Marc Antoine Godin of The Athletic is trying to find a landing spot for 34 year-old Jeff Petry of the Canadiens.

Detroit Red Wings

Why? — There’s some sentimentality to the notion of Petry going back home to play for the team he rooted for as a kid. The Red Wings are hoping to be competitive soon and 2022-23 appears to be a crucial season. Captain Dylan Larkin and winger Tyler Bertuzzi are nearing free agency and the Red Wings need to show some progression on the ice before deciding to re-invest in them. On defence, there’s a bit of reset that’s foreseeable with the departure of Danny DeKeyser, perhaps Marc Staal as well, and with Nick Leddy being traded at the deadline. The Red Wings have four defencemen under contract and none of them are older than 24 years old. Petry could play a significant role and would probably be more comfortable playing the role of a big brother than he was amid the heavy environment of this past season. The Red Wings also have a ton of space under the salary cap, but they do need to sign 10 or so players this offseason and also save some space for the 2023 offseason. But if they wanted to get Petry, they could do it.

Why not? — It is less a question of money than it is one of role. Moritz Seider and Filip Hronek, their two best defencemen, both play the right side. If Petry were a lefty, he would be a far more perfect fit in the puzzle. But with the current puzzle, the Red Wings would need to balance the ice time for their three defence pairings essentially equally for this to work. Except Seider had 50 points this season playing 23 minutes a night as a rookie. The Calder Trophy finalist does not appear to be someone suffocating under the weight of too much responsibility. We have trouble seeing why the Red Wings would acquire a $6.25 million defenceman to play on their third pairing. Hronek did not have as good a season as last year, but the second-pair right defenceman job is his to lose.

What can they offer? — The possibility of taking on Petry’s contract is the only thing that would satisfy both parties. The Red Wings have no reason to give up more assets for a player who, at first blush, does not fit with the competitiveness curve of the organization. If we were Steve Yzerman, sensing some degree of desperation from the Canadiens to move Petry, we would insist on adding Ryan Poehling to the equation. When you’re able to make a trade you don’t really need to make, there’s no sense not being greedy. That said. If the Red Wings see things a bit more big picture, perhaps they could acquire Petry for not a whole lot and then get what would assuredly be far more interesting assets for Hronek.

Probability — 2/10

more ($) teams

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 05/18/22 at 03:57 PM ET

Going to be brutally honest:  I’m really underwhelmed with the options at #8.

DET needs guys that can step in within say a year, or else I don’t know how much of a help they’ll actually be.  DET’s “young core” isn’t as young as it once was.  They need to be entering the competitive window here soon, or else they risk perpetual rebuild territory, where their best players start to age out as some of the “help” finally arrives too late.

I could be wrong.  But I don’t see any options here that are coming up to help in another year or so.  I see a lot of say… 3-year projects on the list.  Can DET wait 3 years to get a legit second Top 6 C to go with Larkin?  Honestly…. no, they really can’t.  Failing that then, you’re really hoping Rasmussen or Veleno step it up to be a legit #2 C I guess, or you need to go out and make a trade or sign a big UFA.

I know we’ve been patient as fans, and Yzerman seems to have killed it with the picks he’s been given… but getting screwed over in the lottery year after year… after year… is maybe finally starting to take its toll on the rebuild.

I know that’s pretty gloom and doom and all… and maybe their pick at #8 will be a true gem that makes the rest of the league pay, quickly… but it’s a legit concern that we need to start being aware of.

Posted by Primis on 05/18/22 at 04:05 PM ET

I’m really underwhelmed with the options at #8.

You don’t have any idea who’s going to be available at #8.

I know that’s pretty gloom and doom and all… and maybe their pick at #8 will be a true gem that makes the rest of the league pay, quickly… but it’s a legit concern that we need to start being aware of.

Almost any player taken anywhere in the draft (including top 3 picks) is a risk. Crosby/Mcdavid types are EXTREMELY rare. To suggest that the Wings’ pick at 8 needs to produce within a year or it doesn’t help the team makes absolutely no sense.

Posted by godblender on 05/18/22 at 06:45 PM ET

Next year is the year to win the lottery. Stevie will pull some magic and make it happen.

So far, Stevie’s first two first-round picks have turned out okay, and Edvinsson is on his way. I wouldn’t trade any of them for anyone picked before them.

Posted by Steeb on 05/18/22 at 09:18 PM ET

Let’s be real… Very few people in the world have watched all of these prospects that are playing throughout the world. No one knows who the wings will pick, including the wings. No one knows if these players will pan out or who they will be.

Nows not a time to be pessimistic about the draft. We’ll have to wait 4,5 years to revisit it.

Posted by TreKronor on 05/18/22 at 09:48 PM ET

Marc Antoine Godin of The Athletic is trying to find a landing spot for 34 year-old Jeff Petry of the Canadiens.

Petry to DET makes no sense. Contract isn’t great for a guy in his mid 30’s. Plus he controls where he goes and he’s had a couple of chances to go to free agency and sign “back home” but he’s stayed in Canada. We need left handed top 4 d.

