PUBLICATION
Vincent Carbonneau
March 26, 2026Â Â (4:13 PM)
Photo credit: Screenshot from X
The Detroit Red Wings just made a move that has fans talking, officially assigning forward Sheldon Dries to the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins.
It is not a massive surprise, but the timing is definitely interesting given the current state of the roster.
With Michael Rasmussen still not reported as skating, this decision leaves the big club a bit thin down the middle.
Derek Lalonde is now looking at a center rotation featuring Dylan Larkin, J.T. Compher, and Andrew Copp.
Unless Steve Yzerman decides to move Marco Kasper back up, the depth is looking pretty lean for the next stretch.
Dries has been a reliable soldier, but it seems the brass wants him getting top minutes in the AHL instead of riding the pine.
A late-season roster move sparks questions as Detroit trims its center depth and takes a calculated risk in the playoff race.
The Griffins are certainly happy to have him back in the lineup to help with their own playoff push.
Let’s be real, relying on just three established centers when you are fighting for a wild card spot is playing with fire.
If Larkin or Compher takes a hard hit tomorrow, the Red Wings are going to be scrambling for answers.
Moving Dries back to Grand Rapids signals that the management might have another move up their sleeve or they really trust the kids.
Fans in Hockeytown are already buzzing about whether this opens a door for a more permanent call-up for a high-end prospect.
We know the Atlantic Division is a gauntlet, and every roster move at this time of year is magnified under the microscope.
The next few games will show if the Wings can survive this thin ice or if they’ll regret letting Dries head down 96 West.
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