The Detroit Red Wings have placed defenseman Jonathan Ericsson on waivers amid a flurry of roster moves ahead of their game against the Vancouver Canucks. If no team claims the 35-year-old defenseman, he will be assigned to the team’s AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids.
Ericsson has played his entire career with the Red Wings, totalling 27 goals and 98 points in 662 games. If Ericsson clears waivers, the Red Wings will get over $1 million in salary-cap relief. This may not be the last time we see Ericsson on an NHL roster, but if it is, the 35-year-old has carved out a nice NHL career considering the fact that he was the last overall pick in the 2002 NHL draft.
Ericsson said he was excited about getting close to rejoining the team after a 2018-19 season that saw him limited to playing in only 52 games because of hip and back injuries. It is unfortunate that the league has passed by the 6-foot-4, 218-pound defenseman.
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Alex Biega, who was acquired from the Vancouver Canucks on October 7th for left-winger Alex Pope, has been assigned to Grand Rapids. The 31-year-old scored just four goals and 36 points in his four seasons with the Canucks, in which time he split Vancouver and their AHL affiliate, the Utica Comets.
The main reason for making these roster moves was to make room on the Red Wings’ roster for forward Evgeny Svechnikov, who was also called up from Grand Rapids on September 28th, but hat not played in any games for the Red Wings this season. Time will tell if he actually sees the ice for the Red Wings this season, one in which the Red Wings will not likely compete for a playoff spot as they continue to rebuild.