Ever since Suter and Parise signed in MIN i feel like there’s been this growing obsession with “oh is so and so gonna sign back home” or “this guy has roots here so there’s a good chance he signs there or gets traded there”

As far as who will be available at #8, no one knows. It’s not believed to be as deep a draft as previous years but best case scenario for DET is if teams ahead of them go off the board for their picks and someone falls into their lap. But either way there should still be a good player available when they pick

Posted by SauceBoss on 05/19/22 at 08:49 AM ET

Expecting a pick taken at #8 to be in the NHL in a year or two is probably expecting too much. 3-4 years is much more typical for a #8 pick.

I’m sure Yzerman would be more than willing to work with Montreal on Petry if they include their #1 from next year (not lottery protected).

Posted by evileye on 05/19/22 at 10:42 AM ET

if they include their #1 from next year

We cannot expect other GMs to make insane moves

Posted by VPalmer on 05/19/22 at 01:52 PM ET

Almost any player taken anywhere in the draft (including top 3 picks) is a risk. Crosby/Mcdavid types are EXTREMELY rare. To suggest that the Wings’ pick at 8 needs to produce within a year or it doesn’t help the team makes absolutely no sense.

Posted by godblender on 05/18/22 at 06:45 PM ET

I explained it already.

DET doesn’t have another 3-4 years to wait to START their push.  If it takes another 3-4 years, they’re going to have cycled through another coach, because said coach will have been seen to have failed.  In another 3 or 4 years guys like Larkin, Bertuzzi, Vrana, etc, are likely going to no longer really be in their “primes”.

They need impact players, and they need them in a year or two, max.  The push has to start soon.

I don’t know that those type of impact players are in this draft for DET.  So this is really going to test Yzerman’s plan.  Maybe DET looks at trading that #8 OA for more-immediate help?  Or maybe they use the pick and are hoping for an impact FA signing or two instead, and the pick is insurance/reinforcement down the road?  I’m not sure.

I do know we’ve reached the stage where we can’t look at these prospects to fulfill DET’s immediate needs, because those needs need filling less than 3 or 4 years down the road.

Posted by Primis on 05/19/22 at 03:55 PM ET

We have enough room to sign two young first time free agents Forward and Defense on 3 year contracts..  Its up to Yzerman to evaluate what’s out there and sign them Then we make the playoffs and screw the draft, we will have enough draft quality to contend after 3 years of playoffs.

Posted by jhpcarrier97 on 05/19/22 at 05:28 PM ET

DET doesn’t have another 3-4 years to wait to START their push

I disagree. I do not think anybody expects us to contend now, but 3-4 years from now it’s a maybe. At that time Larkin, Bert and Vrana will be only 29 and 30, perfect age to be the veteran leaders featuring a core of young players like Seider, Edvinsson, Raymond, Zadina, Ras and Veleno..
Our #8 pick this year and another high first rounder next year will hopefully be contributors by that time also. Add some UFAs or trades and we can be a very good team in 3-4 years while Larkin and Bert are still relatively young.

Posted by VPalmer on 05/19/22 at 08:46 PM ET

https://mobile.twitter.com/IcehockeyG/status/1527362260636663808?ref_src=twsrc^tfw|twcamp^tweetembed|twterm^1527362260636663808|twgr^|twcon^s1_&ref_url=https://www.wingingitinmotown.com/2022/5/20/23131694/quick-hits-the-scary-things-edition

Vrana got hurt

Posted by damndog revenge From the bowels of Detroit on 05/20/22 at 02:18 PM ET

This is exactly why I do not like these guys playing in the Olympics or Worlds or anything. leave it for the amateurs.

Posted by damndog revenge From the bowels of Detroit on 05/20/22 at 02:20 PM ET

from Bob Duff of Detroit Hockey Now,

For a time on Thursday, it was appearing as though Detroit Red Wings forward Jakub Vrana was in serious trouble.

Crushed into the boards by Latvia’s Oskars Batna during the second period of a game at the IIHF World Championship, Czechia’s Vrana stuggled to regain his feet. Upon rising, he was left hobbling to the bench, favoring his left knee.

Vrana went straight to the dressing room. However, the good news was that he was able to return to action in time for the third period.

continued

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 05/20/22 at 02:21 PM ET

Com’on Palmer, you never say anything positive, its wait wait wait, do you ever get anything done?  We need to be in the playoffs next year, if we improve on this year, we will be in next year..  We can’t wait 5 years, I’ll be dead, and so will the franchise.  You think Detroit will never lose its franchise, well think again.  Population in Detroit is going down, cost of living going up, people are just not coming downtown to pay $100. a seat and pay $100. in fuel per trip @ $5 per gallon.  Brand new arena has never seen a playoff game.

Posted by jhpcarrier97 on 05/20/22 at 04:53 PM ET

Thank you for the update Paul

Posted by damndog revenge From the bowels of Detroit on 05/20/22 at 05:44 PM ET