As the NHL season hits its stride and the Olympic break looms just a couple of weeks away, the Detroit Red Wings are making subtle but telling roster moves-ones that reflect the realities of a playoff-caliber team navigating a crowded Atlantic Division and a deep farm system.
In recent weeks, Detroit has shuffled a few names between the NHL and AHL, including a brief call-up and return of forward John Leonard. Leonard, who impressed in December with four points in seven NHL games after leading the AHL in scoring early in the season, was sent back to Grand Rapids. Now, the Red Wings have brought up defenseman Erik Gustafsson and forward Sheldon Dries, while rookie center Nate Danielson heads to the Griffins.
Let’s start with Gustafsson. Signed last year to help fill the offensive gap left by Shayne Gostisbehere’s departure, the veteran defenseman struggled to find his footing in Detroit.
He logged 60 games last season and finished with 18 points-not exactly what the team had hoped for from a blue-liner with his puck-moving pedigree. Then came training camp, where 19-year-old Axel Sandin-Pellikka forced the coaching staff’s hand with a standout preseason.
That performance pushed Gustafsson out of the NHL picture and into Grand Rapids to start the year.
But Gustafsson hasn’t sulked. He’s been producing at nearly a point-per-game pace in the AHL, showing flashes of the offensive instincts that once made him a 30-point defenseman with the Rangers. With Sandin-Pellikka showing some inconsistency in recent games-a natural part of any young defenseman's learning curve-Gustafsson gives Detroit a more stable, veteran option on the back end as they push through the heart of the season.
Up front, Dries is a name that might fly under the radar, but he brings something this team could use: grit, experience, and a reliable bottom-six presence. The Macomb native has logged over 100 NHL games and has been a steady contributor for the Griffins, tallying 25 points in 26 games this season after a 40-point campaign last year.
His call-up isn’t flashy, but it makes sense. Danielson, despite his upside, is still learning the pace and physicality of the NHL.
In a division as tight as the Atlantic, the margin for error is razor-thin, and teams like Detroit can’t afford to let young players figure things out on the fly. Dries, with his two-way game and veteran savvy, gives the Red Wings a more NHL-ready option right now.
Meanwhile, Danielson’s reassignment isn’t a knock on his long-term potential. It’s a reflection of Detroit’s current situation: they’re in a playoff race, and development sometimes has to take a back seat to immediate needs. Back in Grand Rapids, he’ll get top-line minutes and continue to grow his game without the pressure of nightly NHL matchups.
What’s becoming increasingly clear is that the Red Wings have a bit of a good problem on their hands: a logjam of capable players in Grand Rapids. Between prospects pushing for NHL time and veterans like Gustafsson and Dries showing they still have something to offer, there’s real depth brewing in the organization.
That surplus could be a valuable asset as the trade deadline approaches. Whether it leads to small moves-like flipping a depth piece for a draft pick-or internal promotions that stick, Detroit is positioning itself to be flexible.
And flexibility is key in a season like this. With the Olympic break on the horizon and the playoff picture tightening, every roster decision matters just a little more.
The Red Wings aren’t making headline-grabbing trades-at least not yet-but these smaller moves are the kind that can quietly shape a team’s trajectory down the stretch. Whether Gustafsson and Dries are short-term stopgaps or long-term contributors remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure: Detroit is keeping its options open, and that’s exactly what smart teams do this time of year.