DETROIT – Darren McCarty, who re-joined the Red Wings last January in time to be a part of his fourth Stanley Cup celebration, will start the 2008-09 season on injured reserve.

McCarty suffered a groin injury during training camp and aggravated the injury in the Red Wings’ 5-3 preseason win over Toronto last Friday.

“It’s something that has been nagging that happened Friday and it’s something that I need to take care of," he said. "It’s the best decision for right now. It was training camp and it’s just one of those things. Pavel (Datsyuk) went through it, Dan (Cleary) went through it, so it just gives me some time to take care of it and make it healthy.

“Right now it’s sore, so it’s rest and rehab and stuff like that. I’ll eventually get back on the ice and skate with it, but I have to take care of it because it’s something that I don’t want to be lingering. With Pav, who had one earlier and missed much of preseason, now that the season is here, we’ll figure out when it’s done what will happen then.”

McCarty, 36, is joined on IR by veteran defenseman Chris Chelios, suffered a fractured tibia in Montreal on Sept. 30. Goalie Jimmy Howard was also placed on IR with a finger injury.

As the Red Wings prepare to trim the roster down to 23 players before Wednesday's league deadline, McCarty was among a logjam of players vying for the final forward spot along with Aaron Downey, Darren Helm and Ville Leino.

”I’m on IR so I don’t have to worry about them saying anything because it’s not a decision that has to be made,” McCarty said. “Somebody has to keep Cheli company.”