The Carolina Hurricanes have claimed RW Martin Frk off waivers from the Detroit Red Wings, TSN’s Bob McKenzie was first to report. Detroit had waived Frk yesterday in the hopes of assigning him to the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins.
Frk, originally drafted by the Wings in the second round (49th overall) in 2012, has yet to play at the NHL level. Last season was his first full season at the AHL level after splitting the previous two campaigns between Grand Rapids and Toledo of the ECHL. In 2015-16, he played in 67 games for the AHL’s Griffins, scoring 27 goals while adding 17 assists.
This marks the second time in three seasons that the Hurricanes have claimed a young Detroit forward off waivers after they added Andrej Nestrasil via the waiver wire back in 2014-15.
[Related: Hurricanes Depth Chart]
With Carolina, Frk will likely play in a bottom six spot or reserve to start as he works his way up the lineup. The team is expected to have several youngsters on the wings and Frk will battle for one of those spots.
McKenzie adds in a follow-up tweet that there were as many as three teams that put in a claim for Frk but Carolina had the worst record last among those who placed a claim. If the Hurricanes wish to send the 23 year old to the minors, they will have to re-waive him before being able to do so.
Dang it….