Not feeling hip

DETROIT — Hockey is a tough, physical game that can take its toll on a player.

Although Red Wings defenseman Jonathan Ericsson tied his career high in points the last two seasons with 15 points in each campaign, it’s been a struggle.

“I’ve had this hip issue for years now,” Ericsson said. “I think it’s going to be there ’til the surgery is going to be made. Right now I can keep it up. It’s going to have its ups and downs. That’s been the biggest issue with me the last few years, but the rehab is at least four months so it’s nothing I want to do in the future. I want to have that as the last out so I’m trying to rehab as much as I can.”

Ericsson, 32, said the issue is a hip impingement that has been bothering him for about four years.

“It’s not a natural movement to skate like for the body really to open up the hips like that all the time,” Ericsson said. “A lot of hockey players have to deal with this and I’ve got some arthritis in there, too, which isn’t helping out.”

Ericsson said goaltenders often have the same type of injury.

Because of the long recovery time, Ericsson said he hopes to postpone surgery until after he is done playing.

The surgery would be a laser procedure.

“They carve it out,” Ericsson explained. “There’s supposed to be a round socket that goes into the hip. It’s not round right now, it’s like …

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