Zednik's condition upgraded to good

Feb 12, 2008 - 8:15 PM BUFFALO, New York (Ticker) -- Florida Panthers left wing Richard Zednik continued to show improvement Tuesday and his condition was upgraded from stable to good, according to statement released by Buffalo General Hospital.

The 32-year-old Zednik underwent emergency surgery at the hospital after getting cut in the neck by the skate blade of teammate Olli Jokinen during Sunday's 5-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres.

Dr. Sonya Noor, the attending surgeon, said Zednik will be removed to a private patient room later Tuesday afternoon. He had been in the intensive care unit since undergoing the surgery.

Doctors are optimistic that Zednik, who had his carotid artery nearly severed in the accident, will make a full recovery and possibly resume his career as early as next season.

Noor said on Monday that because Zednik received a "clean" cut, there were minimal complications during the surgery. She estimated that he would be able to resume normal activity in six to eight weeks.

Zednik was alert and talking on Monday, but Noor indicated that he would not be discharged until he can get up and consume solid food.

Sportsnet of Canada initially reported that Zednik underwent life-saving surgery, but Buffalo Sabres team physician Dr. Leslie Bisson said that he never got any sense that the player was near death.

According to Bisson, Zednik initially did not realize he was hurt and never lost consciousness.

Zednik, who bled profusely from his neck, was able to skate toward his bench where he was met by assistant athletic trainer Dave Zenobi and immediately ushered to the locker room.

With 9:56 remaining in the third period, Jokinen was being checked by Buffalo defenseman Brian Campbell - and the captain's skate raised up and caught Zednik trailing the play.

The game was delayed for more than 15 minutes as the blood was cleaned off the ice.

The play brought back uncomfortable memories of when then-Sabres goaltender Clint Malarchuk had his jugular sliced in a 1989 game against the St. Louis Blues.

Zednik has 15 goals, 11 assists and 43 penalty minutes in 54 games this season.

Zednik has collected 183 goals and 346 points in 675 career games with Washington, Montreal, the New York Islanders and Panthers. He also represented his native Slovakia in the 2006 Winter Olympics, scoring one goal in six contests.