DETROIT -- Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said forward Justin Abdelkader won't play in Friday's regular season opener against Anaheim at Joe Louis Arena due to a rib injury.



Forward Todd Bertuzzi (sore back) practiced with the team Thursday for the first time in a week, but his status won't be determined until after Friday's morning skate.



Kris Draper (groin) has been ruled out of the first two games.



If Bertuzzi can't play, the Red Wings will need another forward. Babcock threw out an interesting possibility.



"What's the matter with (using Kirk) Maltby?'' Babcock said. "We'll see what happens tomorrow. How's that?''



Maltby hasn't decided on his future yet: report to the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins or retire.



If the Red Wings need a forward for Friday, they could place somebody (Draper or Abdelkader) on short-term injured reserve (seven days), opening up a roster spot That would enable them to recall Maltby and insert him into the lineup.



Short-term IR does not give a team salary-cap relief, but the Red Wings have enough cap space to recall a player from Grand Rapids.



Draper said he spoke with Maltby Thursday morning and he was still pondering his future. Babcock said Maltby will meet with general manager Ken Holland this afternoon.



"I still his nametag up there (on his dressing room stall), so you never know what's going on,'' Babcock said. "The way I look at it, he's had a great NHL career, we'd like him to report (to the Griffins) and be available to us and go from there, and yet that's a tough decision for him.''



Bertuzzi said he's dealing with lower-back issues that have caused him problems before.



"Kind of been around it before. Not very thrilled with where it's at,'' Bertuzzi said. "I felt great at camp, but a couple of days into preseason games it started getting worse and worse and then I woke up and could barely move. But made some strides the past five days and hopefully respond good tomorrow.''



Said Babcock: "If he feels as good as he did today, he's going to play.''



Babcock said of Abdelkader: "Abby's not playing this weekend, he's got a little cartilage problem with his ribs, that takes a little while to heal. So even though he looks good and can skate and shoot he won't play this weekend.''



Here are the lines they skated with on Thursday:



Datsyuk-Zetterberg-Holmstrom

Franzen-Filppula-Bertuzzi (Abdelkader working in)

Hudler-Modano-Cleary

Miller-Helm-Eaves (Draper working in)



Lidstrom-Ericsson

Stuart-Rafalski

Kronwall-Salei

Kindl



Howard

Osgood

