Detroit — Jonathan Ericsson got his welcome-back-to-the-NHL moment during Monday’s practice.
In a battle drill with Brendan Perlini, an errant stick cut Ericsson’s face, and the veteran defenseman needed seven stitches.
“(General manager) Steve (Yzerman) came up to me after practice and said, ‘Welcome back to the NHL’,” Ericsson said. “It was a little funny.”
What hasn’t been funny, for Ericsson, thus far has been this regular season. Actually, going back to March, as Ericsson has been battling back and hip injuries, unable to play.
He didn’t play in any preseason games, and started the season on the injured list.