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Red Wings acquire D Jeff Petry from Canadiens: What the deal means for both teams

Published

1 year ago

August 15, 2023

The Detroit Red Wings acquired defenseman Jeff Petry in a trade with the Montreal Canadiens, the teams announced Tuesday. Here’s what you need to know:

Montreal received defenseman Gustav Lindstrom and a 2025 conditional fourth-round pick in the deal.
The Canadiens will retain 50 percent of Petry’s remaining salary, resulting in a $2.34 million cap hit for Detroit, per CapFriendly.
Petry was part of the three-team trade earlier this month that sent Erik Karlsson to Pittsburgh.

UPDATE: The #RedWings today acquired defenseman Jeff Petry from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Gustav Lindstrom and a conditional 4th round pick in 2025. pic.twitter.com/S7VfVJpa8f

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) August 15, 2023

The Athletic’s instant analysis:

What the trade means for Montreal

There are two ways of looking at this deal from the Canadiens’ perspective. One would be that they cleared just over $2.3 million from their books by shipping Petry to Detroit, the other would be that they are committing just over $2.3 million to have Petry not play for them for the next two seasons. Lindström, who will be 25 years old in October, does not look like a player with a particularly high ceiling, nor does he look like someone who fits in the overall plan for the Canadiens. He provides depth on the right side of the defense in the short term, and that’s about it. Perhaps the Canadiens can coach him up and unlock some of the potential that led the Red Wings to take him with the No. 38 pick in the 2017 draft, much like they did last season with Johnathan Kovacevic at the same age, but it is difficult to look at Lindstrom as someone who will significantly move the needle. The fourth-round pick in 2025 is a potential trade asset down the line, but for now, that doesn’t move the needle much either.

Of course, this trade cannot be looked at in a vacuum. Ultimately, the Canadiens moved Mike Hoffman, Rem Pitlick and Petry — while paying 37.5 percent of Petry’s salary for the next two years — and received Lindstrom, veteran goaltender Casey DeSmith, minor-leaguer Nathan Légaré, the Penguins’ second-round pick in 2025 and the worse of Detroit’s or Boston’s fourth-round pick in 2025. The big win remains the first part of the deal, where Hoffman and Pitlick were moved out with no salary retention because it cleared room in the lineup for younger players. Moving on from Petry accomplishes the same thing, even if the return, especially when combined with the salary retention, seems a bit underwhelming. — Basu

This move creates a log jam on defense for Detroit

On one hand, getting Petry — who played over 22 minutes a night last season in Pittsburgh, and still turned in reasonable top-four production — for about $2.3 million against the cap is a perfectly solid addition. He makes the Red Wings deeper, brings offense to the back end, and of course, it’s a nice homecoming story for Petry. The cost, too, was minimal, with Lindstrom looking like a seventh defenseman going forward.

What makes the deal a bit harder to understand, though, is the log jam Detroit now has on defense. That term can get overused at times, with the inevitability of injuries always lurking, but the Red Wings now have seven bona fide NHL regulars on the roster — players whose contracts and resumes make them hard to scratch. Perhaps more importantly, they also have a collection of young defensemen ready to start pushing for NHL minutes, headlined by 2021 No. 6 pick Simon Edvinsson. Obviously, this move — unless there’s more news coming — severely complicates his path to playing time, as well as that of Albert Johansson.

Petry may be the best of Detroit’s summer defense acquisitions, and could very well play a top-four role next season. At this trade price, it’s a nice addition. But when everyone’s healthy, do the Red Wings now sit Olli Määttä, who they just extended for two more seasons? Shayne Gostisbehere, who they brought in on a $4.125 million contract to help the power play? Or Ben Chiarot or Justin Holl, two of the three highest-paid defensemen, both of whom have three years remaining and are supposed to bring physicality and defense to the back end?

There’s no obvious answer, and that makes a perfectly reasonable — perhaps even desirable — trade acquisition into a confusing one in the grand scheme. — Bultman

Petry’s time in Pittsburgh

Petry wasn’t in his best form in Pittsburgh last season, which is not to suggest he still isn’t a top-four defenseman who can help on the power play. He is.

His struggles last season had more to do with getting injured right at the time when he seemed to be figuring out a new system. When he returned from a lengthy absence, Petry was fine — but by then the Penguins were in a complete free fall.

He remains a big — albeit not physical — defenseman who can move the puck and deliver a heavy shot. The latter was probably underutilized in Pittsburgh.

The Penguins are paying 25 percent of Petry’s cap hit for the next two seasons as part of the Karlsson deal. — Rossi

Backstory

After seven-plus years in Montreal, Petry was dealt to Pittsburgh last July. He tallied five goals and 26 assists in 61 games during his 2022-23 campaign with the Penguins. On Aug. 6, Petry was traded back to the Canadiens along with DeSmith, Légaré and Pittsburgh’s 2025 second-round pick for Hoffman and Pitlick. The 35-year-old began his career in Edmonton and has put up 353 career points over 13 NHL seasons.

