Red Wings Reassign Veteran Forward Sheldon Dries to Grand Rapids
The Detroit Red Wings have reassigned forward Sheldon Dries to the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins, sending a steady veteran presence back to a team where he’s been making a significant impact all season.
At 31 years old, Dries is no stranger to the grind of the AHL, and this season he’s been one of the Griffins’ most consistent contributors. Through 32 games, he’s tallied 14 goals and 14 assists, tying for third on the team in both categories.
His 28 total points rank second on the roster, and he’s been a plus-14 on the ice - a mark that speaks to his two-way reliability. Whether it's on the power play, where he’s notched four goals, or shorthanded, where he’s chipped in one, Dries has found ways to impact the game in all situations.
He’s also got a pair of game-winners to his name and is firing at a 16.9% clip on 83 shots - good for fourth-best shooting percentage on the team.
This isn’t unfamiliar territory for Dries, who spent all of last season with Grand Rapids. In 2024-25, he posted 40 points (25 goals, 15 assists) across 65 games while adding two points in three Calder Cup Playoff appearances. His scoring touch and veteran poise have made him a go-to option for the Griffins, especially in key moments.
Dries’ pro journey began in 2017 when he signed with the AHL’s Texas Stars as an undrafted free agent. Since then, he’s carved out a respectable career, bouncing between the AHL and NHL while consistently producing at the minor league level.
In the NHL, he’s suited up for 122 games with the Colorado Avalanche and Vancouver Canucks, recording 26 points and logging 59 penalty minutes. But it’s in the AHL where he’s really made his mark - 272 points in 371 games, along with a plus-41 rating and 266 penalty minutes, spread across stints with the Stars, Colorado Eagles, Abbotsford Canucks, and now the Griffins.
A Michigan native, Dries has deep roots in the state. He played his college hockey at Western Michigan University from 2013 to 2017, captaining the Broncos for three of those four seasons.
His leadership and production were a constant - 84 points in 148 games - and he earned NCHC Second All-Star Team honors as a senior. Before that, he helped lead the Green Bay Gamblers to a Clark Cup title in 2012 and represented Team USA with distinction at the World Junior A Challenge the same year, where he helped bring home gold.
Dries may not be the flashiest name on the roster, but he’s the kind of player every organization values - experienced, reliable, and always ready to contribute. His return to Grand Rapids strengthens a Griffins lineup that’s in the thick of the AHL season, and if history is any indication, Dries will continue to be a difference-maker on and off the ice.