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Loss of Witkowski, Daley leaves thin blue line |
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The Detroit Red Wings are not happy with the length of Luke Witkowski’s NHL suspension for a couple of reasons.
The most obvious is that they think 10 games is far too long.
“I don’t think the punishment fits the crime,” Detroit coach Jeff Blashill said.
Ah, but that is exactly what punishment is called for with this crime. It’s right there in the rule book. Witkowski was suspended under NHL Rule 70.6.
Rule 70.6 states, “Any player who has been ordered to the dressing room by the officials and returns to his bench or to the ice surface for any reason before the appropriate time shall be assessed a game misconduct and shall be suspended automatically without pay for the next 10 regular league and/or playoff games.”
“I read the rule,” Blashill said. “I don’t think the way the rule’s written, it gives the league office … any ability to apply judgment because it’s so black and white.
“It’s too bad.”
Doesn’t matter. That’s the rule. It’s cut and dried, so deal with it. Witkowski won’t be playing again until Dec. 11, and that actually is a problem for a Red Wings team that has little in the way of NHL-ready depth to help a depleted back end.
And right now, Detroit’s back end is depleted. Trevor Daley (upper body injury) is doubtful for Friday’s game against the Buffalo Sabres. Danny DeKeyser (ankle) hopes to play soon, but he’s already missed 16 games.
That’s why the Wings need Witkowski right now, because he’s able to play either defense or right wing.
“He had kind of started to get comfortable on D,” Blashill said.
Instead, the Wings are left to turn to journeyman Brian Lashoff, the only defender in AHL Grand Rapids with any significant NHL playing time.
Actually - and this may require you taking a big gulp - the Wings are fortunate that they have Niklas Kronwall and Jonathan Ericsson at the moment. They’ve both been solid this season.
Think about it. When was the last time you noticed Ericsson out there? That’s a good thing, because it means he’s toned down his penchant for high-octane giveaways, and has done so while toiling against the other team’s top players.
He’d done that in tandem with Daley, so it will be interesting to see how Blashill opts to line up his shutdown pair going forward.
Give Kronwall credit as well. He appears to have found a way to compensate for what he’s lost as a player due to his wonky knees and has been a steady presence. But both Kronwall and Ericsson, who deals with chronic hip issues, are ticking time bombs due to their physical ailments. And that’s not good news for a Red Wings team dealing with a thin blue line.
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