Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said the NHL is going to be taking a closer look at the retirement of Henrik Zetterberg and the validity of his injury.

While on the surface this sounds like bad news for the Detroit Red Wings, it really isn't. When a player in Zetterberg's retires early like he is due to a long-term injury and his contract is shaped in such a way that he's got two final years at a much lower salary than the rest of his deal, the NHL simply wants to ensure the injury is legitimate so as to lessen any possible blowback by other NHL teams.

Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly told Craig Custance of The Athletic (subscription required), the NHL is looking into Zetterberg's situation but believes everything is on the up and up.

The NHL did the same things with Joffrey Lupul and Marian Hossa and this really is a matter of formality for the Red Wings who have no worries if the NHL's independent doctor reaches the same conclusion the team doctor did. Daly said, “We don’t question it by any means." But, just to be sure, Daly added, "But will we (investigate) to make sure we check the boxes? Probably.”

When Zetterberg first signed his long-term deal, the NHL examined the contract to ensure it didn't break any of the salary cap circumvention rules. This was at a time when teams were trying to lower cap hits by signing players to lengthy deals players had no intention of fulfilling. In this case, it was Zetterberg who suggested the extra two years at a lower rate and not the team. The NHL approved the deal at the time.

When all of this is said and done, the NHL will do its job by examining the optics of Zetterberg's leaving the NHL, approve him going on long-term injury reserve until his contract expires and at that time, will let him formally announce his retirement.

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