Zetterberg's Back Has Flared Up Again

[Flip-check 6]

It's worth being concerned over. This is a serious kind of thing for Hank right now - because this is longterm, possibly.

I'm actually a little worried because Z is my favorite player and what this means for the guy. Can't really do much more than hope though, I seriously don't want to see his career affected - in any way - by a chronic back injury that could only get worse. He's too good a player.

[Yzerfan1999 81]

This is getting ridiculous. Already he's had two back injuries this year, and we're just barely past the half-way point of the season.

I'm starting to think it's not worth giving him a high paying, long term contract. You may all blast me for saying that, but how can you give a guy 7+ million a season (I'm ballparking that that's going to be what he asks for) when he can't stay healthy? At this point, it might be better to get Hossa on this team long term, since he can stay healthy, and either try to sign Zetterberg to a cheap contract when the time comes, or let him walk. Or, trade him at next years deadline for something.

Sorry if that comment bothers anyone on here, but it's coming closer and closer to the time to sign Zetterberg, and he's becoming a huge risk factor. I'm just looking at it from the standpoint that the risks outweigh the rewards, and if he can't stay healthy after the Wings sign him, that's a huge salary they'll have on the books that's not going anywhere.

I honestly never thought I'd discuss the possibility of not bringing Zetterberg back, because he's my favorite player on the Wings right now behind Downey. But, if signing him to a big contract puts the team in a bad position, then it might be time to cut ties...

I think you are over-reacting a bit. Players get nagging injuries, its part of hockey. Unless Zetterbergs on-ice performance is seriously effected, its no big deal to me. After all, he played through the pain in last years playoffs and still looked pretty good. The Wings are in a position to rest him when he needs it, and hopefully deal with it in the offseason. I doubt this has serious contractual effects. Holland would be stupid not to sign him cause he has missed 30 games in the last two years with back problems, because someone else won't blink if he comes on the market. There are such things as incentive laden contracts too, if Holland is that concerned, he can include GP in the contract - like he did with Hasek.

Its not like Zetterberg is Martin Havlat here, heck - he might even play tomorrow. Lets just see how this pans out.

[Z and D for the C 712]

WTF?!?! Really Z and someone for Malkin. I would think it would be Malkin and somebody for Zeta first of all.... Silly!

Really all of you guys smash me for talking about Rafalski. I get my head ripped off for saying that Lilja is not a fighter, that Hudler is expendable and here you guys are for what seems to be not even a serious injury and your talking about trading and getting rid of Zetterburg. Wow! You all more moody then my pregnant wife. More flakey then a high school girl.

Look at this way Z has already missed some time this year and is still number five in points. Where is Malkin and Hossa on that list? I don't think either has missed any time this season. The injury he has will huant him his entire career. Let him rest for a couple games and come back, if he is still in the top ten when it happens I am pretty sure we can leave the panic button in it's case.

Define...joke.

and.. Darn.

[kylee 727]

trade him and hudler to Pittsburg for Malkin.. get it done kenny...

yeah lets not jump the gun here. he is having nagging back problems. i just want him to get well ASAP and recovered.

besides, imagine if that trade DID go down.

Crosby, Zetterberg, and a quickly emerging young star in Hudler alll on one team.

[shannyfan1414 0]

I was really hoping that we had heard the last of his back for this year. It's really starting to worry me that it continues to bother him. Backs are so damn tricky and it never seems to have all the great of an ending. I really hope that this problem can be taken care of really soon and with out him having to go under the knife. There must be some kind of exercise or therapy that he could to help improve it. Then again i'm sure he is already doing all that stuff.

[Kp-Wings 3]

There are such things as incentive laden contracts too, if Holland is that concerned, he can include GP in the contract - like he did with Hasek.

I thought incentive laden contracts were only for players over 35. That's what I've been told.

[e_mcgrath88 0]

yeah lets not jump the gun here. he is having nagging back problems. i just want him to get well ASAP and recovered.

besides, imagine if that trade DID go down.

