As the regular season approaches, the Detroit Red Wings continue the process of fine tuning their roster.
And among the decisions that came down from management earlier today included placing former 1st round draft selection Evgeny Svechnikov on waivers. Additionally, the team also waived the likes of Brian Lashoff, Dominic Turgeon, Turner Elson, Dylan McIlrath, Joe Hicketts, Calvin Pickard and Kevin Boyle.
Svechnikov is now available to the other 30 NHL clubs. Should he go unclaimed, he can report to Detroit’s AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids, or be placed on the team’s taxi squad.
It isn’t often you see a team decide to waive a high draft pick. However, Detroit hasn’t been able to see much of Svechnikov, who has been battling injuries all throughout his young career. The longest stretch of play he’s missed was the entire 2018-19 season after undergoing knee surgery to correct an injury suffered during exhibition play.
“Unfortunately, Evgeny has had a number of injuries so he hasn’t been able to show a full kind of season of where he is at,” coach Jeff Blashill said Monday. “But we also have to make roster decisions and you’re restricted to your roster.
“Nothing is permanent. You have that risk, potentially, of losing guys, but let’s see where we’re at here at noon tomorrow.”
However, for Blashill, just because Svechnikov is on waivers doesn’t mean that the door has fully closed on him.
“Waivers just simply means that if they’re not claimed, you have flexibility to send people to Grand Rapids, to send people to the taxi squad,” Blashill said. “With the whole group of guys, it gives you flexibility to do that.
“This is kind of decision day, but it’s totally flexible. Guys that are on your roster opening day, it doesn’t mean they’re going to stay. And guys that aren’t certainly have the opportunity to be called up at some point.”
In 20 career regular season appearances with the Red Wings, Svechnikov has tallied four points (2G, 2A).
– – Quotes via Helene St. James of The Detroit Free Press Link – –
