Red Wings Lose Two More Players to Injury

With the Detroit Red Wings scrambling to make the NHL playoffs, the last occurence coach Todd McLellan wants to see is the double whammy of losing both games and players.

Left wing Elmer Soderblom and defenseman Erik Gustafsson were both injured in Detroit’s 4-1 loss to the Washington Capitals Tuesday. Soderblom is considered day-to-day. Coaches are hoping Gustafsson will be a short-term absence. However, McLellan said Gustafsson is still being evaluated to determine the extent of his injury.

“We’ll call it day to day,” McLellan said. “There’s potential for a longer term injury. We just need some results.”

Michael Rasmussen practiced in Soderblom’s spot on the line with Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond. Jeff Petry was in Gustafsson’s spot, but he’s not quite ready to play.

“This was (Petry’s) true first real heavy hard practice that he’s had,” McLellan said. “He’s had a couple light ones with the team. He’s getting close. Will he be available on this trip? He’ll make the trip. He won’t play in Vegas and we’ll figure out what happens after that, where he’s at.”

William Lagesson has been Detroit’s No. 7 defenseman, but he hasn’t played in a couple of months.

The Red Wings don’t play again until Saturday when they start a three-game Western swing with ea game against the Vegas Golden Knights. They then played the Utah Hockey Club on Monday and the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday.

Grand Rapids Options

The team doesn’t leave for that trip until Thursday, which gives them time to decide who they need to call up from the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Gustafsson’s injury has the potential to be more challenging to deal with because Gustafsson is the point man on Detroit’s No. 2 power play unit.  This seems like the time for coaches to as give Simon Edvinsson an opportunity for power play minutes.

But that could disrupt their  defensive rotation. One plus of going with Moritz Seider and Gustafsson as the top two power play point men is McLellan can come back with Edvinsson and Albert Johansson as his first defensive pairing after the power play.

When Petry is ready, he is also an experienced point man.

If the Red Wings want to bring a point man from Grand Rapids, their best option for a left shot is probably Shai Buium. However, he is in his first season as a pro. He doesn’t have much pro experience on the power play. If the Red Wings call up a left shot, without considering his offensive prowess, the choice could be William Wallinder.

If the Red Wings decide to add a forward to replace Soderblom, the choice could be Sheldon Dries again. He was recently up but didn’t play. Austin Watson is also a possibility.