Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Niklas Kronwall undergoes knee surgery, Red Wings optimistic that he won’t miss camp

Niklas Kronwall, Martin Havlat

Detroit Red Wings’ Niklas Kronwall checks Chicago Blackhawks’ Martin Havlat during the first period of Game 3 of the NHL hockey Western Conference finals in Chicago, Friday, May 22, 2009. The play drew a five-minute interference penalty and a game misconduct on Kronwall. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

AP

A little more than a week ago, we touched on the issues Detroit Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall continues to face thanks to knee problems. Kronwall and the team are hoping minor surgery will help his knee feel close to 100 percent.

Ansar Khan has the story for MLive.com.

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Tuesday morning. Doctors discovered a lateral meniscus tear.

Kronwall is expected to be idled for two weeks but should be ready to skate at the start of training camp Sept. 18 in Traverse City.

“Unless we have some unforeseen setback, we would anticipate he’ll [be back] on the ice at the start of camp,’' Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said.

(Note: I added [be back] to Holland’s quote for the sake of clarity.)

Holland went on to say that many players bounce back from arthroscopic surgery in as little as 10-14 days, but if I were the Red Wings, I’d make sure not to rush Kronwall back. I’m sure training camp is important, but Kronwall is far from a rookie and coach Mike Babcock has been with the team long enough that he’ll probably only make minor tweaks to his system rather than big changes.

Hopefully Kronwall’s knee will be back to normal, but you never know with knee injuries.