Zetterberg's injury: March 30th return?

[Matt 1,049]

This was brought up in the "news on Bert?" thread concerning injuries to the Red Wings' forwards, specifically Zetterberg. Ansar Kahn of MLive expands on Zetterberg's injury this morning:

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/stories/inde....xml&coll=1

"Our hope is to get him healthy and in our lineup for regular season games," GM Ken Holland said...Zetterberg, who has an inflamed disc, will see a back specialist again later this week. Holland said he's making progress, but he won't travel with the team to Vancouver and Calgary (for games on Saturday and Tuesday)... Holland said Zetterberg is the only injured player whose return can't be narrowed down.

I thought I recalled the original timetable when it was announced he would be out 2-3 weeks at the end of February that the Wings would shelve him for 7-10 days before letting him see the ice. We're rapidly approaching double that amount and there's still no word when he could return to the ice even to practice yet... and now another specialist.

I'm finding it hard to imagine Zetterberg returning to practice for at least another 7-10 days (my speculation), then another week of practice.... We're getting awful close to the start of the playoffs there.

[Cicada 4]

i'm really fearing that he's done for the season.

a lot of the time if you've got "swelling", it hides the main problem. If the swellings gone down and he still can't skate he could have a prolaped disc or something, which will mean he'll be out a long time

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

This is bad , very very bad.

[wingsfan40 0]

Zetterberg is a huge part of this team for the playoff run....lets hope he can get back to healthy before they start

[wingslogo19 281]

Zetterberg is a huge part of this team for the playoff run....lets hope he can get back to healthy before they start

My fingers are crossed

[Zeta Power 40 1]

come back zetta

[TheLegend19 1]

I'm OK if he doesn't come back for the rest of the regular season. My main concern is that he's back for the playoffs. In an ideal world, I'd like to see him play one or two more regular season games so he's back in the swing of things come early April.

[Zion 93]

Not good. Hopefully the Wings continue to click with their young guys and their "other" forwards play with some passion.

[HoweHatTrick 0]

I agree this is becoming concerning. Babcock did mention that he would like to have (and thinks that he will) everybody back for the last 8 games...knock on wood. Although when Mickey was on Drew and Mike this morning, he said there isn't too much cause for concern. I guess time will tell. But he needs to be back for the playoffs, and ideally a few games before.

[toby91_ca 620]

I'm at a loss on this one. I don't remember Zetterberg getting involved in a situation where he got hurt in a game (at least not noticeable) and then all of a sudden he wasn't going to be playing the next game. Now he could be gone for awhile. It is definately concerning.

[BigTex 1]

Back problems can be very tricky and nagging. Zets and Bert. It will be a big relief when they can finally play again, I'd almost prefer to see an injury like Cleary's MCL than this. At least with the MCL it's cut and dry what happened and what the rehanb/timetable is.

[kozac 10]

I've been concerned ever since i heard about the injury first, those back problems are usually more serious than 2-3 weeks...

[Zetter is Better 0]

When I heard Hank was hurt I thought "Oh, back pain, he`ll miss a game or two." but thats not the case. If he can`t play in the play-offs are chances of winning will be............ slim to none.

Hank get well, the Wings need you!

[Heaton 1]

I'd be shocked if he didn't play in the playoffs. Hank seems like the sort of player that as long as playing won't hurt him longterm for his career, he'll be out there.

[Matt 1,049]

...I don't remember Zetterberg getting involved in a situation where he got hurt in a game (at least not noticeable) and then all of a sudden he wasn't going to be playing the next game.

The one that sticks out the most to me was the brutal cross-check from Brad Stuart in the Calgary game at the Joe back in February. He played afterward but "tweaked" it in practice.

[T-Ruff 47]

Nothin like a little adversity.....

[OsGOD 3]

One good thing though... the team is finding a way to win WITHOUT relying soley on one player now. Damn team broke Zeta's back!

[Offsides 21]

Well, Z, being pretty much the only one would could score last playoffs being out is quite bad.

But things are different this year. Different players, different situations, and people are stepping up. We can't know how everyone will react in the playoffs, but I have faith that in Z's absense others will get the job done...

And let's face it...Hasek might have lost a step, but I know enough about him to know he can drag the team a certain amount with him. So I think if nothing else we will get out of round one...even if Dom has to drag us there...

By then, maybe we'll have Z back.

[Salviaman 104]

Well this sucks , I hope he comes back for the playoffs, we will be in dire need for him then.

[WingNut 25 5]

Let's not hit the panic button just yet.

[Salviaman 104]

Let's not hit the panic button just yet?

Im ready to hit it!!! Someone post it already! Im j/k, get well soon Z!!!

[HenrikRules40 14]

This does NOT sit well with me. When I started reading reports that Z hasn't even started skating yet I became more skeptical of the "back with Bert" rumors. Part of me wants him to rest until he is fully healed so as not to incur a career ending injury. However, the other part of me wants to push him on the ice and make him play no matter what...we need him!!!

Come on Hank don't do this to me! *insert me begging (emoticon) here*

P.S. Do NOT post the panic button b/c I will be doing jumping jacks on it.

[betterREDthandead 58]

aggghhhhhhhh don't say things like this.

:noevil:

[StaticWithABeat 0]

As long as he's back before the playoffs I won't worry too much...God help us if he isn't.

[Turretin 0]

This is not the year for this kid to wreck himself in the playoffs. 2002 was the year for Yzerman because he knew it could be his last shot. It would stink if Z couldn't get back, but I'd rather have a healthy future captain next year.