Raymond, Chiarot get into spat at Red Wings practice
Things got heated between Lucas Raymond and Ben Chiarot during the Detroit Red Wings' practice on Wednesday.
The pair got into a scuffle and had to be separated. The young forward approached Chiarot a few moments later, and the two appeared to exchange words before preparing for the next drill.
Frustration at Red Wings practice. Ben Chiarot and Lucas Raymond got into at practice and had to be broken up. pic.twitter.com/Bqjvcu08Vm
— Jeanna Trotman (@JeannaTrotmanTV) March 13, 2024
Their teammates didn't appear to be bothered by the spat, though.
"I don't think it's a bad thing," winger Patrick Kane said, per Detroit Hockey Now's Bob Duff. "I'd be more worried if we were walking around here all smiles, happy, and everything's OK. I think it's good to get a little frustrated as long as you harness it in the right way.
"Frustration can create a lot of positive energy as well, whether it's practicing like you play, or just playing harder tomorrow."
The Red Wings lost their sixth straight contest in regulation on Tuesday in a 7-3 thrashing at the hands of the Buffalo Sabres. As a result of the skid, Detroit has weakened its hold on a playoff spot. The Red Wings are currently tied with the New York Islanders at 72 points, but the Isles currently hold the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference since they have a game in hand.
Veteran forward David Perron's outlook on the commotion was similar to Kane's.
"We saw the intensity this morning in practice," he said. "I think that's great to see. Guys want to have solutions, they want to be part of it. I'm excited for tomorrow. It's an exciting challenge to come to the rink and find a way to turn it around."
This isn't the first time Chiarot, a veteran defenseman, has been involved in a dustup with a teammate at practice. In 2018, as a member of the Winnipeg Jets, he got into a fight with Blake Wheeler.
Detroit has been outscored 32-11 during its current slump. Raymond and Chiarot are both a minus-10 over that stretch and have a combined three points. They've been teammates since Chiarot signed a four-year, $19-million deal with the Red Wings as a free agent in 2022.
The Red Wings will get a chance to turn things around on Thursday versus the Arizona Coyotes.