Another Year of Broken Wings?

The Red Wings haven’t even made it through the preseason before incurring multiple injuries.

First on the casualty list is Kris Draper, a Wings veteran who suffered from a groin injury during training camp in Traverse City. Draper’s injury isn’t severe but is enough to keep him off the ice temporarily. He has been regularly seeing the Red Wing’s athletic therapist who determined it was only a contact injury. But Draper isn’t taking any chances getting back on the ice until he is sure that his health and skating is where he wants it to be.

Jiri Hudler was the next fallen Wing who bruised his left foot in the last scrimmage match at training camp when he used his foot to block a shot. Hudler’s x-rays showed no fracture and he was listed as day-to-day. His injury caused him to miss the preseason opener against Pittsburgh, but he has since returned.

While Hudler returned for the pre-season opener, two of his fellow Wing-mates, Johan Franzen and Derek Meech, sustained injuries. While chasing the puck down, Franzen took a knee-on-knee hit with a Pittsburgh defensemen. Although the hit could have caused a serious injury, it was a charley horse that was Franzen’s major complaint. Franzen returned back to the ice for yesterday’s game.

Also injured during the Wing’s pre-season opener was Derek Meech. Meech suffered a concussion in the first period of the game. He has since been determined to be indefinitely out for the season and released on waivers.

Practice yesterday morning got the better of Mike Modano who left early with some concern of tightness in his groin. Modano is expected to play in tomorrow’s game against Toronto.

Goalie Chris Osgood added his name to the injury list this past Saturday in a game against Chicago. Osgood endured a charley horse that has kept him off the ice. He is also expected to return tomorrow.

The freshest injury belongs to Patrick Eaves. He hurt his ankle during practice yesterday morning and was supposed to be re-evaluated earlier today.

That’s a total of 7 Red Wings to be injured before the regular season has even started. Is anyone else having a bad case of déjà vu?