The Detroit Red Wings made a hometown hero's dream come true over the summer when they acquired defenseman Jeff Petry from the Montreal Canadiens. The Ann Arbor native, whose father Dan Petry was a professional champion with the Detroit Tigers in 1984, had the opportunity to suit up for his beloved hometown team.
In a touching tribute to his father, Jeff Petry chose to wear jersey No. 46 with the Red Wings, the same number his dad sported with the Tigers. However, at 35 years of age, like many players as the years roll on, Petry isn't the player he once was. He has found himself as a healthy scratch on multiple occasions during his brief tenure with the Red Wings.
For tonight's game against the division rival Florida Panthers at Little Caesars Arena, Petry has been informed that he'll be watching from the sidelines once more. Justin Holl returns to the lineup for the Red Wings, who are aiming to build on their recent 4-3 overtime victory over the New York Islanders.
In the six games he's played in his first season with the Red Wings, Petry has tallied a couple of assists with a -2 rating. He understands that his role with Detroit doesn't always involve playing top-pairing minutes every game. His professionalism and dedication to the team are undoubtedly valuable assets, even on nights when he's watching from the press box.