The Detroit Red Wings received unwelcome injury updates on three players Wednesday as they prepared to host the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night at Little Caesars Arena.
Coach Todd McLellan said after practice that forwards Marco Kasper and Mason Appleton are “probably two weeks away” from returning to the lineup. Both remain on injured reserve.
Defenseman Albert Johansson will miss the contest against Chicago and has no set return timeline after suffering an undisclosed injury in Calgary on Saturday. He did not skate Wednesday.
Johansson, 25, has appeared in 11 games this season, recording one assist and a plus-1 rating while averaging 15 minutes, 41 seconds of ice time. His absence forces adjustments on the blue line as Detroit continues to manage depth.
Kasper, the 22-year-old center selected eighth overall in 2022, has been sidelined since early October with an upper-body injury. He was placed on injured reserve retroactive to Oct. 2 and has not played since the season opener.
Appleton has also been out since early in the month with an undisclosed injury, retroactive to Oct. 4 on injured reserve. The 30-year-old center has yet to record a point in limited action.
The prolonged absences of Kasper and Appleton limit options up front for a team that has scored 31 goals through 12 games. Nate Danielson and other depth forwards have seen increased roles in their place.
The Red Wings entered Wednesday at 5-4-3, good for 13 points and eighth place in the Atlantic Division. They sit 12th in the Eastern Conference after a 4-3 shootout victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Monday.
Detroit has a minus-4 goal differential, with goals against ranking among the better marks in the league early on while the offense ranks near the bottom.
On a brighter note in the crease, goaltender Daniil Tarasov returned to the ice Wednesday and appears close to availability. The 27-year-old has posted a 1-0-2 record with a .940 save percentage in four appearances.
Michal Postava remains with the club after his first NHL start in Edmonton, where he helped secure the shootout win. John Gibson has started the majority of games.
Johansson’s injury adds another layer to the defensive group that already includes Moritz Seider logging heavy minutes. The team will look to William Wallinder, Andreas Englund and others for additional shifts.
The Blackhawks arrive at 4-8-0, making Thursday’s 7:30 p.m. EDT matchup a chance for Detroit to build on its road-trip finish. The clubs have not met this season.
With Kasper and Appleton targeting mid-November returns and Johansson’s status uncertain, the Red Wings will need continued contributions from healthy players to maintain consistency in the standings.
Dylan Larkin sat out Wednesday’s practice as a maintenance day but is expected to play Thursday. The club continues to navigate early-season absences while seeking stability after missing the playoffs the previous year.
