Franzen cleared to practice

May 23, 2008 - 2:39 AM DETROIT (Ticker) -- Johan Franzen will be taking another step toward his return to the Detroit Red Wings.

Franzen on Thursday was cleared to practice with the team and will do so on Friday, general manager Ken Holland announced.

The Presidents' Trophy-winning Red Wings host the Eastern Conference champion Pittsburgh Penguins in Game One of the Stanley Cup Finals on Saturday.

Franzen, who leads the NHL this postseason with 12 goals, has not played since Game One of the Western Conference finals against the Dallas Stars due to a concussion. But the 28-year-old Swede has been free of headaches for several days, prompting the decision to allow him to participate in practice.

"We got good news," Holland said. "He went to see a doctor today, and the doctor gave him clearance to start practicing and ramping up his workouts. No physical play right now, but we've got our fingers crossed. We're hopeful."

Franzen, who has scored 27 goals in his last 27 games dating to March 2, is not expected to play in Saturday's opener of the best-of-seven Finals. But the Red Wings are hoping he will return soon thereafter.

"We are optimistic that he's going to play sometime in this series," Holland said. "He's doubtful for Saturday, but actually I was just talking to him and our doctors. ... We're going to see how it goes each day. As we go along each day, we'll ramp it up, and if he doesn't have any setbacks, certainly the possibility that he's going to be in our lineup before the end of the series is going to be good.

"Now, if he starts to ramp it up and push and he gets some setbacks, that's going to be another story."