News and notes from around the NHL this morning:
- Niklas Kronwall returns to the Detroit Red Wings lineup today for a game against the New York Rangers. Kronwall hasn’t played since January 4th due to a groin injury. Alexey Marchenko is the corresponding healthy scratch today. Kronwall has struggled points-wise this season, scoring 0G and 3A in 25 games. The Red Wings are five points out of a playoff spot with three games in hand, so any positive addition should excite Detroit fans and management alike.
- To make room for Kronwall, the Detroit Red Wings placed forward Drew Miller on waivers, reports the Macomb Daily’s Chuck Pleiness. As Helene St. James points out, the Red Wings are already at the 23-man roster maximum. Somebody needed to go to make room for Kronwall. Miller has 5G and 1A in 34 games this season, and was playing just over ten minutes a night. Expect Miller to return if another Detroit player goes down with injury.
- Tampa Bay Lightning forward Erik Condra cleared waivers today, notes Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. Condra has no points in 10 games this season, and was often a healthy scratch for the Lightning. The veteran forward hasn’t found his footing this year, and will likely remain in the AHL until the Lightning need an injury replacement. Condra is in the second year of a three-year, $1.25MM a year contract.