Crucial update released on Filip Hronek

The rotten injury luck for the Detroit Red Wings continued during last night’s game at XCel Energy Center in St. Paul, as defenseman Filip Hronek was absolutely clocked by Minnesota Wild forward Ryan Reaves early in the 1st period: 

The Red Wings would soon rule Hronek out for the remainder of the game, but there is good news to be shared. According to head coach Derek Lalonde, Hronek wanted to re-enter action

“He actually wanted to come back, which is a really good sign,” Lalonde said afterward. “The Minnesota doctor was cautious and held him out, probably the right thing, especially in today’s day and age with the contact to the head. The fact he wanted to come back, he seemed in pretty good spirits, is hopefully a pretty good sign going forward.”

While there was no penalty on the play, the Red Wings were still sensitive to the fact that the principle point of contact from Reaves’ hit was in fact Hronek’s head. 

“I think Fil would want his play back,” Lalonde said. “He was exposing himself. I talked to him really quickly — I think he thought there was a penalty on the play, and he was waiting for his goalie to come out. As crazy as that sounds, it makes a little more sense now. But I’m sensitive to any contact to the head. In this day and age, we know what head contact is about.

“I know Reaves was not malicious with it, but it’s a shoulder on the head and the result is contact to the head.”

The Red Wings are next in action, hopefully with Hronek in tow, Saturday afternoon back home at Little Caesars Arena against the Ottawa Senators.