Michal Postava is getting his NHL opportunity at last, and the Red Wings are the team handing it to him.
Grand Rapids Griffins coach Dan Watson made that clear Wednesday night, and he did it with a smile. "I was waiting for that," he said with a grin.
"Posty will get called up [to Detroit] tomorrow. He got called up late tonight...
He'll be joining the Red Wings on their west coast trip."
That announcement put an end to the uncertainty that started earlier in the day, when the Griffins brought in backup goalie Jamie Phillips on a professional tryout. That move had people wondering what was happening with Postava. Now the picture is clear: he is headed to Detroit.
The exact reason for the call-up still isn’t known. It’s not clear whether Daniil Tarasov or John Gibson are dealing with injuries, or whether Postava’s play simply forced the issue.
His numbers certainly make the case for him. He has posted a .954 save percentage and a 1.54 goals against average, production that sits near the top of the AHL.
And this isn’t some flash in the pan. Postava is following up on a strong season last year, when he went 17-6-0 with a .937 save percentage and a 1.71 goals against average.
Watson’s reference to the Red Wings’ west coast trip is notable, too. Detroit is set to face the Vancouver Canucks on October 22, the Calgary Flames on October 24 and the Edmonton Oilers on October 26. Of those three, only the Oilers are currently in a playoff spot.
How much Postava actually plays on the trip will be Todd McLellan’s call.
For Grand Rapids, the timing works out well enough. Trey Augustine already picked up his first AHL win of the season and appears ready to take on a bigger load while Postava is away.
Still, if Postava impresses in Detroit, the Red Wings could be forced into a bigger conversation about their goaltending. If neither Gibson nor Tarasov is dealing with a long-term injury and Postava proves he belongs, the team may have to consider a trade or another move to carve out more NHL minutes for him.
That’s a difficult problem to solve, but first comes the test. Postava finally gets his shot.
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There has been plenty else to like in the early stretch as well, starting with Moritz Seiders workload. The defenseman has been piling up heavy minutes and blocking shots in recent games, enough to draw praise from coach Todd McLellan for his endurance and effort. Up front, Alex DeBrincat also reached a major personal marker with his 300th NHL goal, a reminder that Detroit is getting impact at both ends of the roster even as it keeps searching for cleaner, more complete stretches. [Read more 🡒]