Earlier today, the Red Wings announced (Twitter link) that both Joe Veleno and Christian Fischer will return to the lineup tomorrow against Boston. With Fischer being on injured reserve, at least one player would likely be sent back down. Instead, Detroit has opted to send two players down in corresponding moves as CapFriendly reports (Twitter links) that both Jonatan Berggren and Austin Czarnik have been assigned to AHL Grand Rapids.
Berggren was a regular with Detroit for most of last season, getting into 67 games with the big club where he acquitted himself relatively well, notching 15 goals and 13 assists while logging 13:28 per game. But after GM Steve Yzerman added several pieces up front over the summer, Berggren found himself on the outside looking in at a regular roster spot and was assigned to Grand Rapids at the start of the season.
In the minors, the 23-year-old has been quite productive, picking up seven goals and 11 assists in just 19 contests. That has helped Berggren earn six separate recalls over the last two months which has resulted in nine appearances with the Red Wings. Despite limited playing time in those contests (just 10:08 per contest), he has been fairly productive, tallying a pair of goals along with three assists. He’ll likely be a top recall option when the next injury arises in Detroit.
As for Czarnik, the 31-year-old has played in 18 games with the Red Wings this season despite clearing waivers twice already. While he has typically been quite productive in the minors, that hasn’t carried over to the NHL this season as he has just one assist in those appearances. Meanwhile, in nine games with the Griffins, Czarnik has three goals and four assists.
Meanwhile, the return of Fischer from injured reserve tomorrow will be a welcome one. The 26-year-old has been a regular on Detroit’s fourth line this season, playing in 33 games where he has eight points and 39 hits while logging a little less than 11 minutes per night. He has been out since just before the holiday break with an undisclosed injury.
Patrick Kane has lived up to expectations thus far with 6 goals and 7 assists but in those 12 games Detroit has 3 wins, So why did Yzerman acquire a player they didn’t need? Why didn’t he address the atrocious goaltending? Or the bad defense? Maybe the coaching? And why would a team in a rebuild have any Interest in a 35 year old coming off of serious hip surgery?
The addition of Kane disrupted/changed something within the team because they have been awful since.
Yzerman had them on the right track til the Kane addition and hopefully by trade deadline he is moved.
The “something” seems to be returning game in game out. Open opponents down low or in primo chances by the late man. In either case, they are uncovered and able to get great chances. Back checking and coverage of that late man is often late or non existent. It may be that it is designed in hopes of turnarounds and opportunities the other way, but that plus a spate of awful turnovers is damaging the Wing’s in the D zone. Lyon is doing mostly a good job, but keeping quality chances down with coverage out front would pay more dividends. I know, easier said than done.