Is anyone more underpaid than Zetterberg?

[egroen 384]

Holland once said to the press that "Zetterberg will be a captain in Detroit". Something pretty dreadful would have to happen for him to ever be traded or lost to free agency.

Heck, Niklas Lidstrom introduced him once as "The next Steve Yzerman" before he had ever played a game in the NHL. Zetterberg is being groomed, and has been for some time (Bowman made sure his locker was right next to Yzerman's).

Edited October 2, 2008 by egroen

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

I don't totally disagree with you, but in the NFL contracts aren't guaranteed, which is a major difference. There was risk to the Wings too if Zetterberg had been a bust, they would have had to still pay him. In the NFL the team could have cut him if he didn't do as well as expected. So why should they be able to do that but the player not ask for more of he does better then expected?

If they're cut, they receive no compensation whatsoever?

If that's true, that does change things quite a bit. Now that you mention it I remember hearing that a player could be cut but I thought their contract was still paid out (or atleast a portion of it)? Please verify if you don't mind.

[toby91_ca 620]

Nope. There's more to it than that. Zetterberg has built an identity in Detroit as the future captain. Zetterberg is Holland's priority and it will stay that way unless something comes out of nowhere in the negotiation process.

Another thing to consider: Zetterberg led the playoffs in scoring and won the Smythe while playing elite defense. This isn't to say Hossa's not good in the playoffs, but his only truly impressive playoff came while he was playing on Crosby's wing, who many consider to be the best pure playmaker in the world.

If the Wings win again this year and Hossa wins the Conn Smythe, your argument will hold more water.

Hossa's only impressive playoff came while playing with Crosby? Yes, his most impressive, but not ONLY impressive. Unless you don't consider his 16 pts in 18 games in 2003 and 10 pts in 12 games in 2002 to be impressive. I think 2007 is really the only disappointing playoffs he's had and it's really hard to say that after only 4 games. Truth is, it's not like Zetterberg has a long history of playoff success anymore than Hossa.

HOWEVER, at the end of the day, even if Holland thinks Hossa is the better player and would be better for the team, he still likely ends up keeping Zetterberg instead (if it came down that, which it likely will). Reason being, loyalty. While he might think keeping Zetterberg isn't as good for the team in isolation, by showing the loyalty, he's able to build a stronger team overall (i.e. attracts more players to come for lower salaries and makes current players on the team want to stay for lower salaries).

[imisssergei 0]

Nope. There's more to it than that. Zetterberg has built an identity in Detroit as the future captain. Zetterberg is Holland's priority and it will stay that way unless something comes out of nowhere in the negotiation process.

Another thing to consider: Zetterberg led the playoffs in scoring and won the Smythe while playing elite defense. This isn't to say Hossa's not good in the playoffs, but his only truly impressive playoff came while he was playing on Crosby's wing, who many consider to be the best pure playmaker in the world.

If the Wings win again this year and Hossa wins the Conn Smythe, your argument will hold more water.

You could argue either way for either guy.

Loyalty is a thing of the past.

All of us would like to believe that the Wings players are above the greed, or whatever you want to call it. But they are people to.

[imisssergei 0]

Doesn't Hossa have some knee injury?

He did injury his knee, but it's nothing close to the level of Hank's back.