Franzen: Head injury put me 'in a really dark place'

TAMPA – The hardest part for Johan Franzen was turning down his young sons. Professionally, it was one thing to miss game after game because of another concussion — teammates and bosses with the Detroit Red Wings understood what was going on.

But 4-year-old Eddie Bo and nearly 2-year-old Oliver Gunnar? Franzen couldn't explain to them why he spent afternoons in bed, why he went from doing something every day to doing nothing, why he couldn't pick them up and toss them in the air and catch them.

"To see the disappointment in their eyes when (they ask), 'Dad, why can't you play with us?' It breaks your heart," Franzen said Wednesday. "It's a lot better now. Now I can do all that stuff, and it feels really good."

Franzen skated a few laps as straggling teammates finished practicing in preparation for Thursday night's Game 1 of the first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Franzen hasn't played, hasn't practiced since a blindside shoulder hit by Edmonton's Rob Klinkhammer on Jan. 6 left Franzen with another concussion. Franzen wasn't sure how many, but said he has had at least four head injuries.

"This time was scary," he said. "For two months, not being able to pick up your kids, or play with your kids, for more than 2 minutes — it makes you think a little bit. I was in a really dark place, maybe not the first month because then you still think it's going to get better, but then when it doesn't get better, you kind of start wondering."

Franzen has skated on his own for weeks, finally, he said, "starting to feel a little bit better. Last month, it's slowly but steady been getting better. I've still got a lot of issues, but at least I can get through workouts and get something done during the day.

"I usually get a setback in the afternoon and at night, but I'm just happy that I can work out, start feeling like a human being again."

Still, he goes to bed every afternoon knowing, if he doesn't, a headache will come. He'll get up to have dinner, then rest some more.

Franzen, 35, hasn't ruled out continuing his Wings career. He signed an 11-year, $43.5-million extension in 2009. He has been on long-term injured reserve, which has offered the team salary-cap relief. Franzen hopes that won't continue next season.

"I had my mind set on coming back," he said. "I'm just hoping one day I'll wake up, and it's gone."

Contact Helene St. James: hstjames@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @helenestjames.