Fabian Zetterlund returned to San Jose Sharks practice on Monday and opened up about Mikael Granlund getting traded to the Dallas Stars.
Zetterlund back on the ice today.
Graf and Mukhamadullin are here.
— Max Miller (@Real_Max_Miller) February 3, 2025
“Of course, it’s tough. [Granlund’s] been a great leader for this team for the two years he was here,” Zetterlund said. “But it’s a business. We can’t really do anything about it right now. We’re going to move on. I’m going to miss him a lot.”
Zetterlund explained that the veteran forward took him under his wing as soon as he arrived from the Pittsburgh Penguins during the summer of 2023.
“He’s been so nice to me since he came. He taught me a lot. He took me under his wing right away and helped me to become a good hockey player,” Zetterlund said. “Before skates, after skates, practices, we worked on some skills. Right from the beginning, when he came, he said to me, I think [during the] first or second practice or something, let’s go here, and we do this right now. And I was like, okay. I was listening. We just continued the whole year and continued this year, too.”
Zetterlund struggled after being acquired from the New Jersey Devils in 2023. In 22 games, he had three assists but didn’t score a goal. However, with the acquisition of Granlund, Zetterlund found instant chemistry and scored a career-high 24 goals last season.
The Swedish winger has 14 goals and 18 assists in 54 games this season while often playing on a line with Granlund. One of the San Jose Sharks’ most effective lines was the ‘Lund’ line of Fabian Zetterlund, William Eklund, and Mikael Granlund.
“Kind of a little bit,” Zetterlund said after he was asked if he’d miss the ‘Lund line. “It was a fun nickname for it.”
The winger told reporters that hanging out with Granlund outside the rink was sometimes challenging because he had a family at home. However, that didn’t stop the two from getting a pregame lunch most of the time and being together during road trips.
“His passion every day,” Zetterlund said about what Granlund brought to the Sharks. “It’s coming to the rink with a smile on. Wanting to get better and enjoy the time at the rink every day, laugh, and have fun. Bringing the group together. I think he’s done a great job with that.”
Zetterlund and Will Smith had been on a line with Granlund, but the lineup for Tuesday’s game against the Montreal Canadiens has yet to be finalized due to injuries.
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