DETROIT -- It was quite a task for Mike Modano to get his 40-year-old body prepared for the rigors of another NHL season after he signed with the Detroit Red Wings last summer.

He will face that challenge again later this season, when he returns from surgery to repair a severed tendon in his right wrist.

Modano is out indefinitely, likely more than two months, after being cut by Columbus forward R.J. Umberger’s skate blade late in the second period of

. Modano also sustained slight damage to a nerve.

Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said surgery Saturday morning in Detroit was successful, but doctors had not yet determined how long Modano will be idled.

“A guy lost his balance and a skate came up and Mike was sort of stretched out and the skate got under the glove and did significant damage,” Holland said. “The doctor wants to give it a little time to see how he heals. It’s going to take a period of time to figure out. It’s a significant injury and it’s going to take a significant period of time.”

The Red Wings hope Modano will return in sufficient time to get prepared for the playoffs, but nobody can say that with certainty.

“The loss for the team is one thing, but the loss for him, the playing time and to get orientated and get ready (again). ... The big thing is that we got him here to help us at playoff time, and he’s going to have that opportunity,” Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said. “But it’s important he doesn’t lose touch with the team and stays involved and keeps coming to grips with how we play and what we do because that’ll help him.

“The commitment he’s going to have to make off-ice is going to be as big as he’s ever made in his career. Because when you arrive back, everything’s going 900 miles an hour. It’s different when you’re 25 than when you’re 35. Those are challenges for him.”

After a slow start, Modano had played better. He has two goals, six assists and a minus-3 rating in 20 games.

Many players said they didn’t see the play on which Modano was injured, but they quickly realized it was serious.

“I saw him. I was by the door at the bench. It didn’t look good right away,” Jiri Hudler said. “He was bleeding. It was not good. Everybody’s upset about it.”

Todd Bertuzzi said he feels badly for Modano.

“He really put a lot of work in and was playing some good hockey,” Bertuzzi said. “The role he plays and how he plays, it’s going to be a tough thing to fill.

“Just for him personally, he was starting to feel really good. You feel disappointed and upset for the guy.”

Danny Cleary said Modano was downcast on the flight home, not surprisingly.

“It’s a big loss,” Cleary said. “It took some time to get used to everybody. He got himself in skating condition. He’s been playing great. He’s going to be missed for sure.”

Lineup tweaks

Holland said there is no need to recall anybody from the Grand Rapids Griffins since the Red Wings have 12 healthy forwards and Kris Draper (hernia surgery on Oct. 21) is poised to make his season debut during the three-game West Coast trip that starts Tuesday in San Jose.

Justin Abdelkader will take Modano’s spot as the third-line center. He practiced on a line with Cleary and Hudler on Saturday. Hudler will take Modano’s spot at the point on the second power-play unit, alongside Niklas Kronwall.

Babcock said he might split up Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg on the road.

“It gives Huds an opportunity to get his confidence back because he’ll be in more often,” Babcock said. “Different guys will get an opportunity, whether that be Abby, Helmer (Darren Helm), Millsie (Drew Miller).”

Hudler played the point on the power play in Grand Rapids several years ago and in Russia last season.

“It’s nothing new to me,” Hudler said. “You just have to make sure you don’t turn pucks over and think ‘shoot.’ Keep your head up and be smart with the puck.”

Draper will be re-evaluated by team doctors Sunday. He feels good enough to play Tuesday, but next weekend appears more realistic for his return.

“It’s been tough, it’s been long, it’s been frustrating,” Draper said. “I worked as hard as I could on and off the ice. Now, I just want that opportunity to get in there and get involved.”

The Red Wings hope Modano, who might be in his final season, will get that opportunity again.

“Hopefully, he’ll be back, maybe after the all-star break (Jan. 27-31) and play a few months before the playoffs,” Red Wings captain Nicklas Lidstrom said.

Holland said he had not seen an injury like Modano’s since he arrived in Detroit. That surprises Babcock.

“It’s actually amazing that this doesn’t happen more often with the knives you got on your feet in this game,” Babcock said.