Discouraging news emerges from Red Wings practice

The Detroit Red Wings arrived in Sweden earlier this week for their upcoming participation in the National Hockey League's Global Series that will see them face a pair of their division rivals in the Ottawa Senators and Toronto Maple Leafs on consecutive days, starting tomorrow. 

And while it was announce earlier today that goaltender Ville Husso will not be available for either matchup due to he and his wife having just welcomed a new baby, it looks as though there's another potential absence that still needs clarification.

According to Max Bultman of The Athletic, defenseman Jake Walman departed practice early, though the reason for his leaving wasn't immediately clear. 

Walman is in the first season of a three-year contract extension that was awarded to him by GM Steve Yzerman, who acquired him in the 2022 NHL Trade Deadline deal that sent veteran blue liner Nick Leddy to the St. Louis Blues. He missed the first few weeks of last season due to undergoing offseason surgery, but he provided an immediate jolt upon his re-joining the lineup in November, and his pairing with Moritz Seider would be among the League's best based on analytics. 

In the 15 games that he's played this season, he's scored four goals while adding three assists along with a +4 rating.

Let's hope that the reason for Walman's departure from practice wasn't anything serious and that he can suit up in Detroit's upcoming pair of games that carry important implications in the Atlantic Division standings.

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