The Detroit Red Wings Complete A Major Roster Move

For the Red Wings to make up that four-point gap, they'll have to pull off victories against some of the best teams in the NHL, including the Vegas Golden Knights, and Colorado Avalanche.

GM Steve Yzerman of the Red Wings has dipped into the talent pool in Grand Rapids to help the team out, while Elmer Soderblom and defenseman Erik Gustafsson are sidelined with injuries.

They've recalled forwards Austin Watson, and Brogan Rafferty from the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins to the big club in the meantime.

Both players were recalled on an emergency basis.

Watson has spent his time in the AHL producing at a respectful level of 37 points (16 goals, 21 assists) in 56 games with the Griffins. He's played 517 games in the NHL, primarily as an enforcer.

While Rafferty is a right-shot defenseman and has played 3 games in the NHL at the most scoring only 1 point, as he's had a cup of coffee in the NHL career-wise.

Fans are puzzled about these two players in particular being called up by the Red Wings.

Which Watson might be understandable, given that he has no issues playing a heavy game on the ice.

But Rafferty is even more puzzling, at 29 years old has seen limited utilization in the NHL.

If the team plans on making the Stanley Cup playoffs, these aren't the kind of emergency recalls you'd hope for.