Red Wings coach Mike Babcock gave the kid quite a compliment as the regular season closed, saying his team's 22nd consecutive appearance in the playoffs is in part due to the signing of Western Michigan's Danny DeKeyser in late March.
Now the Red Wings will have to play the remainder of the postseason without DeKeyser.
The 23-year-old rookie defenseman broke his right thumb in Thursday's 5-4 overtime victory over the Ducks in Anaheim, Calif.
"He's done," Babcock said of DeKeyser, who in his short time with the Wings has shown his ability to move the puck out of zone as well as anyone. "But there's other guys that have been working hard. Lash (Brian Lashoff),
(Carlo) Colaiacovo have been working like crazy, trying to get back in
the lineup."
Veteran Ian White is also available.
The Western Conference quarterfinal series is tied at a game apiece. Game 3 is Saturday night at Joe Louis Arena.
