Red Wings' Kronwall says this may be his last year in NHL

Steven Psihogios
Niklas Kronwall has thought about this upcoming year being his last in the National Hockey League. (Photo by Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images)
Niklas Kronwall has thought about this upcoming year being his last in the National Hockey League. (Photo by Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images)

After 14 seasons in the National Hockey League with the Detroit Red Wings, Niklas Kronwall may soon be calling it a career.

According to Mike Zeisberger of NHL.com, Kronwall, 37, has thought about the possibility of the 2018-19 season being his last in the NHL.

“If this happens to be the end of the road, I would be more than happy with the journey that I’ve had and more than thankful to the Ilitch family and (general manager) Kenny Holland for giving me the opportunity that I have for being able to be with the same team for my entire career,” the veteran blue-liner told Zeisberger. “I’ve been fortunate enough to play in Detroit all these years and I have a tough time seeing myself in a different jersey.”

The 2006 Olympic gold medalist is entering the final year of his current deal which carries a salary cap hit of $4.75 million.

Kronwall is not the only one who would have a tough time picturing him patroling another team’s blueline. The Swedish defenseman has been a staple of the Red Wings’ teams during the 2000’s.

One of the main attractions of going to a hockey game in Detroit has been watching the rearguard dish out one of his patented ‘You just got Kronwalled’ hits.

Exiting the defensive zone along the boards is a bad place to be with Niklas Kronwall on the ice. (Youtube // Heather Jastrzemski)
Exiting the defensive zone along the boards is a bad place to be with Niklas Kronwall on the ice. (Youtube // Heather Jastrzemski)
Kronwall’s side of the ice should never be considered a safe place to be. (Youtube // Heather Jastrzemski)
Kronwall’s side of the ice should never be considered a safe place to be. (Youtube // Heather Jastrzemski)
Yikes. (Youtube // Heather Jastrzemski)
Yikes. (Youtube // Heather Jastrzemski)

While NHL sidewalls will be a much safer place if Kronwall decides to hang them up after this season, there is no doubt he will be missed by many Red Wing fans who remember the defenseman as a key part of Detroit’s Stanley Cup championship team in 2007-08.