Henrik Zetterberg (back) out of Sochi

[biggunsbob]

ESPN.. Thought I would post the article after LGRW_9 posted that Hank was out....


SOCHI, Russia -- Sweden captain Henrik Zetterberg will miss the rest of the Olympic men's hockey tournament because of a back injury.

Zetterberg scored a goal in the Swedes' opening victory over the Czech Republic on Wednesday, but sat out of Thursday's practice because of a herniated disk in his back.


The Detroit Red Wings captain had anti-inflammatory treatment and consulted with the NHL's doctors in Sochi, but Sweden spokesman Anders Feltenmark confirmed Zetterberg is out Friday before the team faced Switzerland.

Said Sweden team doctor Bjorn Waldeback regarding Zetterberg's herniated disk: "There is no chance at all in the time we've got here that he will be able to train or play. It was no tough decision as this was no borderline case. For people who know medicine it is obvious that this couldn't continue."

The four-time Olympian's absence is another big blow to the Swedes, who were medal favorites before forwards Henrik Sedin and Johan Franzen also were forced to skip the Olympics with injuries.

Sweden still has ample offensive firepower, but depth and shifting lines could be a problem when the elimination portion of the tournament begins next week. Sweden can't replace the 33-year-old Zetterberg on its 25-man roster, which is locked after the team's first game.

Sweden head coach Par Marts says his team has to step up now.

"This is not what we wanted to happen but now it has and all we can do is see who will step up to fill the void," Marts told reporters Friday ahead of his team's game with Switzerland. "Patrik Berglund now gets to play a bit more and take more initiatives to grow."

Henrik Sedin pulled out of the Olympics recently with a rib injury, and Franzen was unable to travel to Sochi because of a concussion.

Defenseman Niklas Kronwall, Zetterberg's teammate in Detroit, is expected to replace him as Sweden's captain.

Zetterberg is headed home to Detroit and might need surgery, which could seriously effect the Red Wings' postseason hopes. Detroit is fighting for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

The injury also has bothered the Swedes' first-line center during the Red Wings' season, forcing him to miss 11 games. He has been in and out of Detroit's lineup in recent weeks.

Zetterberg won a gold medal with Sweden in Turin in 2006. He has scored five goals in his four Olympic appearances.

 

[manchild98]

I hate all these exhibitions. Give it back to the amateurs.

Zett is NOT headed back to Detroit yet. He's in so much pain he can't even get on a plane and sit in a seat.

Detroit general manager Ken Holland told the Free Press Friday that Zetterberg, "is in a great deal of discomfort, so in fairness to Sweden, the Detroit Red Wings organization and himself, he is pulling out of the Olympics.

He has a herniated disk, and will be put on medication to see if that will reduce swelling.

"I don't know if he will need surgery," Holland said. "He needs to see a doctor. He is going to wait until he feels better, then fly home early next week. There is an NHL charter going back to the States on Thursday, he may be on that.

 

[manchild98]

SOCHI, Russia -- The Detroit Red Wings don't expect Henrik Zetterberg to play again during the regular season.

Zetterberg had back surgery Friday in New York to remove a fragmented disk.

"I don't anticipate he'll be ready to play in any games of the regular season," Red Wings general manager Ken Holland told The Associated Press on Saturday. "I'm hopeful that we can play our way into the playoffs and that he'll be back, but that's down the road."

The Red Wings and Swedish Olympic hockey team captain played once at the Sochi Games before pulling out because of the injury.

Holland is hopeful Zetterberg's back injury does not prematurely end his career.

"I'm told it has nothing to do with his career," Holland said. "But the surgery is something that needed to be done and he'll be as good as new."


http://espn.go.com/nhl/story/_/id/1...-detroit-red-wings-likely-rest-regular-season

 

[xer0]

Zetterberg had back surgery and is out 7-8 weeks which likely means his season is over.

I don't think the Wings can win enough to get in the playoffs without him but hope i'm wrong.

http://www.freep.com/article/201402...rik-zetterberg-back-surgery-detroit-red-wings