Green expected to be out four weeks for Red Wings

Mike Green will be sidelined about the first four weeks of the regular season for the Detroit Red Wings because of a virus.

"We think it'll be two more weeks before he's in full practices, which would leave with two more weeks after that before he's ready to go," coach Jeff Blashill told the Red Wings website Tuesday. "We're looking at a timeline of a month before we'd have him fully available to us. That timeline is fluid, but that's what we're looking at."
The defenseman, who had 33 points (eight goals, 25 assists) in 66 games last season, has been skating on his own. He stopped practicing with the Red Wings about a week into training camp. General manager Ken Holland told the Detroit Free Press on Sept. 21 that Green said he felt lethargic and was diagnosed with a virus that was attacking his liver.
With Green and defenseman Niklas Kronwall (undisclosed) out, defensemen Dennis Cholowski, 20, Detroit's first-round pick (No. 20) in the 2016 NHL Draft, and Libor Sulak, 24, who was signed as a free agent May 24, 2017, each made the opening night roster.

Cholowski, who is expected to be at the point on one of the Red Wings' power-play units, had 66 points (14 goals, 52 assists) in 66 games with Prince George and Portland in the Western Hockey League last season, and played in one regular-season game and one playoff game with Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League.
"They've been impressive, especially [Cholowski] and Sulak, the way they skate," Red Wings center Frans Nielsen said. "They skate out of trouble. It looked really good. I know it's going to be a different pace now, but hopefully they're going to adjust now."
The Red Wings open their season against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday (7:30 p.m. ET; FS-D, FS-O, NHL.TV).