The Detroit Red Wings strengthened their defense Tuesday by acquiring right-shot veteran Jeff Petry at the reduced salary cap hit of $2.343 million.
GM Steve Yzerman gave up Gustav Lindstrom and a 2025 fourth-round pick for Petry. The Montreal Canadiens are retaining 50% of Petry’s salary cap hit.
Petry, 35, is well known to Detroit fans. He’s the son of popular former Detroit Tigers pitcher and current Bally television analyst Dan Petry. Jeff Petry also played his college hockey at Michigan State. This deal feels like the Canadiens are doing Petry a favor.
The Red Wings still have almost $6 million in cap space remaining after this trade.
After the deal, the Red Wings now have three right-hand veteran defensemen (Moritz Seider, Justin Holl and Petry) and four left-handed veterans (Jake Walman, Shayne Gostisbehere, Ben Chiarot and Olli Maatta). Gostisbehere and Chiarot have experience playing both sides.
If everyone is healthy, which of those players would be scratched? The truth is coach Derek Lalonde probably couldn’t answer that question today. These situations often are worked out by injuries or performance. It will be an important training camp for everyone on the defense.
Where does Edvinsson fit?
The new Red Wings’ defensive alignment would seem to make it more difficult for top defensive prospect Simon Edvinsson to make the Detroit roster. However, Yzerman always says if a young player deserves to be on the roster he will find a way to make it happen. Plus, injuries are a frequent occurrence on NHL defenses.
The Canadiens recently reacquired Petry from the Pittsburgh Penguins to help facilitate the Penguins’ acquisition of Erik Karlsson. The Penguins dumped Petry’s salary, although they retained some of it. The Canadiens received a second-round pick in the deal. The Canadiens also ended up with goalie Casey DeSmith and Nathan Legare.
Giving up Lindstrom is not a significant loss for the Red Wings. European reports said Lindstrom playing in Europe, probably because he had not established him as a Detroit regular.
Petry (6-foot-3, 210 pounds) has always been a two-way defenseman. Last season, he put up five goals and 31 points. He was +2.
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