Crosby, Zetterberg, and a quickly emerging young star in Hudler alll on one team.

I was actually joking around... but realistically it would probably take more than Zetterberg and Hudler to get Malkin from Pittsburg..

[norrisnick 1]

I thought incentive laden contracts were only for players over 35. That's what I've been told.

Players that missed 100 days due to injury the previous season are also eligible. As well as entry-level contracts.

[Datsyukian Geek 2]

My thought: Rest him vs Los Angeles regardless, it's just one game, and I'm sure we can win with him safely letting his back recover. As for the ASG, if it means his back gets buggered, I'd prefer he simply not go.

[40#1Fan 0]

The Detroit News's Ted Kulfan says that Zetterberg's back issue is neither related to the herniated disc he battled through last season, nor the spasms he suffered in December. It sounds like (and your humble blogger is no doctor) Zetterberg simply got cross-checked and suffered bruising to his lower back:

January 22, Detroit News:Zetterberg missed 5 games around the Christmas break because of an aching back after reaching down to pick up his laundry bag. He missed the final 19 games last season with an inflamed disc. Zetterberg said this injury occurred while getting hit late in the third period Saturday in San Jose. He said the pain is in the lower back, but is not related to the disc. This is the second consecutive year Zetterberg will miss the All-Star game. He missed last year's game due to a wrist injury.

"Of course I'm disappointed," said Zetterberg after the Wings completed their morning skate.

Zetterberg had treatment on his back but hasn't been on the ice since playing Saturday.

[Reds4Life 51]

That's good news. But it's kinda weird that he would miss 2 regular season games and All-star game because of getting cross-checked. Maybe just prevention. Anyways, it's really good to know this is not going to be long-term issue.

[arnoldbuck 0]

I'm just kinda curious about this situation in regards to a new contract. I've read all the pages, and know it isn't the same problem, but it is still a concern. Obviously I want Z locked in with us, but what is his value? (cash-wise) Like, he is an unbelievable talent, I know that. And in every discussion thread about the subject, the number seems to be $7-7.5 million. But if he is going to be suseptable to a reoccuring injury, will that affect the price? Just a thought.

Get better Z, I miss you when you arent on the ice.

[zettermaberg 0]

So am I bordering on blasphemy when I say that Z's namby-pamby work ethic is getting to me? Of course I'm no doctor, so feel free to interject if I'm expecting too much out of him. But I'd like to see him work through some of this nonsense - what's he going to do in the playoffs when it gets sore? (Yes, I understand that playing through it now might result in him not even making the playoffs, but work with me on this.) I know the back is crucial to every aspect of vertical movement, but come on. I haven't even seen him try to grit through the pain...

Or maybe it's simply unfair to hold anyone else but Steve Yzerman to a Steve Yzerman standard of guts.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

So am I bordering on blasphemy when I say that Z's namby-pamby work ethic is getting to me? Of course I'm no doctor, so feel free to interject if I'm expecting too much out of him. But I'd like to see him work through some of this nonsense - what's he going to do in the playoffs when it gets sore? (Yes, I understand that playing through it now might result in him not even making the playoffs, but work with me on this.) I know the back is crucial to every aspect of vertical movement, but come on. I haven't even seen him try to grit through the pain...

Or maybe it's simply unfair to hold anyone else but Steve Yzerman to a Steve Yzerman standard of guts.

That and a back injury can be infinitely worse than a knee injury. Honestly.

I'd rather a bum knee for the rest of my back than a wheel chair.

Oh, and don't forget the pain difference. Stevie was a damn gladiator, no question. But spine pain ain't knee pain. Z could screw his back up so bad he'd be in trouble sitting in a chair, let alone skating.

Obviously I doubt there's much of a real risk of that- or he'd never step on the ice again. I'm just saying- knee pain isn't back pain. Knee trauma isn't back trauma!

(I'll refrain from commenting much on how much this unfortunate event has justified my earlier comments in the Z for C thread about my Z back worries. Needless to say- I could have a field day with the quote function between these two threads.)

