Sep 18, 2008 - 6:43 PM
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Where he goes from there, however, has not been decided.
"We've talked a number of times, as recent as this past Wednesday (September 10)," Holmgren said. "We spent a great deal of time with Derian. He wants to play. He knows he is not ready to play right now. Whether he will or won't play will be seen down the road. In the interim, we are going to see if there is something that he can do to help the coaches or find some niche here to help keep him busy.
"It is basically his knee. It is a situation where, surgically speaking, they really can't do anything. It is a question of strength in his knee. I would say there is a ray of hope. We will see how it goes."
For his part, Hatcher knew this day was coming.
"It is something that has been talked about all summer long, so it comes as no surprise," Hatcher said. "But I guess now that it's official, it is a little bit tougher."
The 36-year-old Hatcher suffered a fractured right tibia against the Boston Bruins on March 15 and missed the final 10 games of the regular season, as well as the first two contests of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals against the Washington Capitals. In 44 games last season, the veteran recorded two goals, five assists and 33 penalty minutes.
A native of Michigan, Hatcher was an All-Star in 1997, helped the Dallas Stars to the Stanley Cup championship two years later and represented the United States at both the 1998 and 2006 Winter Olympics. The 6-5, 235-pounder has registered 80 goals, 251 assists and 1,581 penalty minutes in 1,045 career games with the Stars, Detroit Red Wings and Flyers.
