Red Wings Call Up Three in Preparation for Camp

The Detroit Red Wings announced three call-ups from the Grand Rapids Griffins on Sunday as they open their training camp at Compuware Arena in Plymouth. Defensemen Brendan Smith and Brian Lashoff and forward Damien Brunner join the team.

The call-ups for Smith and Brunner are mere formalities while Lashoff’s promotion is expected to be temporary.

Smith had been taking part in informal skates with Red Wings players for the past week, since an agreement on a new CBA between the National Hockey League and the NHL Players’ Association was announced. He was formally still a member of the Griffins, however, listed as a scratch in Grand Rapids’ 3-2 overtime loss to the Peoria Rivermen on Saturday night.

With seven defensemen already on the Red Wings’ roster, Lashoff is unlikely to make the team out of camp. He’s the longest-tenured blueliner signed by the Red Wings skating with the Griffins, so he’s expected to be their first call-up in case of injury during the season.

Brunner was never actually with the Griffins but he was assigned there just before the lockout. He’s been playing with Zug of the Swiss league, sharing a line with Henrik Zetterberg.

The Red Wings’ abbreviated camp begins Sunday. All players except for Pavel Datsyuk, who remained in Russia to take part in the KHL All-Star Game, are expected to be available.