The Red Wings activated Chase Stillman and Carter Bear from injured non-roster status today and assigned both to the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins.
Stillman's assignment comes right after he cleared waivers, according to Elliotte Friedman.
Bear heads to Grand Rapids as well, giving both players a path to game action after opening the season on the injured list.
It's like getting your car back from the shop and parking it at your cousin's place. It runs again, but you're not driving it yet.
Getting them healthy and playing is the right move. But neither assignment helps Detroit with the problem that actually matters right now.
The Red Wings have scored 7 goals in three games and sit 27th in the league standings.
They opened the season by getting held scoreless in a 2-0 loss to the Rangers.
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McLellan is already juggling a crowded injury list. Marco Kasper is on IR until at least Oct 20, and J.T. Compher is out until at least Oct 13.
Mason Appleton is also day-to-day, which leaves the forward group thin heading into a back-to-back.
Detroit hosts Seattle tonight and visits Montreal on Saturday.
Dylan Larkin has dressed for just one game, and Friedman's comments about Larkin and Montreal will follow the team into that building.
Alex DeBrincat leads the way with 4 points, and Viktor Arvidsson has chipped in 2 power-play goals.
Justin Faulk has added a game-winner from the back end, the kind of secondary push Detroit needs more of.
Lucas Raymond is still looking for his first goal on an $8,075,000 cap hit.
John Gibson sits at a .903 save percentage, so the crease is mostly holding up its end.
Does Stillman or Bear force his way back up before the injured forwards return?
After Montreal, the Red Wings come home for New Jersey on Tuesday and Philadelphia on Thursday, then San Jose on Saturday.
For now, the answers have to come from the players already in the room, and the schedule isn't giving them much time to find any.
Should the Red Wings call up Carter Bear before the injured forwards return?
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