While captain Henrik Zetterberg experienced a renaissance of sorts this past season with a career year, defenseman Niklas Kronwall is showing the effects of knee injuries throughout his career.
Kronwall underwent arthroscopic surgery last season and maintenance of the knee limits him both in practices and games.
Kronwall has two seasons remaining on his contract at a cap hit of $4.75 million.
300- On March 18 against the Colorado Avalanche, Kronwall recorded his 300th career assist. It came on the game's first goal, a power-play tally by Justin Abdelkader at 16:43 of the second period. Zetterberg had the first assist.
795 - Kronwall finished the season with 795 career games played, setting himself up to play his 800th early in the 2017-18 season. If he plays in every game to start the season, Kronwall would play in his 800th game on Oct. 13 in Las Vegas, the Wings' first game against the Golden Knights.
24 - The veteran defenseman has to do a lot of work to keep his knees in playing condition. Kronwall missed the first 11 games of the season because of it and missed 24 games overall.
13 - Kronwall had just 13 points (2-11-13) in 57 games this season, by far the lowest total of his career. His previous low was nine (1-8-9) in only 27 games during the 2005-06 season. In the 2015-16 season, Kronwall had three goals among 26 points in 64 games.
37- It doesn't seem like that long ago that the Wings drafted Kronwall with their first-round pick, 29th overall, in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. But Kronwall will turn 37 on Jan. 12, 2018. He is the second oldest player on the roster as Zetterberg turns 37 on Oct. 9. Johan Franzen, on long-term injured reserve due to post-concussion symptoms, turns 38 on Dec. 23.
55 - Kronwall is one of 102 players who have worn No. 55 in their careers. Only three other Wings have worn that number. Tiger Williams wore it in 1985, Keith Primeau wore it for Detroit from 1991-96 and Larry Murphy wore it for the Wings from 1997-2001.
