There was a notable name missing from the Beer City Open player field this past July.

Detroit Red Wings legend and four-time Stanley Cup champion Kris Draper was unable to travel to Grand Rapids because he was recovering from a left hip replacement in May, and preparing to undergo the same procedure on his right hip in August.

After competing in the event in 2023 and 2024, Draper was disappointed that he couldn't make it three appearances in a row, but the situation was beyond his control.

The good news is everything went well from a medical standpoint, and he started playing pickleball again.

"I guess you could say I was on long-term IR, which would obviously be a hockey term. I'm 13 weeks out from that second procedure, and I've already been back on the courts a few times. I'm just easing into things," confirmed Draper, 54, who played 1,157 regular-season games during his lengthy NHL career. 

"I talked to our team doctor who did my surgeries, I told him what I was planning on doing, and he thought it was a great idea. I'm excited about getting back out there. It's just like anything I truly have a passion for. I've missed it a lot. I'm chomping at the bit to play."

Being sidelined for nearly six months clearly wasn't a picnic.

Draper's love of America's fastest-growing sport is the real deal, so this was a tough pill to swallow, but he needed to go under the knife to repair issues stemming primarily from 20 taxing seasons at hockey's highest level. 

Those aches and pains are in the rearview mirror now, though, so he's eager to get the competitive juices flowing again while getting his game back in gear.

"The reason why I've really enjoyed pickleball and love to play is the fact that I love to compete, and all of a sudden that was kind of taken away from me, and it hasn't been easy. It really affected everything. I was on a cane for six weeks, I wasn't able to work out, I wasn't able to train properly. It affected all these things that I love to do, and now I'm making my way back onto the court and I'm really excited about it," emphasized Draper.

"That's what I've missed the most, obviously the camaraderie. I've met some incredible people in the pickleball community. The state of Michigan has some unbelievable players. I know right now I've got to keep the reins on myself and keep myself under control, though, which is going to be hard, but just the fact of getting onto the court and being able to make shots feels good. I love to chirp on the court, too, so I've missed that as well."

In other words, Draper's preparation for the 2026 Beer City Open has officially begun.

He wouldn't miss it for the world.

"I'll be back. I can't wait. That tournament has been so fun. I played men's doubles with Nick Hernandez and mixed doubles with Michelle Kolokowski, and as far as I know, I think both are going to take me back after a one-year hiatus," said Draper.

"The one thing I'm excited about is I haven't played in the tournament really healthy. I've been beaten up the last few years and pretty stubborn and continuing to play, but those events certainly took a toll on my body, so now with some new titanium hips, I'm looking forward to testing those out and seeing how I can hang with the youth in this sport."

Up until recently, Draper actually had an outdoor court at his disposal during the summer since it was located in the backyard of his Bloomfield Hills home.

Unfortunately, that isn't the case anymore, so he'll be honing his skills primarily at several local facilities and venues in the weeks and months to come.

"I officially sold my house. We're moving just one city over to Birmingham. That was probably the toughest part of moving. I think all my pickleball friends will agree. When I told them it was time for the family to downsize, their first question was, 'Well, what about the pickleball court?' But, that was part of the move. I no longer own a pickleball court," confirmed Draper.

"It was tough because the rink was a huge hit in the winter for our family, and now not being able to walk out my back door in the summer to play pickleball will be tough, too."

After hanging up his skates a decade-and-a-half ago, Draper joined the Red Wings' front office.

He currently serves as both assistant general manager and director of amateur scouting, and many of his co-workers are pickleball enthusiasts as well, including former NHLers Shawn Horcoff and Dan Cleary.

"I haven't played with those guys in a while, but it's always fun being around other former professional athletes that love to compete and have that passion," mentioned Draper.

"I can even add Marty Lapointe, who I played in the late 90s and early 2000s, to that list. He's a big-time pickleball player. He absolutely loves it. We both work on the amateur side of the sport for the NHL Draft, so there's a lot of times we've been able to have the same schedules. We'll always pack our paddles, and if we can get a game, we're ready to go. In the scouting industry, a lot of guys have started to pick up pickleball, so we kind of show up in some random cities and we have a little group text to set some games up."

It's only a matter of time before Draper begins scheduling those matchups again.

He just needs to get back in the groove first.

"Just physically I know I have to take things slow, which is going to be hard. Anything that I've ever done in my life, it's all-in and it's at the highest level that I can play at and compete. I know physically I'm not at that point right now, but mentally the fact that I've drilled a couple of times with some buddies, and just being out on the court, it's great peace of mind," insisted Draper.

"It's therapy for me. I love that stuff. I know that coming back and playing, physically I just have to let everything heal properly. The last thing I want to do with everything that I've been through is to have any sort of setbacks. When I'm driving to the courts, I'll have a little self-talk with myself to play within my physical limits. That's something I know I need to do. The doc reminded me, 'Get out there and play, but be smart!' That's exactly what I have to do, and that's exactly what I will do."

So let the countdown to the tournament at Belknap Park begin.

It's just seven-and-a-half months away.

"As you can tell by the way I talk about pickleball, I'm very passionate about the sport," concluded Draper. "It's an incredible sport. I'm a big fan of the game. To me, it's always about competing and playing against the best that I can play against and challenging myself to get better at the same time."