Stephen-Weiss-11-8-13

Stephen Weiss hasn't played since Dec. 10 due to a sports hernia and has appeared in only 26 games.

(AP file photo)

DETROIT – Detroit Red Wings general manager Ken Holland confirmed today what had become apparent following multiple setbacks for Stephen Weiss – he is not returning this season.

Holland also said Henrik Zetterberg is expected to put on skates next week, a significant step in his recovery from back surgery on Feb. 21. Zetterberg won't be ready for the start of the playoffs, if the Red Wings qualify, but might be available midway through the first round.

Defenseman Jonathan Ericsson isn't likely to return during the first round of the playoffs, Holland said. He had surgery March 19 to stabilize a fractured finger and repair a partially torn tendon.

The Red Wings expected Weiss to be ready following the Olympic break, after he underwent surgery on Dec. 23 to repair a sports hernia. But he hasn't skated much in the past five weeks.

“I know he’s frustrated; he’s not on the horizon to come back,” Holland said. “I don’t know where he’s really at (with his condition). I was just in there talking to Steve, talking to our trainers; everybody is a little bit frustrated because we obviously thought he would be back by now, actually a long time ago.

“So they’re going through a check list. We might send him back next week to see the doc who performed surgery (William Meyers in Philadelphia), but in the meantime, he continues his rehab.”

Weiss also saw a doctor in St. Louis for a second opinion.

“The doctor who performed the surgery and the doctor in St. Louis both think (another operation) is not an issue,” Holland said. “Part of healing is what they call breaking down scar tissue and is it the scar issue, is it some other issue?

“At this stage of the game I’m not expecting him back this year. I think that’s the way we have to go forth, I mean, he’s not even practicing.”

Holland said they don’t know how much Zetterberg will skate next week and don’t have a target date for his return.

“I don’t have an exact date but I think next week sometime he’s going to start to put skates on,” Holland said. “Now I don’t know to what extent he’s going to push. I think he’s still waiting for the doctor to give him (the OK). But I know on the horizon he’s going to put skates on.”

He added, “We’re not getting Zetterberg back for anytime in the regular season and if we can play our way into the playoffs don’t expect him to play at the start of the first-round playoff series. … That’s the time frame where the doctor had said around eight weeks that he would start giving him some clearance to do some things. Now it depends on how he heals. Eight weeks is probably around the middle of the first round.”

Ericsson should start skating soon.

“The doctor told him the first couple of weeks, because of infection, they didn’t want him training or working out,” Holland said. “I know he’s been working hard off ice. He’s ramped it up. He’ll get the green light to skate soon.”