Johan Franzen 12-31-14

Johan Franzen, who suffered a concussion on Jan. 6, is determined to come back next season.

(AP file photo)

DETROIT - Johan Franzen hasn't given up hope that he'll play hockey again, and neither have the Detroit Red Wings.

Franzen suffered a concussion on Jan. 6 that ended his season. But he is slowly working his way back and, according to general manager Ken Holland, showing improvement.

"I'm told he's working out every day," Holland said on Thursday. "The expectation is that over the course of the summer, he's going to be healthy.

"I expect to see him in training camp. I expect to see him playing hockey next year. Until I hear otherwise, that's how I'm going to proceed."

Franzen started skating late in the season and joined his teammates on the ice at the start and near the end of practices, though he did not actually practice with the team. He said during the playoffs that he was still dealing with post-concussion symptoms (headaches, nausea) and was experiencing daily setbacks.

He was injured on a blindside hit from Edmonton's Rob Klinkhammer. Franzen said he has suffered multiple concussions during his career. He has seen several specialists.

"There was a time in the Tampa Bay series that there was some optimism that if we were able to advance far (he could return)," Holland said.

Franzen, 35, has five years remaining on his contract at a cap hit of $3.95 million. If he's not cleared at the start of the season, the Red Wings can place him on long-term injured reserve and gain cap relief.

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