DETROIT -- Detroit Red Wings forwards Johan Franzen and Jiri Hudler skated this morning at Joe Louis Arena. Neither will play in tonight's exhibition game against the Chicago Blackhawks. They are listed as day-to-day.



Franzen (charley horse) couldn't skate full speed or have any contact. He won't play Saturday in Chicago, and coach Mike Babcock said he probably won't play Sunday at home against the New York Rangers.



"Pretty slow, but I could skate at least,'' Franzen said. "Might be feeling a lot better tomorrow, might feel the same, so I'm not sure.''



Hudler (bruised left foot) was skating well as he broke in new skates. Babcock said there is a possibility he could play Sunday.



"I had new skates on, which is tougher, but I feel good,'' Hudler said.



Defenseman Derek Meech said he's still experiencing a headache from a hit in Wednesday's preseason game at Pittsburgh. He has a slight concussion and isn't sure when he'll be able to return.



"Still got a bit of a headache, but I feel a lot more alert than I did yesterday,'' Meech said.



He said of the play in which he was injured: "It wasn't a huge hit. I was bent over and one of their guys (Tim Wallace) came over and hit me shoulder-to-head. I kind of blacked out right away and stumbled around a bit and then everything started coming back. I thought I just got my bell rung a little bit so I tried to play through it, but something wasn't right.''



It's an even tougher break for Meech, who is hoping to be picked up by another team before the season because there is no room for him on the Red Wings roster.



"I do feel a lot better, more energy,'' said Meech, who must pass the standard baseline test for a concussion before he is cleared to skate.



Defenseman Brian Rafalski didn't skate Friday and will miss the first three preseason games. Babcock said he should be ready to play Sunday.



"Just been off and on, been giving him days off in camp. Just maintenance,'' Babcock said. "Originally, it was for his back. We made sure we gave him lots of time to be ready and feeling 100 percent.''



The Blackhawks are basically bringing their minor league team in for tonight's game. Corey Crawford and Alec Richards are their goaltenders and their only regulars listed on the roster are forwards Dave Bolland, Troy Brouwer, Tomas Kopecky and defensemen Brian Campbell and Jordan Hendry.



"The team that comes in here tonight is not the Stanley Cup champs,'' Babcock said. "They're leaving them at home. They'll play us tomorrow (in Chicago).''





