In Red Wings Land

Evgeny Svechnikov won’t play in Grand Rapids. That helps Detroit Red Wings | Freep

General manager Ken Holland told the Free Press on Friday that the Wings don’t expect Svechnikov to play this season. There’s one big benefit of him missing what would have been his third season of pro hockey: The Wings can send him to Grand Rapids next season without waivers.

Let’s be real here for a moment... Evgeny Svechnikov being eligible to go to the Griffins next season doesn’t necessarily help the Red Wings on the ice, but it does help Ken Holland manage his mess of a roster. It means Holland won’t have to risk losing Svechnikov on waivers in order to keep overpriced guys like Justin Abdelkader and Darren Helm on the roster (along with whatever old veteran he will inevitably sign this offseason).

Around the League

Should NHL playoff teams pick their opponents? | ESPN

It would certainly make things a little more interesting.