5 of the Best NHL Draft Steals by the Detroit Red Wings

Apr 16, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Detroit Red Wings left wing Henrik Zetterberg (40) skates with the puck against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the first period in game one of the first round of the the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Henrik Zetterberg 210th overall in 1999 draft

I get a feeling that the Detroit Red Wings are a team that knows how to draft when it comes to their Swedish players. They do it often and do it very, very well. Henrik Zetterberg is no exception to this rule for the Red Wings. Zetterberg was taken 210th overall in the 1999 draft and has helped the team in more ways than most.

Zetterberg was the Red Wings rookie of the year in 2003 and helped the team win the Stanley Cup in 2008. He became the team captain in 2013 after Nicklas Lidstrom retired. Since then he along with teammate Pavel Datsyuk have led the team in their pursuit for another cup.

Zetterberg has become a fan favorite and it is amazing that the team found him so late in the draft. It is a wonder if other teams look back at that draft and wonder why they didn’t see him and take the chance on him.

Next: Sergei Fedorov