Red Wings coach Todd McLellan confirmed to the Wings’ media corps that defenseman Jeff Petry will miss 6-8 weeks after having surgery for an undisclosed injury, as initially reported by Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli.
As such, Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen discusses the potential impact thereof:
Should the Red Wings lose another defenseman to injury over the next several weeks, William Lagesson would be the next man up. He has NHL experience (102 NHL games) and played impressively well for the Grand Rapids Griffins earlier in the season.
If the Red Wings have to dip into their prospect pool, the most experienced of the top prospects are William Wallinder and Antti Tuormisto, both of whom have made considerable progress since starting their AHL careers.
If the Red Wings should lose Erik Gustafsson to injury while Petry was injured, they might consider acquiring someone to replace Gustafsson as the No. 2 point man.
When healthy, Petry has been a power play point man.
Simon Edvinsson may be a point man at some point, but it doesn’t feel like coaches believe he’s ready yet for that job. The Red Wings like prospect Shai Buium on the Griffins power play, but he doesn’t even have enough AHL experience yet.
One intriguing young offensive defenseman who might be available in the trade market is Buffalo Sabres’ Bowen Byram (4th overall, 2019). The Red Wings should be willing to part with a 2025 first-rounder as part of a package to land him.
Continued; yeah, I’m not going with the Wings adding Byram just for depth’s sake. IF, and it’s a big IF, the Sabres are willing to move him to a division rival, they’re going to want a premium package, in the form of a defenseman in return, an NHL prospect and a 1st round pick.
IF he’s available, AND there’s a fit, AND the Sabres are willing to trade him, AND the teams can come to an amicable trade solution, sure, but that’s a lot of “If’s and but’s.”
