Zetterberg on Babcock's move to Toronto: 'Both him and us probably decided it was time'

The captain has spoken.

Henrik Zetterberg has returned to Detroit in advance of Red Wings training camp, and he's getting set for a change behind the bench. Longtime coach Mike Babcock, for whom Zetterberg played the past ten seasons and won a Stanley Cup with in 2009, departed for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Jeff Blashill was subsequently promoted from Detroit's AHL club to the NHL's coaching ranks, and Zetterberg appears more than fine with having someone new in charge.

"I want to thank Mike for the time he had here, but I think both him and us probably decided it was time," Zetterberg said Thursday, according to Ansar Khan of MLive.

"I kind of figured that out, that he was moving on and obviously the media attention all along was big," Zetterberg said of Babcock coaching the team last season while in the final year of his contract. "I think now with the additions of (Mike) Green and (Brad) Richards, and the new coach, it's given us a little fresh start. Obviously, it's going to be a different voice behind the bench and sometimes you need that."

Zetterberg, 34, recorded 17 goals and 49 assists for the Red Wings last season. Blashill and his staff will rely on the forward to help the team transition while maintaining a playoff appearance streak that dates back to 1989-90.