Former Avalanche Forward Set To Miss Seventh Straight Game In Detroit

J.T. Compher is making the trip with the Detroit Red Wings, but he'll have to wait a little longer to get back into game action.

The 31-year-old forward traveled with Detroit for its four-game road trip but will miss his seventh straight game Tuesday when the Red Wings face the Seattle Kraken.

Compher has been on injured reserve, and there's still no clear indication of when he'll be ready to play. Getting back on the road with his teammates is one thing, but the Red Wings are still waiting for him to be cleared.

It's been a frustrating start to the season for Compher, who managed just two games before getting hurt. He has yet to record a point. 

Compher was never the biggest name on the roster, but he was there when the Colorado Avalanche won the Stanley Cup in 2022, playing all 20 playoff games and finishing with five goals and three assists.

Compher had spent years working his way into a dependable role with the Avalanche, making his NHL debut for the club in 2017 and recording 194 points across 423 regular-season games.

He left Colorado in 2023, signing a five-year, $25.5 million contract with Detroit. The move gave him a fresh start, and the Red Wings brought in a player with championship experience and the ability to play in different situations.

Compher has, to put it bluntly, taken a step back since leaving Colorado, though Detroit's struggles certainly haven't helped. The Red Wings haven't made the playoffs since 2016, back when Joe Louis Arena was still home. Little Caesars Arena opened in 2017, and Detroit has yet to play a postseason game there. At this point, the Red Wings' playoff drought has aged about as well as a Little Caesars pizza left out overnight.

We hope Compher can turn the ship around.