Zetterberg Won’t Need Wrist Surgery

The Detroit Red Wings learned on Friday that forward Henrik Zetterberg will not require surgery to repair a nagging wrist injury that flared up this week.

Zetterberg has experienced wrist pain on and off for the last year and a half, his agent stated earlier this week. After the pain came back and Zetterberg was unable to shoot while practicing with Swedish team Timra, he flew to Detroit to be examined at the Detroit Medical Center.

No tear was detected, meaning Zetterberg’s wrist ligaments are fine.

“It’s huge, because if there had been ligament damage, we would have been talking about extended time out,” general manager Ken Holland said. “Basically he has an inflammation, so that’s very, very positive news. It’s something that can be treated with rest and an anti-inflammatory. By late August, we expect that he is 100%.”

Holland stressed Zetterberg’s importance to a team that lost longtime captain Steve Yzerman to retirement and fan-favorite Brendan Shanahan to free agency this summer.

“Steve was able to will this organization to unbelievable years with the three Stanley Cups, and now it’s up to someone else. Z has that kind of will and that work ethic and that passion to be the best. It’s going to be his time.”