Detroit Red Wings

Swedish captain Henrik Zetterberg will skip World Cup of Hockey due to injury

Published Oct. 20, 2016 4:36 p.m. ET

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Pete Blackburn

Team Sweden was dealt some tough news this week when Henrik Zetterberg elected to skip the World Cup of Hockey due to injury. Zetterberg was named captain of the Swedish team earlier this summer.

It wasn't specified what the ailment is that's keeping the 35-year-old Red Wings forward out of the tournament but, whatever it is, it's enough of a hindrance to convince him he shouldn't play when it kicks off later this month.

“Henrik Zetterberg feels that he can’t go 100 percent at the time of the World Cup and has to turn down the spot on our team," said Sweden head coach Rikard Gronborg in a press release.

Zetterberg becomes the second Red Wings player (and fourth Swedish player overall) to drop out of the World Cup since being named to the initial roster, joining Detroit defenseman Niklas Kronwall, who ducked out with a knee injury. Buffalo Sabres goalie Robin Lehner and St. Louis Blues forward Alex Steen have also opted out.

As for Zetterberg's replacement, Calgary Flames forward Mikael Backlund will slot in in his place. It's a significant downgrade at that spot, but the Swedes are doing their best to spin it.

"We feel that with Mikael Backlund, we will get an internationally experienced player that is very versatile and responsible. His second half of the season with the Flames was very strong, where he showed that he is a premier all-around player in the NHL,” said Gronborg.

Zetterberg is just the latest in a pretty significant list of NHL stars -- including Jamie Benn and Duncan Keith -- who have decided not to participate in the international tournament, which is being held for the first time since 2004. It's not all that surprising, considering the WCoH is set to start just before the NHL season and guys are hesitant to risk their health status for an exhibition tournament. Since the event is an NHL-sanctioned operation, the rosters are full of top-tier talent, but it's not important enough for players to value their participation over potentially missing some time in the NHL regular season.

The World Cup is set to kick off on Sept. 17, so it will be interesting to see if any additional names are added to the list of scratches before the puck is dropped.

 

 

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