The Detroit Red Wings made the decision yesterday to waive defenseman Danny DeKeyser, who has struggled this season and had been a healthy scratch the past six games.
However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that his tenure with the Red Wings is officially closed.
According to head coach Jeff Blashill, the decision was made to waive DeKeyser in order to provide roster flexibility.
He’s gone unclaimed on waivers, which means he could remain on the main roster, or even be placed onto the team taxi squad.
#RedWings DeKesyer will remain with the team, gives them flexibility to move back and forth from 23-man roster to taxi squad. https://t.co/7IlPoFPMP0
— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) February 15, 2021
“He’s recovering from a major back surgery that can take up to two years,” coach Jeff Blashill said. “We’re about a year and some out. The good thing for us is, he’s making progress. Will he ever have the exact same power that he had? Most guys that have major surgery probably are never quite to that. That doesn’t mean he can’t be a really effective player, still. But it’s just the reality of what happens when you have major surgery.”
According to Blashill, he’s just not healthy right now.
“Danny is making progress from a strength standpoint,” Blashill said. “He is making from getting a little more power out of his leg and hopefully he can be closer to 100%, to where he can be the type of player that he has been.”
“Right now he’s playing at way less than 100%. We’re hoping to get him fully healed, and the sooner the better.”
Meanwhile, the Red Wings will still be without Tyler Bertuzzi through at least tonight’s home affair against the Chicago Blackhawks.
#RedWings Blashill said waiving DeKeyser was a roster management move to provide flexibility. If he clears, which he should, sounds like he'll remain on the main roster or taxi squad. Bertuzzi remains out through at least Wednesday's game.
— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) February 15, 2021
Bertuzzi, who leads the team in goals, has been absent since January 30 after suffering an upper body injury.
– – Quotes via Helene St. James of The Detroit Free Press Link – –
