Commodore to IR; Smith recalled
Rookie defenseman to begin serving NHL suspension
Saturday, 10.08.2011 / 11:32 AM
/ News
By Bill Roose
- Managing Editor | DetroitRedWings.com
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DETROIT – A sprained knee already forced Mike Commodore to delay his debut in a Red Wings’ uniform.
He missed Friday’s 5-3 season-opening win over Ottawa, and will not play tonight at Colorado, either. And now the Red Wings have decided to place the veteran defenseman on the injured reserve list.
The soonest that Commodore can make his Red Wings’ debut is a week from today when the team travels to Minnesota.
By putting Commodore on IR, the Wings have recalled rookie defenseman Brendan Smith, who will begin serving his remaining five-game NHL suspension tonight.
Commodore signed a one-year free agency contract last July with the hopes of challenging for the sixth spot on the Wings’ defensive unit. But he suffered a knee injury Sept. 28 in Chicago when his skate caught a rut in the ice at the United Center.
In that same exhibition game with the Blackhawks, Smith delivered an illegal hit to the head of Chicago forward Ben Smith. The NHL slapped Brendan Smith with an eight-game suspension, which included the final three preseason games.
The illegal hit also cost Brendan Smith a three-game suspension from the American Hockey League, which does not run concurrently with the NHL ruling.
Once he’s returned to Grand Rapids, it’s likely that Smith’s season-debut with the Griffins won’t occur before Oct. 22.
Follow Bill Roose on Twitter | @RooseBill
He missed Friday’s 5-3 season-opening win over Ottawa, and will not play tonight at Colorado, either. And now the Red Wings have decided to place the veteran defenseman on the injured reserve list.
The soonest that Commodore can make his Red Wings’ debut is a week from today when the team travels to Minnesota.
By putting Commodore on IR, the Wings have recalled rookie defenseman Brendan Smith, who will begin serving his remaining five-game NHL suspension tonight.
Commodore signed a one-year free agency contract last July with the hopes of challenging for the sixth spot on the Wings’ defensive unit. But he suffered a knee injury Sept. 28 in Chicago when his skate caught a rut in the ice at the United Center.
In that same exhibition game with the Blackhawks, Smith delivered an illegal hit to the head of Chicago forward Ben Smith. The NHL slapped Brendan Smith with an eight-game suspension, which included the final three preseason games.
The illegal hit also cost Brendan Smith a three-game suspension from the American Hockey League, which does not run concurrently with the NHL ruling.
Once he’s returned to Grand Rapids, it’s likely that Smith’s season-debut with the Griffins won’t occur before Oct. 22.
Follow Bill Roose on Twitter | @RooseBill
