Detroit – The news hit Niklas Kronwall hard last week.
Kronwall’s good friend, Gustav Nyquist, had been traded by the Detroit Red Wings to the San Jose Sharks.
Kronwall wasn’t shocked. He expected Nyquist to be dealt before the trade deadline. But actually seeing it come to pass wasn’t easy.
“It’s one of those things we know that comes around every year,” said Kronwall of the trade deadline.
What stung Kronwall about this particular move was his friendship with Nyquist. They’d been teammates for parts of eight seasons in Detroit, and being part of that Swedish core of Wings, had developed a strong friendship.