Defenceman Niklas Kronwall has retired from the NHL after 15 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings and will join the team’s front office as an advisor to executive vice president and general manager Steve Yzerman, the team announced Tuesday.
“I’ll never forget the feeling of walking into the Joe (Louis Arena) on game days,” the 38-year-old said in a video released by the team.
“The fans, the ushers and the people around us created this amazing atmosphere. I will forever cherish those moments.”
The bruising Swedish rearguard was selected by the Red Wings 29th overall in the 2000 NHL Draft and spent his entire career in Motown, culminating in a championship in 2007-08.
He recorded 432 points across 953 games, notching a personal-best of 51 points in 2008-09 as the Red Wings returned to the Stanley Cup final, this time falling to the Pittsburgh Penguins in a rematch of the year prior.
“To my teammates, win or lose, we always did it together,” he said.
“I’m going to miss the locker room, the dinners on the road, so many great memories. And you guys, together with our trainers, are the ones I’m going to miss the most.”
Kronwall said in his new management role he plans to help the rebuilding Red Wings regain their former glory.
“We’re going to get back there (the Stanley Cup final), I just won’t be a player when it happens next time,” he said.
The native of Stockholm is also one of the 28 members of the illustrious Triple Gold Club, boasting wins at the 2006 Olympic Games in Turin and the 2006 world championships, as well as a Stanley Cup ring.
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