as solid to good second pairing guys, and Jensen could be a second pair guy too. I'm not high on Almquist, I think his size is going to limit him far too much at the NHL level, unless he finds a team that wants to use him as a PP specialist with limited even strength minutes. McKee, McNulty, De Haas, Nedomlel, and Wheaton are all big bodied guys who could be decent 3rd pairing guys. Add all that to the younger guys who have established themselves and the Wings look like they should continue to be in top half of the NHL for a long time.

Not even if their asking price was Quincey kindl Sammy Cleary bertuzzi and a bag of chips?

I don't think its fair to refer to Pulks as our #11 prospect, when you look at the guys ahead of him - Mrazek, Sproul, Oullet, Jurco, Jarnok, Mantha.....that's our top 6. We just have unreal depth in our prospect pool right now. Personally however, I would look to package him up because I don't see where he's going to get a spot on our roster (like a lot of our other B level prospects) no matter how well he does in the AHL, and 30 points in 38 games in his first pro season is pretty good. B-b-b-b-b-b-but Holland sucks, and he trades away our first rounders!!!!