On Saturday, Red Wings winger Patrick Eaves took an errant shot just above the right ear. It was a scary scene as Eaves went down in a heap, appeared to lose consciousness for just a second, before writhing in pain on the ice. He was able to get himself onto a gurney — for the most part — and be taken to the hospital, where he was held overnight for observation after confirming that his jaw was fractured by the Roman Josi shot that likely ramped up a stick. After a successful surgery where his jaw was wired shut, it was determined that he will miss the next six to eight weeks.
Despite being ruled out until mid-January, Eaves had not been placed on injured reserve.
Until just now. According to a team official, Eaves has been removed from the active roster, and added to the short-term injured reserve list, joining Jan Mursak who is on LTIR (he’s set to return from a broken ankle at the end of December). Players placed on STIR must miss seven days, but Eaves will not be physically able to perform for at least twenty-five games, according to the timeline.
With Eaves coming off of the roster, the team is back down to 22 active players. The team has also announced that they’ve recalled Chris Conner from the Grand Rapids Griffins.
The Griffins leading scorer is the veteran pro and Michigan native. He has 7 goals and 16 points in 20 games, good enough for sixth in AHL scoring. Conner played 60 games with the Penguins last season, netting 7 goals and 9 assists. In total, he’s played 139 games in the NHL and was signed this past July for depth and in case the Wings needed a solid pro during the season.
It appears that time is now. Conner will be eligible to suit up for the Red Wings on Friday evening, when they take on the Sabres. The team must be really unhappy with Fabian Brunnstrom’s performance tonight… discuss.
Potential dates for Patrick Eaves’ return
:: January 12 vs. Phoenix
:: January 14 vs. Chicago
:: January 16 vs. Buffalo
:: January 17 at Dallas
:: January 19 at Phoenix
:: January 21 vs. Columbus
:: January 23 vs. St. Louis
Potential dates for Jan Mursak’s return
:: December 26 at Nashville
:: December 27 vs. St. Louis
:: December 30 at Chicago
:: December 31 vs. St. Louis
:: January 3 at Dallas
:: January 7 at Toronto
Photo Credit: Duane Burleson, AP
If the Wings are so unhappy with Brunnstrom, why not waive him again and send him down? Keeping him in Detroit but not playing does nobody any good.
As I said earlier tonight, Ken Holland is a lot smarter than I am, I just don’t see the reasoning for this one.
who here thinks ken holland is afraid of brunstrom being a more attractive hudler or leino? just some random signing that makes little sense, really, until he pots like 16/43 next year in anaheim at 14 minutes a game with some PP time?
and by this, i mean brunstrom has potential, but leino was always super worthless and is now a huge buffalo punch line for years? i know this sounds controversial (ha), but i think if brunstrom plays regularly he could turn into a guy worth keeping. also, ville leino is going to be the owners’ second biggest argument for reducing HRR and for a 1-time no penalty buyout or waiver or whatever. (first: dipietro!)
My thought while reading this was that a trade is in the works but I am probably wrong. I sure would like a minor trade for a decent back up goaltender.
Brunnstrom is expected to leave the team for the birth of his first child, might be placed on waivers at noon so they can send him down for trip. The Wings think he can be a player and will not give up on his potential this early in the season (unless claimed in the event he is placed on waivers at noon).
They will also not trade for a backup this early in the season.
Also I think some forwards might need a “maintenance day” so Conner could fill in at practice (or in a game) if needed.
He’d bring solid speed and PK ability if he played though.
I think the call-up is two-fold.
1) Brunnstrom isn’t fitting in (not that he’s getting a lot of time to prove he can do so) and Emmerton is vastly underperforming after an impressive season debut.
2) At some point, you have to show some appreciation for the hard work that certain players on the farm are giving. Chris Conner is light years ahead of most of the AHL, and — frankly — is too damn good to be playing in that league. What would it say to the prospects and future prospects of the Wings if he wasn’t getting a shot at the NHL? You have to reward that kind of stellar play so that they know there’s a chance it could be them next time.
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