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Troublesome news for Wings |
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Well, this has to be disconcerting news for the Detroit Red Wings.
The Swedish team announced Wednesday that Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall will not be playing for them in the upcoming World Cup of Hockey.
The troublesome knees that slowed Kronwall during the 2015-16 NHL season and cost him 18 games are again the culprits.
“I talked to him a week, 10 days ago and (Red Wings athletic therapist) Piet Van Zant talked to him in the last few days,” Detroit GM Ken Holland said. “He’s feeling better, but there’s still a little soreness in the knee.
“The hope is with another month to go he’ll be ready for the start of camp.”
Kronwall, 35, missed 15 games last season after undergoing surgery on his left knee. He also missed three games in March after spraining his left knee.
If surgery could have helped relieve any further ongoing issues with Kronwall’s knees, you know that it would have taken place during the summer months. That no corrective procedure was undertaken likely means that Kronwall’s problems are a chronic issue that can’t be rectified by a surgeon’s knife and will be an ongoing scenario into the declining years of his NHL career.
Not good news for someone whose game definitely has regressed the past couple of seasons and undoubtedly will be counted on to be a top-pairing defender for the Wings again in 2016-17.
Anaheim Ducks defenceman Hampus Lindholm will replace Kronwall on the Swedish roster.
Jurco Out
The Kronwall situation wasn’t the only bad news reported by the Wings on Wednesday.
Right winger Tomas Jurco, whose status with the team going forward is as clear as mud, likely won’t be part of the picture when the team begins training camp next month.
It’s expected that Jurco will be out of action for 4-6 weeks. He underwent surgery last week to repair damage done to his back, an injury suffered while working out at home in Slovakia.
“He injured his back, had minor surgery,” Holland said. “He needs 4-6 weeks of rest, then he’ll start slow. We’re not sure whether he’ll be at the start of camp. We need to see how he feels.”
In and out of favor in the Detroit scheme of things, Jurco produced 4-2-6 totals in 44 games during the 2015-16 season but Jurco’s chances to currying a better standing with the team will likely be slowed by this situation.
“I don’t think he’ll be on the ice playing in 4-6 weeks,” Holland said. “We’re not sure he’ll be ready to open the season.
“We won’t know for another month down the road.”
Saarijarvi Surgery
One of Detroit’s top prospects also recently went under the knife.
Defenseman Vili Saarijarvi, 19, picked 73rd overall by Detroit in the 2015 NHL entry draft, will miss three months after recently undergoing wrist surgery.
Saarijarvi suffered the injury skating for Finland at the recent four-team summer tournament in Plymouth, Mich. that was part of USA Hockey’s National Junior Evaluation Camp and also included Canada and Sweden.
“He won’t be on the ice at camp,” Holland said of Saarijarvi, slated to play for the OHL’s Mississauga Steelheads this season.
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