J.T. Compher’s latest setback in Detroit has pushed the former Avalanche forward onto injured reserve after a scary collision in Sunday’s 3-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets.
The injury happened in the first period when Jets defenseman Tyrel Bauer drove Compher into the boards. Compher did not return, and the hit sparked a fight between Bauer and Red Wings defenseman Keegan Kolesar.
Detroit’s immediate concern was Compher’s condition. On Wednesday, Red Wings coach Todd McLellan said there was no major update, adding that Compher was not skating and remained day-to-day. The move to injured reserve now guarantees he will miss at least 10 games.
Compher’s path to this point started long before Detroit. Drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the second round of the 2013 NHL Draft, he didn’t make his NHL debut until March 2, 2017, when he played his first game for the Avalanche. He spent parts of seven seasons in Colorado, piling up 423 regular-season appearances with 88 goals and 106 assists for 194 points.
His value in Colorado went far beyond the regular season numbers. During the Avalanche’s 2022 Stanley Cup run, Compher was one of the most trusted depth pieces on the roster, skating in all 20 playoff games and finishing with five goals and three assists.
Those eight playoff points don’t fully capture how much he mattered in that run. Compher kept coming through with timely goals and key plays, carving out a reputation as one of the team’s most dependable supporting players.
After the 2023 season, he left Colorado in free agency and signed a five-year, $25.5 million deal with Detroit. He has not matched the production he had with the Avalanche, and now the Red Wings will have to navigate at least the next stretch without him while they wait for more clarity on the injury.
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