The Detroit Red Wings recently sent Nate Danielson back to Grand Rapids, and it couldn't have been a better move. They called up John Leonard, a seasoned veteran who returned to the lineup on Monday prior to the Red Wings' win over the Ottawa Senators.
With Leonard in the lineup, the Wings are 6-2, and the veteran presence he gives in the bottom six is what the Wings need more of if they are serious about making a playoff run. Players like Nate Danielson (28 games) and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard (9 games) are the future. But neither one of them will help the Wings punch their ticket into the playoffs.