Detroit Red Wings complete roster move ahead of clash vs. Sharks
Photo credit: Tim Fuller-Imagn Images
The Detroit Red Wings have officially completed a roster move to bring reinforcements to the blue line ahead of Friday night's game against the San Jose Sharks.
With Tuesday night's 3-0 loss to the Boston Bruins, the Red Wings couldn't grab first place in the Atlantic Division from the Tampa Bay Lightning, remaining second with 60 points in 48 games.
Only 12 points separate the Lightning from the Ottawa Senators, who are eighth. With such a tight race in the Atlantic, all games matter.
There has been a lot of talk lately about the Red Wings bringing reinforcements to the lineup on the trade market, but in a new development, we learned that Steve Yzerman decided to bring them from elsewhere.
Indeed, he called up a defenseman from the Grand Rapids Griffins.
Red Wings Call Up Erik Gustafsson From Grand Rapids Ahead Of Game Vs. Sharks
On X, the Red Wings confirmed that Erik Gustafsson was called up from the Grand Rapids Griffins in the AHL.
Here's what the organization posted:
Gustafsson, 33, has spent nearly the whole season in the AHL, where he has been performing well, with 20 points in 22 games.
By bringing him to the NHL, Steve Yzerman suggests a few things.
Either someone is injured and we'll get an official update soon, Yzerman wants to bring momentum to the blue line after a tough loss, or a trade is coming.
NHL teams know what to expect from a player like Gustafsson, and his two-year, $2M AAV contract dissuades a few teams from getting him.
If he's not showcasing him, Yzerman could have called the veteran defenseman up to bring reinforcements to his lineup to help the team cope with the tough schedule.
But the most important thing is that Gustafsson will have an NHL opportunity, making him a player to watch carefully in Friday night's game against the Sharks.
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