By now you know that Red Wings right wing Johan Franzen -- he of the 34 goals last season -- will miss the next four months because of a torn ACL in his left knee suffered in the team's home opener against Chicago on Thursday.

Detroit recalled ex-Michigan State star Justin Abdelkader from Grad Rapids of the AHL to replace Franzen on the roster but the Wings are under no illusions about replacing Franzen's production.

"You don't lose a power forward who scores 35 goals and breaks Gordie Howe's playoff scoring record and think you're going to magically find another one and plop him in there," says Red Wings general manager Ken Holland in this morning's Detroit News. "It's a [salary] cap world. It's going to put pressure on 18 other guys. Everyone's got to be 10 percent better. At the same time it opens up an opportunity for somebody else to step up."

"Somebody else" in this case is Abdelkader, although he won't start out playing in Franzen's spot on Detroit's top line. He made the Wings' opening night roster and played in the team's first two games in Sweden this season. Detroit signed veteran winger Brad May earlier in the week, and it sent Abdelkader back to Grand Rapids, but not for long.

"It's tough anytime guys get injured," says Abdelkader. "But it just means it's an opportunity for other guys. Hopefully I can prove to them I can stay up here and play well and earn a spot here."

"I always hope when injuries happen they happen about December," says Red Wings coach Mike Babcock, "so you've got your kids playing at an NHL level before it happens and you don't have to force-feed them. The reality of the situation is that didn't happen. Someone else is going to get a real good opportunity. Guys are going to have to step up.

"If I'm Abbie I say to myself, 'I had an opportunity to be here. That opportunity was taken away, whether as a player I thought it was right or night, What am I going to do to make sure I don't have to ride that bus another six hours, or another 106 hours?' Come here and play hard.

"He's got lots of ability. He's got good size. We think he is a biog part of our future. Right now, he is getting force-fed more than he would be if he had gone back to Grand Rapids and played 20 minutes a night."

Babcock's first line for tonight's game looks every bit as daunting as Washington's top unit of Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and Alexander Semin most look to Capitals opponents. The Wings will go with Henrik Zetterberg and Tomas Holmstrom flanking Pavel Datsyuk on the top line.

Babcock likes the Caps, whose style is similar to that of the Wings.

"I like their team," says Babcock of the Capitals. "I like the way they play. They play with their foot on the gas. They're a fun team to watch, explosive."