The Red Wings practiced today for the first time after their thrilling come-from-behind victory over the Canucks. Despite good feelings coming out of that win, the news today delivered by the team regarding three of their injured players was less than ideal.
Brad Richards didn’t play in the last two games against Calgary or Vancouver, returning to Detroit due to a back/lower body injury. Today the team updated his status:
#RedWings Holland said Richards seeing specialist in New York for his back. Not believed serious but wants to make sure.
— Dana Wakiji (@Dwakiji) October 26, 2015
The news regarding Mike Green and Kyle Quincey, both injured against the Flames, was even worse:
#RedWings Holland says Green out 2-3 weeks with upper-body injury, Quincey out through weekend per concussion protocol.
— Dana Wakiji (@Dwakiji) October 26, 2015
The Wings called up Alexey Marchenko prior to Saturday’s game to give the team 6 defensemen for the game, and Green could go on IR if he’s going to be out that long. However, with Quincey out through the weekend and back-to-back games against the Senators, the team might look to call up Xavier Ouellet to give them seven defensemen. If Quincey is out longer and requires IR, the team could then call up another forward depending on when Richards is slated to return. As the roster stands right now without anyone being put on IR, the Wings have 13 forwards and 8 defensemen on the team.
Regardless of the moves to be made, the Wings will be without two of their better defensemen for at least a week, if not longer. For a team that is struggling to both generate offense and reduce the number of shots against, the injuries to Green and Quincey could not have come at a worse time.