Please, please, please- Zetterberg- get healthy! Sit out the rest of the season and the playoffs if you have to. But please- get healthy!!!

Z's key to the future of this team

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

So am I bordering on blasphemy when I say that Z's namby-pamby work ethic is getting to me? Of course I'm no doctor, so feel free to interject if I'm expecting too much out of him. But I'd like to see him work through some of this nonsense - what's he going to do in the playoffs when it gets sore? (Yes, I understand that playing through it now might result in him not even making the playoffs, but work with me on this.) I know the back is crucial to every aspect of vertical movement, but come on. I haven't even seen him try to grit through the pain...

Or maybe it's simply unfair to hold anyone else but Steve Yzerman to a Steve Yzerman standard of guts.

I felt like last year in the playoffs he must have played with some pain. It sucks that he'll miss the all-star game and will likely not contend for the scoring title, but at this point in the season, the team has nothing to play for. If he sat out the rest of the regular season with a guarantee that he'd play the entire playoffs, I'd take that deal in a heartbeat being a Wings fan.

[J-Swift 0]

So am I bordering on blasphemy when I say that Z's namby-pamby work ethic is getting to me? Of course I'm no doctor, so feel free to interject if I'm expecting too much out of him. But I'd like to see him work through some of this nonsense - what's he going to do in the playoffs when it gets sore? (Yes, I understand that playing through it now might result in him not even making the playoffs, but work with me on this.) I know the back is crucial to every aspect of vertical movement, but come on. I haven't even seen him try to grit through the pain...

Or maybe it's simply unfair to hold anyone else but Steve Yzerman to a Steve Yzerman standard of guts.

If Zetterberg wants to take a few meaningless regular season games off to rest a sore back, it's really not a problem. Yzerman missed a ton of regular season games, too. What's important is that Z has yet to miss a single playoff game in his career, and I think it's probably unreasonable to say that his back was 100% in last year's playoffs.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

I can't believe people think Hossa is good enough to replace multiple players on the Wings.

I'd hate to see Cleary go, but to think we could lose him, Hudler, and God knwos who else just to get Hossa is ridiculous. Hudler has been one of our best players and is developing nicely. I know you have to give up talent to get talent, but this is ridiculous the talk that goes on around here.

Um...yeah actually Hossa could more than replace Hudler and Sammy, for example. Id definitely give up Hudler for Hossa. At best Hudler will have the same offensive production as Hossa, yet Hossa has a better mental game, is bigger, and is at this point very good defensivly, while still being pretty young. And its not like Hossa would replace 3 players and wed just end up playing with 10 forwards every game...sheesh.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Um...yeah actually Hossa could more than replace Hudler and Sammy, for example. Id definitely give up Hudler for Hossa. At best Hudler will have the same offensive production as Hossa, yet Hossa has a better mental game, is bigger, and is at this point very good defensivly, while still being pretty young. And its not like Hossa would replace 3 players and wed just end up playing with 10 forwards every game...sheesh.

Oh god. Honestly. You're not going to get Hossa for Hudler. If you could I'd be the first to scream yes. Hossa's a beast. Throw him on a team like the wings and his poor playoff performances could be a thing of the past. (could)

But I'm f-ing sick of people saying Hudler is expendable then placing Filppula on a pedistle. HUDLER is a better damn producer and a peer defensively. Hudler has more raw talent than Filp and he's a freaking finisher. Filppula's proven time and time again when an empty net presents itself- he's not a finisher. Guess what the wings need- talented finishing wingers. Guess what they've got in spades- defensively responsible centres with a modest offensive upside. It's fantastic that Filppula manages to score in spades when fed by Datsyuk. But I could do the same with Dats as my centre.

I like Filppula, but he's not better than Hudler. He's taller. I'll give you that.

Face it people- the Wings haven't got the stable of young players to land Hossa. They're better off courting a player with a no-trade clause and huge returns.

What do the Wings have? A great shot at the cup. Use that bargaining chip with someone who's got a say in who they're traded to.