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DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings today returned forwards Tyler Bertuzzi, Zach Nastasiuk, Dominic Turgeon, and defensemen Marc McNulty and Mitchell Wheaton to their respective junior teams. Additionally, the team released forwards Blake Clarke, Hayden Hodgson, Darby Llewellyn, Brandon Robinson and Jerome Verrier; defenseman Ty Stanton; and goaltender Lucas Peressini.
The Red Wings’ roster now sits at 55 players, as the team heads into its first of eight preseason games tonight (Monday) in Pittsburgh at 7:00 p.m.
PLAYERS ASSIGNED ON 9/22/14
|
59 |
Tyler Bertuzzi |
LW |
L |
6-1 |
187 |
Sudbury, ON |
2/24/1995 |
Guelph (OHL) |
|
62 |
Zach Nastasiuk |
C |
R |
6-2 |
196 |
Barrie, ON |
3/30/1995 |
Owen Sound (OHL) |
|
78 |
Dominic Turgeon |
C |
L |
6-2 |
196 |
Cherry Hills Village, CO |
2/25/1996 |
Portland (WHL) |
|
74 |
Marc McNulty |
D |
R |
6-5 |
193 |
Medicine Hat, Alberta |
4/25/1995 |
Prince Albert (WHL) |
|
71 |
Mitchell Wheaton |
D |
R |
6-5 |
215 |
Sherwood Park, Alberta |
2/6/1995 |
Kelowna (WHL) |
PLAYERS RELEASED ON 9/22/14
|
54 |
Hayden Hodgson |
RW |
R |
6-2 |
204 |
Leamington, ON |
3/2/1996 |
Erie (OHL) |
|
63 |
Jerome Verrier |
RW |
R |
6-0 |
192 |
Drummondville, Quebec |
5/10/1994 |
Drummondville (QMJHL) |
|
67 |
Brandon Robinson |
LW |
L |
6-3 |
216 |
Pickering, ON |
10/13/1995 |
North Bay (OHL) |
|
76 |
Darby Llewellyn |
LW |
L |
6-1 |
179 |
Ann Arbor, MI |
7/19/1996 |
Kitchener (OHL) |
|
86 |
Blake Clarke |
LW |
L |
6-1 |
190 |
Chesterfield, Missouri |
1/24/1996 |
North Bay (OHL) |
|
46 |
Ty Stanton |
D |
L |
6-4 |
176 |
St. Albert, Alberta |
5/23/1995 |
Medicine Hat (WHL) |
|
68 |
Lucas Peressini |
G |
L |
6-2 |
185 |
Nobleton, ON |
3/9/1995 |
Kingston (OHL) |
(Ed note: This press release was edited to correct a DOB mistake)
- - -
The difference between assigned and released here of course is that only the kids with Red Wings contracts could be assigned. Each of them being under 20 years old, they either have to stay with the big club or offered to their junior clubs. Since this isn't the year we expect any of those five to crack the Wings' lineup, the team sent them down so they could be with their junior clubs to start their seasons. The seven players released will all head back and fight for a spot in next year's draft class.
You'll notice that there's one juniors-eligible camp invite who isn't included in the list of guys sent home: Joe Hicketts, the Prospects Tournament standout defensemen is still with the club. This doesn't mean that he's got a contract just yet, but rather the team wants to take a bit longer look at him. Hicketts is undersized, but has been described by both Michelle and Kyle as very mobile and capable of overcoming such an assumed disadvantaged. The team will have until final roster cuts to make a decision about whether to sign Hicketts to an entry level contract. If he doesn't end up signing with an NHL team, Hicketts will go back into next year's draft class. Either way, if he has an ELC, he'll fit under the same requirement that he either play with the big club (highly unlikely) or he be returned to his junior team.
Of the remaining 55 players, about half are heading to Pittsburgh right now for tonight's preseason opener against the Penguins. More cuts will come down the pipe later in the week, but I'll be very interested to see what happens with Hicketts.