Chicago Blackhawks D Brian Campbell to miss 4-5 weeks with a knee sprain

FILE - This April 11, 2009, file photo shows Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Brian Campbell skating against the Detroit Red Wings in the first period in Detroit. Campbell will miss seven to eight weeks with a broken collar bone and a fractured rib, the result of a hit from Washington Capitals’ star Alex Ovechkin. Blackhawks team doctor Michael Terry said Tuesday, March 16, 2010, that Campbell will likely avoid surgery and is expected to make a full recovery. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)

AP

The Chicago Blackhawks announced that their expensive defenseman Brian Campbell will be out 4-5 weeks, according to Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun Times.

Quenneville said defenseman Brian Campbell will be out four to five weeks with a right knee sprain.

Asked if it could have been worse, Quenneville said “if you get the ACL in there and all of sudden it’s a different type of damage. It’s part of the business.”

Campbell crumpled to the ice less than four minutes into the second period of Friday’s exhibition game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. He did not return and appeared to be favoring his right leg.

As you may remember, Campbell missed a good deal of time last season when Alex Ovechkin hit from behind during a moment that would cause the Washington Capitals star two games via a suspension. That was a different injury altogether, though, as Campbell broke his collar bone.

Campbell only played 68 games last year and apparently will miss a good deal of time this season, too.

(And he couldn’t even get injured early enough to be placed on the long-term injured reserve so the team could keep some of its supporting cast talent such as Dustin Byfuglien and/or Kris Versteeg. So rude.)