Wings Send Forward Wilson to Buffalo

The Detroit Red Wings announced that forward Scott Wilson was traded to the Buffalo Sabres on Monday.

UPDATE: The #RedWings have traded F Scott Wilson to the Buffalo Sabres for a fifth-round pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. pic.twitter.com/VINA1mS8VF

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 4, 2017

The move essentially makes the return from Riley Sheahan’s trade to Pittsburgh (along with a fifth round pick) a third round pick and a fifth round pick.

Unless another move is made, the Red Wings now have twelve forwards on the roster, with Luke Witkowski eligible to return from his ten-game suspension in two more games.

After a brutal weekend featuring 6-3 and 10-1 losses to the division-rival Montreal Canadiens, could this be a move to clear a roster spot?  I’m not sure calling up someone like Evgeny Svechnikov is the answer.  This is a team with a lot of issues, a lone call-up isn’t going to make that much difference.

That said, getting anything for Wilson, who probably didn’t have a long-term role in Detroit, is decent.