Joining Red Wings 'a very special moment' for Jeff Petry

DETROIT -- For Jeff Petry, the 2023-24 season will mark more than just a new chapter in the veteran defenseman's 14-year NHL career.

It signifies a homecoming.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Detroit Red Wings acquired the 35-year-old blueliner via trade with the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for defenseman Gustav Lindstrom and a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.

"To get the call yesterday, hear that news that you're coming home to play for the team that you watched growing up and be able to put on that jersey means a lot," Petry said in his introductory press conference on Wednesday afternoon at Little Caesars Arena. "It's a very special moment."

Born in Ann Arbor, Mich., Petry is the son of 13-year MLB veteran and current Bally Sports Detroit analyst Dan Petry, who helped the Detroit Tigers win the 1984 World Series and pitched for the franchise from 1979-87 and 1990-91.

"You never think it's ever going to happen and now you get a chance to watch your son play for the team he grew up idolizing," Dan Petry said during Tuesday's pregame edition of Tigers Live on Bally Sports Detroit. "With, of course, that iconic jersey. It's going to be very special."

Jeff Petry was a two-sport athlete at St. Mary's Preparatory in Orchard Lake, Mich., before committing to play college hockey at Michigan State for three seasons (2007-10).

"Hockey was always something I enjoyed more than baseball," said Petry, who also played for Little Caesars AAA Hockey. "It took me a while to finally tell my dad and get away from that. He was very supportive of both sports growing up but when I ultimately made the decision to stop playing baseball, he was thrilled that I picked hockey. I continued down that road."

Petry spent last season with the Pittsburgh Penguins, recording 31 points (5-26-31) in 61 games. Originally selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the second round (45th overall) of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, Petry has compiled 353 points across 864 games with the Oilers, Canadiens and Penguins since 2010-11.

According to Petry, playing for his hometown team was a scenario he "always thought about."

"It definitely has crossed my mind," Petry said. "You grow up watching a team and you always play that situation out in your mind of you wearing that jersey, being there and then making the NHL."

So when discussing potential trade destinations with Canadiens General Manager Kent Hughes, Petry heartily expressed a desire to play in Detroit.

"There was never gonna be a guarantee," Petry said. "But he asked, 'What are some places that you want me to look into?' For him to do that for me was great. Detroit was the No. 1 spot on my list. I wanna play here and I've wanted to my whole life."

Petry is the fourth defenseman to join the Red Wings this offseason. On July 1, Detroit signed Justin Holl to a three-year contract, inked Shayne Gostisbehere to a one-year deal and brought in Brogan Rafferty on a two-year, two-way contract.

"There's a good balance on that back end," Petry said. "Everyone has different skillsets that come into play. I think that balance is exciting to see."

The opportunity to impart valuable lessons in Detroit's dressing room, particularly on his younger teammates, is appealing to Petry.

"In a player's career, there's gonna be many ups and downs," Petry said. "Try to ride those ups as long as possible and shorten those downs for as short of a period as possible. I've been through many of those and would help in any way I can, share my experiences and step up as a leadership role for anybody."

Jeff Petry will wear No. 46 with the Red Wings, the same number his father sported with the Tigers. Jeff Petry surprised Dan with the news after initially informing his mother, Christine, of the trade on Tuesday.

"He said he has very honored and never saw that coming."