Report: Red Wings RW Holmstrom out 3-5 weeks

Feb 7, 2009 - 1:10 AM DETROIT (Ticker) -- A sports hernia will keep one of the Detroit Red Wings' top players out for an extended period of time, according to a published report on Friday.

The Detroit Free Press reported right wing Tomas Holmstrom will undergo surgery in the near future to correct the ailment and will be sidelined three to five weeks.

Holmstrom has been bothered by the injury since early last week. He will have the operation performed in Philadelphia, where he underwent a similar procedure last June.

"We'll see how big it is when they open me up," Holmstrom told the newspaper. "Hopefully, it's a small tear. Last time, they said it was a small tear and it turned out to be bigger than I thought. But if I do this, I can start skating in two to three weeks and get at least 10 games in before the playoffs."

The Free Press claimed Holmstrom has been taking daily shots of painkillers to make the ailment bearable.

"I've had this injury before, and it's no fun," the 36-year-old said. "You can hardly practice and then take shots during the game, and it still hurts. It was bad, so I think this is the best way to do it."

A native of Pieta, Sweden, Holmstrom has recorded 14 goals and 16 assists in 40 games this season.

Selected in the 10th round of the 1994 draft, the 6-foot, 203-pounder has collected 189 tallies - 89 on the power play - and 417 points in 798 contests with the Red Wings over his 12-year career.