Johan Franzen’s hockey future is once again in limbo. Not surprisingly, it was determined that the cause of the illness that Franzen has been experiencing the past three days is related to the concussion that cost him the second half of the 2014-15 NHL season and the Detroit Red Wings forward has been placed on the seven-day injured list.
“He’s had a return of some of the headaches, some of the symptoms that he’s had in the past,… Detroit coach Jeff Blashill said. “That’s really the information I have right now.…
As to when, or if, Franzen will play again, no one can be certain of that answer.
“I think right now, we don’t know what the future’s going to hold,… Blashill said. “We’re focused on the 20 guys we’re going to have dressed tomorrow night. We’re focused on the guys that are available to us right now. That’s the focus of the hockey team and that’s what will continue.
“Obviously, we want him to get well, but again I don’t know what that means, I don’t know what the future holds with that.…
It’s easy to suggest that the best thing for Franzen would be to walk away from the game while his senses are intact, but none of us are him, though we can relate to what it would be like to have something we love so much taken away from us.
Like Franzen, it’s likely you’d take whatever measure was available in at attempt to get back what you’d lost before throwing in the towel for good.
“I feel unbelievably for him,… Blashill said. “I think he’s a guy who’s been through a tough go. I think he’s a great person. He really wanted to get to where he felt good about playing hockey, so I feel real bad for him.…
Though there were some minor setbacks, things seemed to be progressing well for Franzen through training camp and the pre-season, and into the early portion of the regular season.
“Yeah, and that’s why it’s unfortunate,… Blashill said. “You don’t like to see anybody go through injury issues and certainly for him he’s battled, worked hard through the summer, got himself in great position. So you certainly don’t want to see it, none of his teammates want to see it, I don’t want to see it but it’s the reality right now and I feel extraordinarily bad for him.…
As cold as it sounds, the Wings have no choice but to move on absent the expectation that Franzen will be available to the team anytime soon.
“From the hockey team’s perspective I’ve never focused on who’s not available, I’ve focused on who’s available but from a personal standpoint I wish he wasn’t going through this,… Blashill said.
Helm Slowed Franzen wasn’t the only one to receive bad news. Forward Darren Helm, also seeking to recover from a concussion suffered in training camp, had hoped to be ready to go by this weekend but suffered a setback in those plans.
“Helm probably took a little step back today, so Helm won’t play tomorrow and I’m not sure he’ll play on Saturday,… Blashill said.
As well, centre Luke Glendening missed practice Thursday due to a lower-body injury suffered in Tuesday’s win over Tampa Bay when he blocked a shot and his status for Friday’s game at Joe Louis Arena against the Carolina Hurricanes is uncertain.
“That I don’t have the answer to,… Blashill said. “He practiced yesterday. He had some swelling that didn’t allow him to practice (Thursday) so I don’t know if he’ll be available or not.…
If Glendening can’t answer the bell, the Wings will simply insert center Joakim Andersson for his first action of the season.
“We’re good,… Blashill said. “We’ve got Andersson, who I have unbelievable faith in. From a hockey team and coach’s perspective we’re going to have 20 guys good enough to win the game tomorrow night for sure and now we got to execute.
“That’s all I ever thought about with injuries.…
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