Sports
Niklas Kronwall
born 1981 · ice hockey defenseman
Long-serving Red Wings defenseman famous for his open-ice hits, who won the Stanley Cup in 2008 and now advises the team's general manager.
- Born
Järfälla, Sweden
age 45- Birth name
- Hans Niklas Kronwall
- Detroit years
- 2003–2016
- Field
- Sports
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Detroit drafted Niklas Kronwall 29th overall in 2000, doubted by some scouts because of his size, and he broke into the lineup in 2003–04. His hard, perfectly timed open-ice hits became so identifiable that opponents flattened by one were said to have been "Kronwalled." He won the Stanley Cup with Detroit in 2008, becoming a member of hockey's Triple Gold Club, and came within one game of a second title in 2009. After Nicklas Lidström's retirement in 2012, Kronwall became Detroit's top defenseman, and in December 2015 he played his 700th game for the club, the sixth Red Wings defenseman ever to reach that mark. He retired as a player and now serves as an advisor to the Red Wings' general manager.
Highlights
- Drafted 29th overall by Detroit in 2000; NHL debut in 2003–04
- Won the Stanley Cup with the Red Wings in 2008
- Became Detroit's top defenseman after Nicklas Lidström's 2012 retirement
- Played his 700th game for Detroit in December 2015
- Now an advisor to the Red Wings' general manager
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 1
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Played here · 2003–2016
Joe Louis Arena
Demolished · 1979–2017
His home rink for his entire playing career, including the 2008 Stanley Cup run; demolished in 2019.