Detroit Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg has no plans to follow in Pavel Datsyuk's footsteps.
The now-36-year-old signed a 12-year, $73-million contract in 2009, and while he still has five years remaining on the deal (including this season), he has no intention of opting out of the deal or taking his talents overseas.
"For me, no. I think Sweden - that chapter is closed, hockey-wise, for me," Zetterberg told Mitch Albom of the Detroit Free Press of potentially moving to play in his native Sweden. "Two reasons. When I’m done here, I’ll be 41 years old. If I can’t play out my contract, it’s because I’m injured. So I won’t be playing hockey. And as soon as I signed that 12-year deal, I knew I was done back home. I understand Pavel. I think the KHL obviously is a higher level than the Swedish Elite League … and also for him going back to be with his daughter (who lives in Russia) was a big impact."
However, while Zetterberg intends to play out the rest of his contract, he understands that at his age, his body might not allow him to continue for another five years.
"Yes. Yes. But in the same way, I’m human," Zetterberg said of his intentions to play out his contract. "I know that every year it’s a bigger and bigger battle to get through. We’ll see if my body holds up for five more years. Last year, I played 82 games, which I was proud of doing - maybe it wasn’t 82 good ones, but I played 82 - and so we’ll see.
"By now, I’m just taking it year by year. And obviously the next two years are big years - the last year at the Joe and then first year at new building. That’s probably where I’m looking."
Whether Zetterberg is able to play until the 2020-21 season or not, one thing is certain he's cemented himself as one of the greatest to ever don the red and white.
Zetterberg sits eighth and seventh all-time in franchise goals and points, respectively.
