Wounded Stars: Heatley, Forsberg, Kariya Won't Play Anytime Soon

Paul Kariya's sprained wrist, which sounded innocent enough back in October, has now cost him a full quarter of the NHL season. Colorado teammate Peter Forsberg has also missed more games than he has played. Meanwhile, in Atlanta, Dany Heatley continues the arduous process of healing body and spirit.

Kariya, who can't grip a hockey stick with his right hand, describes his status as "week-to-week." The Rocky Mountain News reports that Kariya probably won't play again until 2004.

"When it heals I'll be 100 percent right away," he says. "There's going to be no transition period in terms of getting in shape, and I have the rest of the year to enjoy playing with these guys and making a run at it."

Kariya claims there is no need of surgery to repair the wrist: "If it wasn't making any progress, I'd be discouraged. It's one of those injuries where you just have to give it rest."

The article has ominous undertones. How much of "the rest of the year" will be left when he finally gets back in the lineup? And if surgery is even being mentioned, it raises the possibility - remote, but still present - that Kariya won't play another game this season.

Forsberg, the reigning NHL scoring champion and MVP, sounds less optimistic than Kariya. "I just have to be patient and make sure this isn't going to be a whole-season thing," Forsberg says, refering to groin and abdominal problems that have kept him out of 17 games.

The tribulations of Kariya and Forsberg are trivial compared to those of Dany Heatley.

Heatley has unresolved legal issues with the Fulton County district attorney's office, relating to the September 29 car crash that killed teammates Dan Snyder. Prosecutors have yet to decide whether to proceed with charges of vehicular homicide.

On the hockey front, Thrashers' GM Don Waddel tells the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Heatley should begin skating by the end of December. He has been rehabilitating from surgery to repair his right knee, which was damaged in the accident.

That could mean a return to the lineup by the end of February. Whether Heatley will be mentally and emotionally prepared to resume his career at that point is another issue, one that nobody is addressing at the moment.