DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings today recalled right wing Tomas Jurco from the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins.
A native of Kosice, Slovakia, Jurco was assigned to the Griffins on Nov. 17, amassing nine points (5-4-9) and helping the club improve to 7-8-0-1 after winning all five games he appeared in. Jurco was named the AHL’s Player of the Week on Nov. 23 after picking up a league-best seven points (3-4-7) over his first three games with the team, including a four-point performance (3-1-4) on Nov. 20 versus San Diego. The 22-year-old forward is tied for third on the Griffins in scoring despite playing in five of the team’s 16 games. Jurco has also skated in four games for the Red Wings this season, recording one assist, four penalty minutes, and two shots on goal. He has totaled 103 career NHL games over the past three seasons, notching 34 points (11-23-34), a plus-six rating and 32 penalty minutes.
Originally a second-round pick (35th overall) of the Red Wings in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Jurco has spent parts of three seasons with the Griffins since 2012-13, totaling 69 points (32-37-69), a plus-20 rating and 40 penalty minutes in 111 regular-season games while adding 21 points (13-8-21) in 32 playoff games. As an AHL rookie, Jurco won the Calder Cup with the Griffins and tied for the league’s postseason scoring lead by a rookie, with 14 points (8-6-14) in 24 contests. The championship marked Jurco’s fourth in a three-season span, as he also won the 2011 and 2012 QMJHL President’s Cup with the Saint John Sea Dogs, who advanced to also capture the CHL’s Memorial Cup in 2011. Jurco picked up 175 points (87-88-175) in 172 games with the Sea Dogs from 2009-12 and added 64 points (26-38-64) in 56 playoff games.
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More from Ansar Khan
Blashill said Jurco recalled from Grand Rapids. Will play tomorrow. Didn’t reveal who he will replace.
— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) November 28, 2015
Jurco’s stint in Grand Rapids made him eligible to play the Griffins’ game tonight and then they were to be off through this coming Tuesday, which marked the end of the two-weeks during which Jurco was eligible to stay in Grand Rapids. His early recall was specifically because they wanted him to play on Sunday.
As a reminder, a player on a conditioning stint continues to take up a roster spot and cap space on the team’s roster, so no other moves were necessary to make room for Jurco to rejoin the Red Wings. While we don’t know who he’ll replace, it’s nice to learn that his stint in Grand Rapids earned him a spot in the lineup right off the bat.
In other digger reports, we’ve also learned that Jakub Kindl will play against Florida and Petr Mrazek will get the start.
