Red Wings F Jan Mursak Taken Off Injured Reserve, Assigned to Grand Rapids

by J.J. from Kansas on Dec 28, 2011 10:43 AM CST in News

Per the Red Wings official Twitter feed:

NEWS: The Red Wings have removed Jan Mursak from IR and assigned him to @griffinshockey of the AHL.

This is good news for the speedy right-shooting Slovenian who broke his ankle in an ugly collision with the boards during a preaseason which looked like it would have ended with him earning a full-time roster spot with the club.

The terms of the CBA allow the Wings to send Mursak down to play with the Griffins for no more than 14 days without forcing him to clear waivers. Mursak has been skating with the Wings when he could, but this will give him some game experience to get back up to speed. Counting tonight's game at the Lake Erie Monsters, Grand Rapids will play six games during the two-week stretch in which Mursak is eligible to remain with them: Two home games this Friday and Saturday, then two back-to-back road games at Abbotsford next week before a final home game against the Houston Aeros on his last day of eligibility.

Mursak's return from the conditioning stint will likely run very close to the return of Patrick Eaves from the broken jaw he suffered on November 26th against Nashville. It will be very interesting to see how the roster shakes out when both of them return. If Mursak can pick up where he left off in camp, he very well could find himself in a rotation for a regular roster spot and push Cory Emmerton off the roster.

A lot of things can happen before then though. We'll keep you posted on additional developments.

Here's the official press release:

Detroit, MI… The Detroit Red Wings today announced that forward Jan Mursak has been activated and assigned to the Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL) on a conditioning loan. Mursak, 23, has been on Detroit’s Injured Reserve List since late-September after fracturing his ankle during a pre-season game versus the Chicago Blackhawks at Joe Louis Arena.

A native of Maribor, Slovenia, Mursak was originally selected by Detroit in the sixth round (182^nd overall) of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. The 5’11”, 190-lb. winger has appeared in 19 games with the Red Wings (1G-0A-1P) and 184 games with the Griffins (39G-47A-86P) thus far in his professional career.]

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Comments

I'd like to see

Both Mursak and Eaves on the roster more often then not. We need some right handers. Mursak replaces Emmerton and Eaves and Miller rotate. I like Miller’s game as of late, but I think Eaves has more of a offensive upside. I also feel as though Eaves really earned his spot last season. He played very well with Helm and Draps.

by chez_bazaldo on Dec 28, 2011 10:52 AM CST via mobile reply actions

Eaves will have to re-earn his spot

As will Mursak. Both will be scratches with Emmerton, Miller and Homer sitting out some games to give those guys some shots.

If Eaves can get back to his previous form he will be a welcomed addition.

Datsyukian Deke, Detroit Red Wings Blog
Follow @cnsportsblogs

by Detroitnr1 on Dec 28, 2011 2:05 PM CST up reply actions

I really hope Emmerton isn’t lost when these two return. I see him being a great career grinder along the lines of Maltby.

by Apocalyptic0n3 on Dec 28, 2011 11:52 AM CST reply actions

Personally I don't see him staying here too long

But ultimatly what I think will happen is that we send Connor down as Eaves is a lock to come back and I think Mursak can develop into a very good player. Just not sold on Emmerton.

Datsyukian Deke, Detroit Red Wings Blog
Follow @cnsportsblogs

by Detroitnr1 on Dec 28, 2011 2:04 PM CST up reply actions

Meant to reply to this....

Isn’t Conner already playing with the Griffs?

by rrasco on Dec 28, 2011 2:20 PM CST up reply actions

No

He has a Hand Injury, should be back next week.

Datsyukian Deke, Detroit Red Wings Blog
Follow @cnsportsblogs

by Detroitnr1 on Dec 28, 2011 2:46 PM CST up reply actions

LOL….I was sitting here thinking today and was like, wait, Conner broke his hand. WTF am I talking about? Busy week.

by rrasco on Dec 29, 2011 5:11 PM CST up reply actions

Isn’t Conner already playing with the Griffs?

by rrasco on Dec 28, 2011 2:20 PM CST reply actions

Ignore me

by rrasco on Dec 28, 2011 2:21 PM CST up reply actions

I will :)

Datsyukian Deke, Detroit Red Wings Blog
Follow @cnsportsblogs

by Detroitnr1 on Dec 28, 2011 2:46 PM CST up reply actions

imagine this for a moment if you will...

helm, mursak, abdelkader…how would you like to deal with these three fast, young, tough, skilled forwards? all three are fast but two are insane fast and one has really been developing into a quality player who can take faceoffs, grind it out, create scoring chances, kill penalties; abdelkader has really started to blossom into the player the Wings mgmt envisioned when they drafted him. helm is amazing in his own right and we’ve not seen what mursak is fully capable of just yet. while the Wings have ridden the rollercoaster of despair at times this season, with these guys who’ve been out (Mursak, Eaves) and are due to return fairly soon, I see the Wings as having “probably” the deepest roster at both defense and forwards. plenty of games left for people to sit out and rest up a bit while others take their places so they can get some games in to stay game sharp.

imagine now closing in on the last couple of weeks the regular season, Wings roster is rested, game sharp, focused, and awaiting their first round opponent. what team in their right mind wants to really play the DRW’s when they’re rested, game sharp, and focused? regardless of who the first round opponent is, they have to find a way to match up to Wings loaded roster.

honestly, I see trap-style hockey being played in the playoffs as a way to slow down the faster, more skilled teams. should be interesting to say the least. speaking of trap-style hockey, I see the Blues can be beaten by the Wings. Kudos to the entire DRW team because you guys were awesome last night! pk wasn’t as tight as it needed to be, but five on five st louis had no answer.

I fully expect Wings to play with same sense of urgency, passion, and enthusiasm while in chicago AND st louis. no excuses how they can’t play well or skate well. we’ve seen them do it plenty of times now so those excuses no longer suffice. these next two games to finish out the year and the 3 road games (1/3, 1/7, 1/8, dallas, toronto, chicago) to start the new year out is a five game stretch to fix the away game record. the challenge for the DRW’s isn’t their upcoming five road opponents, it’s whether or not the DRW’s will finally stop being self-destructive and play like the talented team they really are. if they do, they will be invincible.

"If we knew what the outcome would be it wouldn't be called hindsight."

by wjr on Dec 28, 2011 3:58 PM CST reply actions

Random thoughts on personnel changes..

The dynamics would remain to be seen (we have so much depth in our 3rd- and 4th-liners that line combination options are abundant these days)…but just for sheer entertainment, I’d love to see a Mursak-Helm-Conner line (especially on the PK). What they may lack in size would be easily made up for in grit, and in being the speediest line in the NHL. Time to break out the rocket skates fellas, you’re going to need them to keep up.

And, I do love the dilemma we’re in as far as roster space goes….we have TOO much talent on deck. I hate to have to see any of these new kids sent back down. Even Emmerton shows flashes of real skill, and I’m sold on Mursak and Conner. Count in Tatar and Jurco in the future, and for the next few years (as far as forwards go anyways), the Wings have some real potential coming online. It doesn’t make saying goodbye any easier when the time comes, but it helps to know we have some great talent in development to try and fill their shoes.

And x2…I love Ian White more every single game. He & Nick look great together. And he’d look even better with a damn visor on. The way things have been going this year, I’d almost be glad to see everyone in a full cage…..get well soon Eaves :/

Relentlessly preaching the word of TPH and converting the heathens in the NHL wasteland that is Oregon.

by Alexis L. on Dec 28, 2011 8:51 PM CST reply actions