MALKIN, KRONWALL AND KEITH NAMED NHL ‘THREE STARS’ OF THE WEEK

NEW YORK (Dec. 2, 2013) – Pittsburgh Penguins center Evgeni Malkin,

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall and Chicago Blackhawks

defenseman Duncan Keith have been named the NHL’s “Three Stars” for the

week ending Dec. 1.

 

FIRST STAR – EVGENI MALKIN, C, PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

 

      Malkin earned “First Star” honors for the second consecutive week

after leading all skaters with nine points (3-6—9), helping the Penguins

(18-9-1, 37 points) earn seven out of a possible eight points to remain in

first place in the Metropolitan Division. He opened the week by recording

an assist in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Boston Bruins Nov. 25. Malkin then

posted his first multi-goal game of the season, registering 2-1—3 plus the

shootout clincher in a 6-5 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs Nov. 27. He

added another assist in a 3-0 triumph over the Tampa Bay Lightning Nov. 29

before closing the week with a season-high three helpers and four points in

a 5-1 win over the Florida Panthers Nov. 30. The 27-year-old native of

Magnitogorsk, Russia, has 4-13—17 during an eight-game assist/point streak

dating to Nov. 18. He leads the NHL with 28 assists and ranks second with

35 points, one behind teammate Sidney Crosby (13-23—36), in 28 games this

season.

 

SECOND STAR – NIKLAS KRONWALL, D, DETROIT RED WINGS

 

      Kronwall posted a trio of multi-point games in leading the Red Wings

(14-7-7, 35 points) to three victories in three starts. He scored his third

goal of the season, all on the power play, and added an assist in a 6-1

victory over the Boston Bruins Nov. 27. Kronwall then posted a pair of

two-assist games: in a 5-0 win over the New York Islanders Nov. 29 and in a

4-2 triumph over the Ottawa Senators Dec. 1. The 32-year-old Stockholm

native has 2-7—9 during a six-game point streak dating to Nov. 21,

including assists in five consecutive contests. He is tied for fourth among

NHL defensemen with 18 assists and 21 points in 26 games this season.

 

THIRD STAR – DUNCAN KEITH, D, CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

 

      Keith tied for the League lead with six assists as the Blackhawks

(20-4-4, 44 points) won all four of their games to move atop the NHL

standings. He collected a pair of assists in a 5-1 victory over the

Edmonton Oilers Nov. 25. Keith then posted one helper in both a 3-2 triumph

over the Calgary Flames Nov. 27 and a 2-1 shootout win over the Dallas

Stars Nov. 29. He capped the week by recording two assists, his fourth

multi-point game of the season, in a 5-2 victory over the Phoenix Coyotes

Nov. 30. The 30-year-old Winnipeg native has 0-9—9 during a seven-game

assist/point streak dating to Nov. 19. He leads all NHL defensemen with 23

assists and ranks second among blueliners with 24 points in 28 games this

season.

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RED WINGS AGREE TO TERMS WITH DEFENSEMAN NIKLAS KRONWALL ON SEVEN-YEAR DEAL

…Detroit Locks Up Veteran Blue-Liner Through 2018-19 Season…

Detroit, MI… Detroit Red Wings Executive Vice President and General Manager Ken Holland announced today that the club has agreed to terms with defenseman Niklas Kronwall on a seven-year contract.  In accordance with team policy, additional terms of the deal were not disclosed. 

Kronwall, 30, is currently in his eighth season with the Red Wings.  The Stockholm, Sweden, native has appeared in 394 career games for Detroit, registering 183 points on 25 goals and 148 assists.  Through nine games this season, Kronwall has notched two points (1-1-2), leads the team with 21 blocked shots and ranks third among Detroit skaters in averaging 22:54 of ice time per game.  He was recently named an assistant captain prior to the start of the 2011-12 campaign, joining captain Nicklas Lidstrom and fellow assistants Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk as Detroit’s on-ice leaders. Last season, Kronwall set new career highs in goals (11), power-play goals (5), game-winning goals (3) and shots on goal (131).  He also led the Red Wings with 129 blocked shots and finished sixth on the team with 113 hits.

Niklas Kronwall in a post game interview after Game 4
of the 2008/9 Western Conference Finals in Chicago
Photo Jack Rosenberg / In Play! Magazine

Kronwall was an integral part of Detroit’s run to the 2008 Stanley Cup championship, the 11^th in team history and the first of his career.  He led all NHL defensemen in postseason scoring that year with 15 points (0-15-15) and finished tied for the league lead with a +16 rating (along with teammate Henrik Zetterberg).  Kronwall also delivered numerous memorable hits to opponents along the way.  He has appeared in 74 career postseason contests for the Red Wings, posting 38 points (4-34-38) and 69 PIM. 

During the NHL lockout in 2004-05, Kronwall played the entire season for the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League.  He posted 53 points (13-40-53) in 76 games and won the Eddie Shore Award as the AHL’s top defenseman.

Kronwall also has a decorated international playing career.  Representing his native Sweden, the

6’-0”, 192 lb. rearguard collected gold medals at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Turin, Italy, and the 2006 IIHF World Championships in Latvia, where he was named the tournament’s best defender.  Kronwall is a member of hockey’s exclusive Triple Gold Club, having captured a Stanley Cup championship and gold medals at both the Winter Olympic Games and IIHF World Championships.

Niklas Kronwall, Defense

Born Jan 12 1981  -- Stockholm, Sweden

Height 6.00 -- Weight 192 -- Shoots L

Selected by Detroit in the first round (#29 overall) of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft                         

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