“When [Kent Hughes] told me I was traded to Detroit, it was a huge relief and a lot of excitement. »
Jeff Petry spoke publicly for the first time since being traded from Pittsburgh on Wednesday in a press conference at Little Caesars Arena, but streamed on the Red Wings YouTube page.
Of course, the trade sending the 35-year-old defenseman to the Red Wings came as no surprise to anyone on Tuesday. Despite everything, there was no guarantee that the general manager of the Canadian, Kent Hughes, would be able to exchange him before the start of the next season. Petry, his wife and their four children had therefore been in uncertainty for ten days.
Petry was at home when he got the call from Hughes. It was the GM of the Habs who told him the news first. “Everyone [in Montreal] was transparent through the process, they kept us informed of their plans,” he said.
After hanging up, Petry rushed to send a message to her parents. It is because his father, Dan, wore the colors of the Detroit Tigers for ten years between 1979 and 1990. Petry will also wear with the Wings the same number that his father once wore with the Tigers, the 46 .
“I spoke to him briefly,” he said. He was just wrapped up. I wanted him to be one of the first to know. It was a short conversation. »
The defender spent a long time on the phone after the transaction. He notably chatted with Wings general manager Steve Yzerman — “a great conversation,” he said. He also spoke “at length” with Ben Chiarot, a former Montreal teammate.
A native of Michigan, Petry spent her childhood cheering for the Red Wings. It was his team. “All [his] life” he hoped to put on the red and white uniform.
Petry has not made the playoffs since the 2020-2021 season, at the end of which he reached the Stanley Cup final with the Canadiens. As for the Wings, they haven’t taken part in the spring dance for the past seven seasons, but the future looks brighter. On this subject, the defender was optimistic.
“In the last few years, the young players have gained experience, they have understood what their role is in the league. They added players like [Alex] DeBrincat, [J. T.] Compher, those kind of guys… You can see the lineup forming. I’m excited to get to work and help the team move forward. »
At 35, with two years on his contract, can Petry dream of winning a Stanley Cup before hanging up his skates?
