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Wings’ Season Hangs in the Balance…5,526 Miles Away : Zetterberg Injury

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Take These Broken Wings…

What the Zetterberg injury means to Detroit fans

The 2013-14 season has been a brutal one for the Red Wings and their fans. Some may classify it as a ‘roller coaster’, but that would imply there have been as many ups as downs. The injury bug has laid waste to this team, and while there is a pool of new found talent, the severity of the injuries to the leadership of this Detroit club has been debilitating. It could very well mean that 2013/14 is a write-off.

On Valentine’s Day, an arrow to the heart is what Detroit fans received, but not in the cupid sort of way. That is when we learned of the severity of our captain’s injury. Henrik Zetterberg has been taken out of the Sochi Olympics, and that wasn’t the worst of it. He may be out for the remainder of the NHL season as well. Hank’s back (herniated disc) has been an issue for some time, but it sounds much more worrisome this time around. Referring to the possibility of Zetterberg missing the remainder of the NHL season, Swedish team doctor Bjorn Waldeback told the Detroit News, “They have to make a decision over there and then see, but if it stays like this that will be the case.”


Just a few days after teammate Pavel Datsyuk made his return to NHL action, Zetterberg appears to be out of it. Ken Holland admitted that Zetterberg would not be available to play when NHL games resume after the Olympic break, and also not ruling out that surgery could be a treatment option. We won’t know for sure until he sees stateside physicians, but all signs point to an extended absence for number 40. Zetterberg was quoted by Sweden’s Aftonbladet that, “it’s the same problems as before, with my back. Only 20 times worse. I just can’t play anymore here; it’s impossible.” adding ,“I can hardly move, the pain is incredible. It’s really sickening. I’ve been looking forward to this tournament for years and to have to leave it, I’m so frustrated.”

It goes without saying that losing Zetterberg for the rest of the season would be an enormous blow to the Red Wings, as well as their chances for keeping the 23 season streak of playoff appearances alive. Just when Datsyuk flashes signs of improving, pouring in 2 goals for team Russia vs the US (in a losing cause 🙂 ), the news continues to get worse for Zetterberg.

Team Over Country?

There are rumblings about how players should put their NHL teams above their home countries, but that is nonsense. No matter how upset we are about Zetterberg being injured, and possibly missing the rest of the season, it was going to happen anyway. His back has been an issue for at least a couple of seasons, and he had been playing through the pain already. Injuries happen, that’s the reality of professional hockey. It just sucks when it continues to happen to the top scorers and locker room leaders of your beloved team. It’s crazy how much our outlook has changed, while there aren’t even NHL games being played. Before the break, Datsyuk returned from a month-long injury, and we were thinking playoffs…deep playoffs. Now, we’re hoping for a miracle just to contend for a wild card spot.

I foresee Zetterberg going under the knife, and focusing on a healthy return for the 2014/15 season. If that happens, barring a high end rental player, the Wings will be lucky to claim a wild card berth in the East. Right now, all we can do is hope.

Do you think the Red Wings can make the playoffs without Zetterberg?

 
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Tough question! Feel free to share your opinion in the comments.

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