Gregg Krupa

Detroit -- A major priority for the Red Wings in 2010-11 will be avoiding the injury bug that plagued them last season, but Niklas Kronwall's problematic left knee already is making that a difficult proposition.

Kronwall underwent arthroscopic surgery Tuesday, but general manager Ken Holland considers it essentially good news, at this juncture.

"The scope is minor," Holland said. "He will be ready to go on the ice at the start of camp, with no unforeseen setbacks.

"Now, is he ready to go 100 percent? We're not going to push him on the first day of camp when he just had the minor surgery. But in this day in age, arthroscopic surgery is minor. You know, guys have it during the season and they miss 10 or 14 days and they are back playing."

Kronwall missed 30 games last season after a hit by Georges Laraque, then of Montreal. Laraque appeared to move his leg on a check, striking Kronwall knee on knee.

Everyone from a few Red Wings to some in management to the CBC commentator Don Cherry described it as a dirty play. But Kronwall would have none of it.

"I think this was more of an accident," Kronwall said after the injury was determined to be a sprained medial collateral ligament (MCL).

In the way of the NHL, not much was said after Kronwall returned to the blue line. But coach Mike Babcock said after the end of the season Kronwall -- relied on for offense, moving the puck, play in the defensive zone and checking -- never was quite the same.

Holland said the arthroscopy was to repair "a torn ACL (anterior cruciate ligament)."

Entering camp, the top six defensemen are: Nicklas Lidstrom; Brian Rafalski; Kronwall; Brad Stuart; Ruslan Salei, who played just 14 games for the Avalanche last season after suffering a back injury; and Jonathan Ericsson, whom the Wings hope will have a bounce-back year.

For years, until he hurt his back, Salei logged considerable ice time while playing a full 82-game schedule, or something close. The plan is to have Salei and Ericsson pick up substantial ice time for a third pairing to offer the veterans Lidstrom and Rafalski some rest.