On August 15, 2023, Jeff Petry was traded to the Detroit Red Wings. On the one hand, bringing in a solid, seasoned defenseman with a Detroit athlete pedigree at a salary comparable to Pittsburgh and Montreal appeared to be a wise decision. Petry, on the other hand, had suffered terribly in his last season in Montreal and showed indications of further slowing down while in Pittsburgh, and his contract caused a logjam at the Red Wings’ blue line, preventing popular prospects from entering the NHL. The majority of responses to Petry’s signing were that he is a veteran, solid, interim player at a reasonable contract price for a decent exchange. Gustav Lindstrom was traded in exchange for a conditional fourth-round draft pick in 2025. This is
He’s is a tall (6’3″) skater with great skill. He played significant minutes throughout his career, averaging more than 22 minutes each game. He was a consistent minutes eater in Edmonton. In Montreal, he developed into a courageous shot blocker, contributing roughly half a point every game. Despite numerous ailments, he performed admirably throughout the Canadiens’ playoff run in 2021. Petry’s iconic red eyes were the result of intense pain caused by a hand injury. He proceeded to play well throughout the program.
There were high expectations for the following a Stanley Cup finals run in Montreal. But Shea Weber was unable to return due to career-ending injuries. Petry and the entire team had an extremely poor season. One year removed from a successful playoff run, the entire Canadiens team collapsed. At one point, the team was clearly tanking for a better draft pick. Petry was so associated with the poor season that he was referred to locally as the Tank Commander. He had to get out of town.
