TRAVERSE CITY -- Henrik Zetterberg, the Detroit Red Wings captain since 2012 and one of the top centers in franchise history, announced Friday that his career is finished due to back issues.
Zetterberg, 37, was holding out hope that he could return at some point, but after being examined by Dr. Frank Camissa in New York this week it was determined a degenerative back problem would prevent him from playing again.
"Obviously, it is emotional," Zetterberg said while addressing media at Centre I.C.E. during the first day of training camp. "It's been 15 years here. Even though I knew I was on my last couple years, I wish that I could have played a little bit longer.