In an expected move, Detroit assigned three players to the Grand Rapid Griffins. Forward Evgeny Svechnikov, defenseman Joe Hicketts, and goaltender Tom McCollum were assigned April 4.
While most fans would have liked to see Hicketts and Svechnikov play a few more games in the NHL this season, the expectation was always that they would return to Grand Rapids for the Calder Cup playoffs. With 5 AHL games left to play, the Griffins’ magic number to clinch a playoff berth in the very close Central division currently stands at 3.
Both Svechnikov and Hicketts have shown enough in their latest call-ups that they should be considered top contenders to make the jump to the NHL full-time next season.