By Jordan Long
Detroit Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall decided to retire after 15 NHL seasons, all with the Detroit Red Wings. He will still be part of the organization as an advisor to General Manager Steve Yzerman.
Kronwall started his NHL career in 2004, appearing in 20 games. That year he scored 1 goal and added 4 assists for a total of 5 points, a taste of what was to come for him. Kronwall was finally part of the Red Wings regular defensive core in 2007, dressing in 68 games scoring 1 goal and adding 21 assists for a total of 22 points. The Red Wings used him on special teams as well. He could shoot the puck from the blue line on the power play for goals or rebounds for his team, adding 1 goal and 5 assists on the man advantage.
His top year was in 2009 when Kronwall totaled 6 goals and 45 assists for 51 points. Kronwall had an impressive 18 assists on the power play while adding 4 power play goals.
Last season he was still productive for a mediocre Red Wings team. Detroit finished at 32-40-10 for a total of 74 points, missing the playoffs for the 3rd year in a row. Kronwall was the bright spot on defense scoring 3 goals and 24 assists for a total of 27 points.
According to ESPN, Kronwall said, “They say every journey has to come to an end. My journey as a player for the Detroit Red Wings ends here.”
Kronwall leaves the game on his own terms. Throughout his NHL career, opponents needed to know where he was on the ice. On defense, Kronwall could hit a skater which ended scoring chances for the rival teams. He was able to block shots from the puck making it to his goaltender. Kronwall was used on the power play kill because of his ability to take the puck away. When he poked checked the puck away, Kronwall fired it to the other end of the ice. On the power play and offense, he used his one timer to score goals or lead to scoring chances for the Red Wings.
The Red Wings made it to the postseason 10 times with him, winning the Stanley Cup in 2008. A skater wants to play well in the postseason. In 109 playoff games, Kronwall scored 5 goals and added 42 assists for a total of 47 points.
Kronwall did everything an NHL player dreams of accomplishing. He owns a Stanley Cup ring. He appeared in 953 games in the regular season and scored 83 goals and added 349 assists for a total of 432 points. There wasn’t anything left for him to play for. He is leaving the game on his own terms. Hopefully in his new role in the Detroit Red Wings’ front office, Kronwall can help Yzerman build a championship team.
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