Multitude of Roster Moves Cuts Red Wings' Roster to 41

What began as a training camp roster of 68 players is now a crew of just 41 a few weeks later.

With the final game of the Red Wings’ preseason slated for Saturday night in Toronto, Detroit made a number of roster moves ahead of the game. The team announced these via X (formerly Twitter) and in a press release.

The moves are as follows:

– Forward Isaac Ratcliffe was released from his professional tryout
– Forwards Alexandre Doucet, Amadeus Lombardi and Jakub Rychlovský were sent to the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins
– Forward Tim Gettinger and defenseman Shai Buium were designated as injured non-roster players, with teammate Ondřej Becher following suit at the AHL level
– AHL-signed forwards Hunter Johannes and Dominik Shine, plus defenseman Josiah Didier were released from PTOs that allowed them to participate in Red Wings training camp
– Griffins signees in forwards Carson Bantle and Gabriel Seger, as well as goaltender Jan Bednar, were assigned to Toledo. Defenseman Chaz Reddekopp, who did not attend Red Wings training camp, was also sent to Toledo.
– Goaltender Gage Alexander was sent to the ECHL affiliate Toledo Walleye

[Get Caught Up: Red Wings-Maple Leafs Lineups & Where to Watch]

Now, Detroit has to make decisions about its remaining players, trimming 18 players from the roster before Monday’s 5 p.m. deadline for opening night rosters. There are 21 forwards, 14 defensemen and six goaltenders on the roster, counting goaltender Jack Campbell who entered the NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program Friday afternoon.

There are still some intriguing decisions for the Red Wings to make about the roster.

Forwards Marco Kasper, Nate Danielson and Carter Mazur all pushed for roster spots; Kasper in particular has put Detroit in a squeeze to decide whether to make room for him at the NHL level or send him down to Grand Rapids.

There’s also the decision of what to do with Austin Watson, the scrappy forward brought in on a PTO for added toughness. Watson made his case Friday when he got into a fight with two Ottawa players while protecting star blueliner Moritz Seider. Coaches’ and teammates’ loved Watson’s dust-up, but the question is whether that’s worth giving him a full NHL contract.

2024 first round pick Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, a forward, could return to Swedish club Skelleftea after playing in Saturday night’s final preseason game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was also in consideration to play games in the AHL this season, which Detroit and the player will have to determine.

On a macroscopic scale, the Red Wings will also have to decide whether they want to split the roster between an expected 12 forwards, eight defensemen and three goaltenders, or whether a different distribution would be more beneficial. This could determine where some depth players start the season, as well as who might go on waivers.

Detroit’s final preseason game on the road against Toronto will begin at 7 p.m. More information on lineups and where to watch can be found here.