Detroit Red Wings All-Time Team and Line Combinations
Niklas Kronwall
Yet another Swedish defenseman makes the list. Drafted 29th overall by the Red Wings in the 2000 draft, Niklas Kronwall made his NHL debut during the 2003-04 season.From 2003-04 through 05-06, Kronwall bounced between the Red Wings and their AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins. After being awarded the Eddie Shore award for being the best defenseman in the AHL, Kronwall got his chance to be a full-time Red Wing in the 06-07 season.
Cut from the same cloth as the great Vladimir Konstantinov, Kronwall showed himself to be a punishing open ice hitter early and often. From blueline to blueline, nobody was safe from Kronwall. Kronwall has a unique style to his hits, and as a result, getting hit by him is often dubbed “getting Kronwalled”.
The Kronwall hit consists of backpedalling shoulder first into the opponent, with the principle contact often being at the chest. This clean yet impactful style of hitting has led many fans of the game to believe that Kronwall in the best open ice hitter in the current NHL.
Kronwall is more than just a fantastic hitter though, he can contribute offensively as well. Kronwall had the privilege of spending the early years of his career paired with fellow Swede Nicklas Lidstrom.
Lidstrom obviously showed his countryman how to perform better offensively, as Kronwall has been a 40 point pace defenseman ever since the two were first paired together. As of right now, Kronwall is in his 13th season with the Red Wings organization. Over that period of time, he has played 747 games, collected 365 points, and mashed for 847 hits.