Brian Rafalski Out 3-4 Weeks

by J.J. from Kansas on Oct 12, 2010 2:26 PM CDT in News

Helene St. James of Freep.Com reports today that, as a result of the arthroscopic knee surgery Red Wings defenseman Brian Rafalski underwent, the 37-year old Dearborn native will miss the next 3-4 weeks of action.

Early reports were that Mike Babcock didn't expect Rafalski to be out long, but they cleaned out some loose particles from Rafalski's knee and need to give it proper time to heal up before committing him back to the ice. As a result, the Wings have recalled defenseman Doug Janik from Grand Rapids and will have him in the lineup tonight against the Avalanche.

To make salary room for Janik, the Red Wings placed Kris Draper on injured reserve, retroactive to the start of the season. Draper is just about ready to return from a groin injury and will be available to be taken off the IR for Thursday's game if necessary (because Rafalski and his $6M cap hit will be on Injured Reserve by then). Here's to hoping that Ericsson's back spasms heal up soon. Rafalski was leading all Red Wings in terms of plus/minus with a +5 rating and 2 assists on the young season.

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fanfuckingtastic

by bond021 on Oct 12, 2010 2:28 PM CDT reply actions

DAMMIT

This sucks. Rafi has been on a tear since the Olympics. I feel ok about having either Ericcson or Kindel in the lineup, but not both.

And Janik? Fugeddaboutit. Any reason they didn’t call Meech up instead?

by Big Z in Orlando on Oct 12, 2010 2:29 PM CDT reply actions

This sucks

by DetroitSports on Oct 12, 2010 2:30 PM CDT reply actions

Say it ain't the start of....

what we saw last season with the injury bug. Please someone, Say It Ain’t So!

Smitty

by Kendal on Oct 12, 2010 2:53 PM CDT reply actions

groan

fuck!!!! my rafalski 50 pt prediction just flew out the door. and we lost a valuable member, please dont be last year….

by hyeh81 on Oct 12, 2010 2:58 PM CDT reply actions

Relax

Everyone sees a rash of injuries at the start of the season because players aren’t in game shape yet. I’d rather see Rafa miss the time he needs to come back 100% in a month or so, instead of coming back too early and turning it into a nagging injury all year long.

Detroit4Lyfe

by Rob Rogacki on Oct 12, 2010 3:08 PM CDT reply actions

The lack of cap space is going to magnify the effects of key injuries this year

If the Wings aren’t lucky, they may have to sign Chelios to a 1/$500 contract just to have a warm body out there.

Shawn Camp earned my dog several beatings back in 2007

by wtbudlight on Aug 30, 2010 5:54 PM PDT

by IntrepidX on Oct 12, 2010 3:50 PM CDT reply actions

well better now than later on to have an injury like this

just don’t let it be the beginning of a string of injuries like last year ugh

2011 will be the year....better be....

Troy Tulowitzki: "When people think of the Rockies, I want them to think of a winning organization."

by TuLoRocks2008 on Oct 12, 2010 4:10 PM CDT reply actions

More reason to by happy that Lidstrom came back

The world's biggest BCS hater and damn proud of it!

Proud Colts fan boycotting StampedeBlue.com since 7/17/2010

The opinions of Brad Wells (BigBlueShoe) do NOT speak for all Colts fans. Most Colts fans are well informed fans and good-hearted people. Most Colts fans are not egotistical douchebags.

This has been a public service announcement.

by MrNFL on Oct 12, 2010 4:33 PM CDT reply actions

I don't know but I'm not really worried

We have a lot of depth and a lot of skill I still think we will do just fine and win over 50 games this season. It’s going to take injury’s to more then 1 key player to make me worried about the season our depth allows for it, just look at last year we finished 5th with most of the top players out for a good part of the year. 16-2-1 when they were all back. If this was any other team I probably be worried.

Only downside is sucks for Rafalski to miss 4 weeks but our schedule is very light this coming month. He’s going to miss 7games if he’s back in 3 weeks 11 if he’s back in 4 weeks. October schedule is very low in games

by Rwings on Oct 12, 2010 4:43 PM CDT reply actions