Detroit Red Wings center Johan Franzen is hoping to get back on the ice around Christmas and has hopes of returning in time for the hockey tournament at the 2010 Winter Olympics, The Detroit News reported.
The Olympic hockey tournament begins in Vancouver on Feb. 16, and Franzen says he'll need to play competitive hockey ahead of the Games if he's to have any chance at representing his country. Franzen was expected to miss four months when he tore the ACL in his left knee on Oct. 8.
"I can't play in the Olympics unless I get in about five games," he said, according to the report. "Two games won't be enough if you've been out four months."
He acknowledges that's an aggressive timetable, according to the report.
"It's a longshot if I stay at the same pace I am on now and you go by the dates," he said, the newspaper reported. "But I still have hope that I can heal faster. You never know."
According to the report, Franzen feels like he's ahead of schedule, although he doesn't have a prognosis confirming that.
"We haven't done any tests or X-rays lately," he said, according to the report. "Once we do that, then we will get a clue where we're at."