Detroit Roster in Flux as Injuries Pile Up

The Detroit Red Wings continue adding injured players to an unprecedented list. As of today, three players are out long-term, and six players are questionable for the season opener on Friday, October 14th, at home against Montreal.

Headed to LTIR

To start the season, the depth of the Red Wings will be called into question. Forward Robby Fabbri (knee) is expected to be out until mid-January and will likely miss half the season. Defenseman Jake Walman (shoulder) is expected to be out until mid-November and will likely miss at least 15 games. Defenseman Mark Pysyk (Achilles) will also likely be out until mid-January and will likely miss half the season.

Questionable for the Opener

The Red Wings also have six questionable players for the season-opening game. Chase Pearson (personal) has missed all of training camp and will need some time in the minors to get back into game shape. Forwards Oskar Sundqvist and Tyler Bertuzzi have undisclosed injuries and may not be ready until past mid-October. Robert Hagg (head) was struck by a puck during the Red/White game and is currently questionable for the remainder of the preseason. Joe Veleno (lower body) was injured before the Red/White game and did not play. He may not be ready for opening night. Andrew Copp (abdomen) is recovering from off-season surgery and has not participated in training camp. He is expected to miss at least the first week of the season.

Current Lineup

Detroit’s depth will be tested with up to nine players possibly missing from the opening night lineup. With several new faces signed through free agency, and prospects pushing for jobs, the Red Wing’s opening night lineup will be very different compared to the lineup on the ice at the end of last season.

Here is a look at the current health of the Red Wings lineup.

Forward Lines

Jonatan Berggren-Dylan Larkin-Lucas Raymond

Jakub Vrana-Michael Rasmussen-David Perron

Dominik Kubalik-Pius Suter-Filip Zadina

Adam Erne-Austin Czarnik-Givani Smith

Defense Pairings

Ben Chiarot-Moritz Seider

Olli Maatta-Filip Hronek

Simon Edvinsson-Gustav Lindstrom

Goaltenders

Alex Nedeljkovic

Ville Husso

Extras

Jordan Oesterle

Steven Kampfer

Matt Luff

Injuries: Robby Fabbri (knee), Jake Walman (shoulder), Mark Pysyk (Achilles), Oskar Sundqvist (undisclosed), Robert Hagg (head), Joe Veleno (lower body), Tyler Bertuzzi (undisclosed), Andrew Copp (abdomen), Chase Pearson (personal)

Expected to Start in Grand Rapids

The injuries at the NHL level will impact the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL). With up to nine players missing from the Detroit lineup to start the year, the Griffins are expected to start the season with a very young lineup.

Here is a look at the potential Grand Rapids lineup to start the season.

Forward Lines

Taro Hirose-Kyle Criscuolo-Joel L’Esperance

Elmer Soderblom-Drew Worrad-Cross Hanas

Kirill Tyutyayev-Pontus Andreasson-Dominic Shine

Trenton Bliss-Tyler Spezia-Cedric Lacroix

Defense Pairings

Jared McIsaac-Wyatt Newpower

Brian Lashoff-Seth Barton

Albert Johansson-Donovan Sebrango

Eemil Viro

Goaltenders

Jussi Olkinuora

Victor Brattstrom

Sebastian Cossa

John Lethemon