As mentioned yesterday, the Detroit Red Wings’ concerns regarding the availability of veteran defenseman Jeff Petry have unfortunately been realized. According to team broadcast reporter Daniella Bruce, the Red Wings won’t have Petry in the lineup tonight due to an undisclosed injury suffered in the team’s recent game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Petry may be out for longer than just tonight. Head coach Todd McLellan is hopeful it’ll be a shorter-term injury for Petry but did say the team would know more once they get back to Detroit. In the meantime, McLellan will choose between youngster Albert Johansson or recently recalled William Lagesson for tonight’s contest.
There is a valid argument that either option may prove to be an improvement over Petry. He’s experiencing one of the worst offensive seasons of his career, reminiscent of the 2013-14 season when he had only seven goals and 17 points in 80 games with the third-to-last-place Edmonton Oilers. While Petry has performed slightly better defensively this year with the Red Wings, he has not approached the level of the consistent 40-point defenseman he once was.
Other happenings in the Atlantic Division:
- The NHL’s Department of Player Safety has fined Florida Panthers’ center Sam Bennett $5K for roughing Pittsburgh Penguins’ Drew O’Connor in last night’s contest. It’s the second time Bennett has been issued a fine by the Department of Player Safety and the fourth time he’s faced supplemental discipline. During the incident, Bennett attempted to hit O’Connor behind Pittsburgh’s net and threw his right hand into O’Connor’s face.
- According to Mike Harrington of Buffalo News Sports, the Buffalo Sabres will be down a defenseman tonight. Jacob Bryson, who has picked up a more consistent role in Buffalo’s bottom defensive-pairing this season, won’t play tonight due to an illness. Dennis Gilbert, seldomly used by head coach Lindy Ruff this season, will draw in for Bryson against the Vegas Golden Knights. Gilbert has tallied one assist in 12 contests this year averaging 10:45 of ice time per game.
Buffalo needs a veteran GM and a few trades.
Sabres would be crazy to trade Cozens, Byram…wouldn’t get equal talent in return.
J.Quinn, Hokiharju, Lafferty, Greenway, Malenstyn would be my choice as trade candidates.
Samulesson as well.
Samuelsson and J. Quinn for N. Cates and J. Drysdale….retrade Drysdale, and Greenway, Malenstyn for Sharangovich.
Hokiharju and Lafferty for T. Fredric plus 7th rd pick
The Sabres have proven overtime that trading good players is not the answer, And the good players that Buffalo has traded is a long and impressive list, The misguided chuckle heads in Buffalo traded Jack freaking Eichel, It’s just time to clean house of the Incompetent suits, Including ownership!!!!