Will Wings' Franzen return for the 2015-16 season? (VIDEO)
While it may still be a little too early to tell, Johan Franzen anticipates being ready for the Red Wings' regular-season opener.
As long as he doesn't have any lingering issues or setbacks from the head injury that sidelined him last season, that is.
"That's the plan," Franzen said. "If I keep feeling like I do now, I think I will be ready."
On Jan. 6, Franzen was blindsided by a hit in Edmonton and did not appear in another game for the remainder of the season. He played in just 33 games last season, recording seven goals and 15 assists.
Nearly eight months later, Franzen has been pushing himself hard on the ice at Joe Louis Arena in preparation for the Wings' training camp later this month.
"It feels good so far," Franzen said after the Wings' skate Wednesday. "Probably too early to tell until I start playing games and stuff but I'm going at it pretty hard, probably going a little bit too much right now actually just to see that I can take it."
Franzen's main issue has been the exertion of four-hour practices, when his head begins "shutting down." He's continued to have setbacks every week during difficult workouts, which have forced him to return home after practice and sleep for the remainder of the day.
But Franzen believes if he can handle these pre-training camp workouts, he'll be able to take a few bumps, too.
While the 35-year-old has no desire to hang up his skates due to his history of head injuries, one thing is clear: if Franzen is approaching the end of his career, he wants to retire on his own terms.
"I haven't been there yet, really," Franzen said. "It's been so many tough years here, the last two, three years with injuries. I just want to have a good year and I want to decide on my own when I quit."
