Forward Daniel Alfredsson is not expected to attend Detroit Red Wings training camp and is seeing specialists for his back injury, the Detroit Free Press reported Tuesday.
Alfredsson hasn't skated in more than 10 days because of problems with his back and has yet to take part in any of the informal workouts with players.
"The setback is a little bigger than Alfie thought," Red Wings general manager Ken Holland told the Free Press on Monday. "I know he still wants to give himself every opportunity to see if his body will allow him to play. We're going to be patient, give him the time to make his decision.
"At this point, I don't expect him to be coming to camp."
Alfredsson, 41, had 18 goals and a team-high 49 points in 68 games last season, his first with the Red Wings after playing 17 seasons with the Ottawa Senators. He has 1,157 points in 1,246 games.
Holland said the Red Wings will have an open door for Alfredsson, an unrestricted free agent, if he wants to return for another season.
"I think I owe him the class and dignity to allow him to get to a point where we sit down and make a decision about his future," Holland said. "Whether we sign him to a contract or not will be based on feedback from his body. Before we even get there, we have to see if Alfie's body is going to allow him to play.
"This has been, from his perspective, disappointing that, on the eve of camp, he's not been able to skate every day. Right now, Alfie doesn't feel the way he knows he needs to feel."
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