CBS Sports is reporting that Detroit Red Wings center Johan Franzen will miss four months with a torn ACL in his left knee.
In two games this season, Franzen has one assist and six penalty minutes. He is coming off his best season in the NHL, scoring 34 goals last season for the Wings. He has also become known for coming up big in the playoffs, scoring 25 postseason goals the past two years.
According to MLive,com Franzen suffered the injury at some point during last night’s game against the Blackhawks, in which he scored the game-winning goal for the Red Wings. It wasn’t until this morning that he discovered just how bad his knee was.
“I’m a little surprised,’’ [Red Wings General Manager Ken] Holland said. “He finished the game, said his knee was bothering him, didn’t know exactly hen he injured it. The doctor said it happened before he scored his goal.
“He woke up this morning with his knee swollen and full of fluid.’’
Franzen will have surgery on the knee to repair the ligament once swelling goes down. The team is aiming for a return some time after the Olympic break.