Koivu's Eye Injury Shows Improvement

Associated Press

Published: December 5, 2005

MONTREAL (AP) -- Saku Koivu's eye injury is improving, and the Montreal Canadiens are optimistic that their captain will recover in time for training camp.

Team doctor David Mulder said Koivu's left eye - that was struck with a stick during the NHL playoffs - is healing, and he has been cleared to fly home to Finland.

"Pending continued improvement as judged by his ophthalmologist in Finland, it is our hope that Saku will be fit to report to training camp in September and resume playing professional hockey," Mulder said Monday in a statement.

Koivu was examined on Friday and the eye showed "further improvement," Mulder said. Koivu was scheduled to return to Turku, Finland later Monday.

Koivu sustained a torn retina when he was hit in the eye by an errant high stick from Carolina's Justin Williams in Game 3 of the Canadiens' first-round playoff series against the Hurricanes. Koivu underwent surgery on May 6 and has been recovering at his home in Montreal.

"His vision is improving steadily and his retina is healing well," Mulder said. "During the course of the summer, follow-up examinations will be done by an ophthalmologist in Turku, and he will be on a progressive program to gradually increase his level of physical activity."

The 31-year-old forward told the Montreal Gazette last week that the healing process was going slowly, and that he wasn't sure when his eye would improve to the point where he could play hockey again.

"The vision I have ... it's pretty good right now," Koivu told the Gazette. "But they can't tell me if that's the way it's going to be for the rest of my life. I've got to wait a few more months. If nothing happens, I think everything is going to be fine. It might tear again. That's the risk you face."

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