Lindstrom, 24, had one goal and seven assists in 36 games for Detroit last season, his fourth in the NHL.

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Sports

Champions Trophy host Pakistan says it’s not been told India wants to play cricket games elsewhere

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.

“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”

Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.

The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.

Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.

“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”

Pakistan hosted last year’s Asia Cup but all India games were played in Sri Lanka under a hybrid model for the tournament. Only months later Pakistan did travel to India for the 50-over World Cup.

Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.

“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”

The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.

“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”

Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.

“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.

___

AP cricket:

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Sports

Dabrowski, Routlife into WTA doubles final with win over Melichar-Martinez, Perez

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.

Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.

The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.

The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.

Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.

Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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Sports

Winger Tajon Buchanan back with Canada after recovering from broken leg

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, recovered from a broken leg suffered in training at this summer’s Copa America, is back in Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.

The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ont., underwent surgery July 3 to repair a fractured tibia in Texas.

Canada, ranked 35th in the world, plays No. 136 Suriname on Nov. 15 in Paramaribo. The second leg of the aggregate series is four days later at Toronto’s BMO Field.

There is also a return for veteran winger Junior Hoilett, who last played for Canada in June in a 4-0 loss to the Netherlands in Marsch’s debut at the Canadian helm. The 34-year-old from Brampton, now with Scotland’s Hibernian, has 15 goals in 63 senior appearances for Canada.

Midfielder Ismael Kone, recovered from an ankle injury sustained on club duty with France’s Marseille, also returns. He missed Canada’s last three matches since the fourth-place Copa America loss to Uruguay in July.

But Canada will be without centre back Derek Cornelius, who exited Marseille’s win Sunday over Nantes on a stretcher after suffering an apparent rib injury.

The Canadian men will prepare for Suriname next week at a camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

“We are looking forward to getting the group together again with the mindset that there is a trophy on the line,” Marsch said in a statement. “We want to end 2024 the right way with two excellent performances against a competitive Suriname squad and continue building on our tremendous growth this past summer.”

The quarterfinal winners advance to the Nations League Finals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., with the two semifinals scheduled for March 20 and the final and third-place playoff March 23, and qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Thirteen of the 23 players on the Canadian roster are 25 or younger, with 19-year-old defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, currently playing for England’s Crewe Alexandra on loan from Bristol City, the youngest.

Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies captains the side with Stephen Eustaquio, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston and Kamal Miller adding veteran support.

Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Theo Bair are joined in attack by Minnesota United’s Tani Oluwaseyi.

Niko Sigur, a 21-year-old midfielder with Croatia’s Hadjuk Split, continues in the squad after making his debut in the September friendly against Mexico.

Suriname made it to the Nations League quarterfinals by finishing second to Costa Rica in Group A of the Nations League, ahead of No. 104 Guatemala, No. 161 Guyana and unranked Martinique and Guadeloupe.

“A good team,” Osorio said of Suriname. “These games are always tricky and they’re not easy at all … Suriname is a (former) Dutch colony and they’ll have Dutch players playing at high levels.”

“They won’t be someone we overlook at all,” added the Toronto FC captain, who has 81 Canada caps to his credit.

Located on the northeast coast of South America between Guyana and French Guiana, Suriname was granted independence in 1975 by the Netherlands.

Canada has faced Suriname twice before, both in World Cup qualifying play, winning 4-0 in suburban Chicago in June 2021 and 2-1 in Mexico City in October 1977.

The Canadian men, along with Mexico, the United States and Panama, received a bye into the final eight of the CONCACAF Nations League.

Canada, No. 2 in the CONCACAF rankings, drew Suriname as the best-placed runner-up from League A play.

Canada lost to Jamaica in last year’s Nations League quarterfinal, ousted on the away-goals rule after the series ended in a 4-4 draw. The Canadians lost 2-0 to the U.S. in the final of the 2022-23 tournament and finished fifth in 2019-20.

Canada defeated Panama 2-1 last time out, in an Oct. 15 friendly in Toronto.

Goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau and Jonathan Sirois, defenders Joel Waterman, Laryea and Miller and Osorio took part in a pre-camp this week in Toronto for North America-based players.

Canada Roster

Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Jonathan Sirois, CF Montreal (MLS); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United FC (MLS).

Defenders: Moise Bombito, OGC Nice (France); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland); Jamie Knight-Lebel. Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Bristol City (England); Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS); Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS).

Midfielders: Ali Ahmed. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy); Mathieu Choiniere, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Junior Hoilett, Hibernian FC (Scotland); Ismael Kone, Olympique Marseille (France); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia).

Forwards: Theo Bair, AJ Auxerre (France); Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS).

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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