Jeff Petry gushes over “special” trade to Red Wings

The Detroit Red Wings have themselves another new defenseman in the ranks, as it was announced yesterday that Ann Arbor native Jeff Petry was acquired from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Gustav Lindstrom as well as a conditional draft pick. 

It wouldn't be long before the younger Petry announced himself that he'd be wearing uniform number 46, which matches the number his father Dan Petry wore while helping the Detroit Tigers to the World Series in 1984 as a pitcher. And in his introductory presser today at Little Caesars Arena, Petry was adamant over his thoughts of coming home to play for Detroit.

“You grow up watching a team and you always play that situation out in your mind of wearing that jersey,” Petry said. “You keep thinking in your head, when is that opportunity going to come? Can it come? I always thought about wanting to play one year here maybe at the end of my career or whenever the opportunity came. To get that call yesterday was a very special moment for me.”

He also said that he showed his mother a photoshopped picture of himself wearing the Winged Wheel with the number 46, and it came as a surprise. 

“She just kind of shook her head and smiled,” Petry said. “I had to really point it out. She was shocked.”

Petry is the latest acquisition for Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman, who has already been extremely active in free agency and the trade market. He's also the second Michigan native that has come home to play for the Red Wings this summer along with Farmington's Alex DeBrincat. 

“I think you see some of the younger players over the last couple of years getting that experience, starting to figure out what their roles are in the league,” Petry said. “And then adding players like DeBrincat, Compher, you can see the roster starting to round out. I’m excited to get started and do what I can to help that team continue to take those steps forward.”

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