Habs' Koivu hopes to wait until after season for cataract surgery
September 14, 2006

MONTREAL (AP) -- Canadiens captain Saku Koivu hopes to put off surgery on a small cataract in his left eye until after the season.

Koivu, who had surgery to repair a detached retina this summer, said Thursday he is optimistic he will be ready to play this season despite lingering issues from an eye injury he received during the playoffs in April.

The 31-year-old said he has a blind spot in his peripheral vision that likely is permanent and developed the cataract.

"Right now, the doctors think it's in an early stage," he said of the cataract as the Canadiens completed pre-camp physical exams at the Bell Centre. "I'll try to play with a contact lens, but if it gets worse, then we're going to have to do something about it during the season.

"Obviously, the best scenario would be to get it done at the end of the year, but right now, we're going to wait and see how it will progress."

He said the eye has been fine in informal skating drills, but won't really be tested until he takes part in scrimmages and preseason games.

Koivu was breaking to the net in Game 3 of a first-round playoff series against Carolina on April 26 when Justin Williams' stick got under Koivu's visor and hit his left eye.

Koivu says he will wear a larger visor this season.