Zetterberg says he'll miss start of season for Red Wings: report

Henrik Zetterberg said Tuesday he will miss training camp and the start of the regular season for the Detroit Red Wings because of a back injury.

"I've only been able to rehab, but no training. I tried, but the pain made it impossible," the 37-year-old center told Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet. "The tricks I used to dampen the pain in previous summers did not help this time. ... I've not been able to train properly, and I can't play NHL games without being well-prepared, especially not at my age."
Zetterberg, who has been Detroit captain since the 2012-13 season, was second on the Red Wings with 56 points (11 goals, 45 assists) in 82 games last season, behind forward Dylan Larkin's 63 (16 goals, 47 assists).

Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill said Sunday he was not optimistic Zetterberg would be able to play this season.
"I think there's lots of doubt, because I don't know how you go through not being able to train to being able to play an NHL season," Blashill said. "I think it's almost impossible. So all signs indicate to me right now that it'll be very difficult Henrik to be cleared to play."
Zetterberg, who was selected by Detroit in the seventh round (No. 210) of the 1999 NHL Draft, is fifth in goals (337), assists (623) and points (960) in Red Wings history.

After having back surgery Feb. 21, 2014, Zetterberg played 77 games in 2014-15 and has played all 82 games the past three seasons.
"He gutted it out for two months at the end of the [2017-18 season], and it was amazing to see," Blashill said. "But it's one thing to gut it out for two months. It's another thing when you haven't been able to train at all to be able to play an NHL season."
Blashill said the Red Wings will use Larkin, Frans Nielsen, Andreas Athanasiou and Luke Glendening at center if they're without Zetterberg. Athanasiou, 24, has played on the wing but center is his natural position.
Zetterberg, who turns 38 on Oct. 9, told the newspaper he will continue rehabbing his back in Detroit.
"We'll have to wait and see what happens," he said.