Mike Green To Miss Remainder Of Season

It’s been a long frustrating season for Mike Green, who has dealt with a virus attacking his liver at points throughout. Though he was only supposed to miss seven to ten days for the latest ailment, the Detroit Red Wings have now announced that Green will be out for the rest of the season as he tries to regain his health. The veteran defenseman saw a specialist who recommended several weeks off, which means he won’t get back on the ice this season but there is no long-term concern.

Green, 33, was re-signed last June to a two-year $10.75MM contract in order to stay with the Red Wings, but will end his season with just 43 games played. Amazingly even after missing 22 games he still leads all Detroit defenders in scoring, something he’s become used to over his career. The offensive-minded Green has 490 points in 830 career NHL games, including consecutive 70+ point years in Washington as a younger player. That puck-moving ability is exactly what Detroit hoped to retain in Green, but his future is certainly now up for debate.

Heading into the final season of his contract Green could be a potential trade chip for the Red Wings once again, though it likely wouldn’t happen until the deadline next year. Green’s full no-trade clause relaxes quite a bit on February 1, 2020 at which point he may be an appealing rental option. The Red Wings meanwhile have a few other young defensemen pushing for more minutes, with Dennis Cholowski and Filip Hronek both showing off their capabilities this season.