DETROIT -- Given his history of early-season knee injuries, Detroit Red Wings forward Johan Franzen was worried during that brief moment he tumbled through the air after a hit from Pittsburgh's Brooks Orpik in Wednesday's preseason game.

After he landed, Franzen realized it was his thigh, not his knee, that absorbed the damage. It's not serious, just a charley horse that will idle him for the next three exhibition games, Friday through Sunday.

Franzen, working out off the ice Thursday morning at Joe Louis Arena, called the knee-to-thigh hit a "stupid" play by Orpik, who he believes should be suspended by the NHL.

"It was terrible. It might be the stupidest play I've ever seen," Franzen said. "He lifted his foot up and put his knee inside of my leg."

Red Wings coach Mike Babcock also was upset about the hit.

"I don't think it was a very good hit," Babcock said. "I don't think they'd be happy if one of our guys did that to Sid (Crosby) or (Evgeni) Malkin. It's one of those things that in the league we have to look after each other's knees. To me, that's uncalled for."

Babcock said he's not concerned about whether the league suspends Orpik.

"I'm just glad Mule is OK," Babcock said.

Franzen missed 55 games last season after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament during Detroit's home opener against Chicago on Oct. 8. Oddly, he also sustained shorter-term knee injuries in October games against the Blackhawks the previous two seasons.

Franzen said he doesn't believe he has become a target for opponents given his history of knee injuries.

"They would probably do it to anyone else," Franzen said. "I don't think he had time to see that it's me. It's a reaction. Some guys have that in them."

Todd Bertuzzi took exception to the hit and pummeled Orpik in a fight.

"I didn't see it, but I heard (about) it," Franzen said. "I thanked him after."

Babcock agreed.

"That was great. That's what you got to do. We're all in together here and Bert did a good job," he said.

Bertuzzi said he believes a message needed to be sent.

"Your teammates are kind of your brotherhood and you stick up for each other," Bertuzzi said. "Stuff like that has to be attended to. I think anyone else would have done the same thing."

Red Wings captain Nicklas Lidstrom also reacted harshly to the hit.

"I think it's good that (we) have someone stepping up for the team and not tolerating anything like that happening to one of our teammates," Lidstrom said.

Franzen returned to the lineup Feb. 9 but didn't feel comfortable for the rest of the season and the playoffs.

"I didn't have the push. I never won the race to the 50-50 pucks," he said. "I couldn't get myself into position for scoring chances. I felt slow. I couldn't get on the inside. I got kept to the outside."

He felt much better coming into training camp, saying it's the strongest he has ever been.

"We need a healthy Mule, especially with his size, what he brings to our team, what he can do one-on-one or on the forecheck or hanging onto the puck," Lidstrom said. "He's a player that's going to be important for our team."

Franzen scored 27 goals during his breakout season in 2007-08. He followed that up with career highs of 34 goals and 59 points in 2008-09.

"We think he has a chance to be a dominant player in the league. He has to be that if we're going to take a step," Babcock said. "The same for Dan Cleary and (Valtteri) Filppula and (Niklas) Kronwall. Those are all guys we need to take huge steps if we're going to continue to challenge and not fall by the wayside."