The Detroit Red Wings face at least their next game, and maybe longer in the stretch run, without two key centers.
The team has enjoyed relatively good health for much of the season, but neither Michael Rasmussen (blow to the head) nor Andrew Copp (undisclosed) will be available when the Wings (29-22-6) play at the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday.
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Coach Todd McLellan said Monday the Wings were still waiting on more information regarding Copp, but, “at this point, it looks like it’ll be a little longer term than we anticipated.”
Rasmussen is listed as day-to-day.
Marc-Andre Fleury of the Minnesota Wild keeps an eye on the puck behind Andrew Copp of the Detroit Red Wings during the second period at Little Caesars Arena on Feb. 22, 2025 in Detroit.
The Wings called up center Sheldon Dries on Monday to have available for the trip, but they also have Christian Fischer, who can play center or wing, available. Tyler Motte returned to the lineup Sunday to offset losing Copp, placed on injured reserve Monday.
“An unfortunate thing for one leads to opportunity for another,” McLellan said. “Cliché, but a coach is going to say that, that’s just what we do. It’s the truth. We have what we have.”
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Both were injured over the weekend: Copp in a scrum during Saturday’s game, at home against the Wild, and Rasmussen when he absorbed a high hit from Anaheim Ducks forward Trevor Zegras on Sunday. There was no penalty on Zegras — officials told McLellan they didn’t see the hit — but the NHL Department of Player Safety has called a hearing for Zegras for what was described as “interference on” Rasmussen.
Copp (10 goals, 13 assists in 56 games) had been centering the second line, was a regular part of the penalty killing unit and also served spot duty on the second power-play unit.
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Rasmussen (nine goals, seven assists in 56 games) centered the third line, played net-front on the second power-play unit and helped out killing penalties.
The Wings have not had to deal with many injuries this season: Defenseman Jeff Petry suffered an undisclosed injury Jan. 2 and underwent surgery in early February, at which point he was projected to miss 6-to-8 weeks. Patrick Kane has missed 10 games because of injury.
Contact Helene St. James at hstjames@freepress.com. Follow her on X @helenestjames.
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Her latest book, “The Franchise: Detroit Red Wings, A Curated History of the Red Wings,” was released October 2024. Her books, “On the Clock: Behind the Scenes with the Detroit Red Wings at the NHL Draft,” and “The Big 50: The Men and Moments that made the Detroit Red Wings” are available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Triumph Books. Personalized copies available via her e-mail.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Red Wings injury update: Michael Rasmussen, Andrew Copp hurt