Kindl Clears Waivers

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Jakub Kindl cleared waivers on Sunday, clearing the way for him to be assigned to the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League.

Kindl, 28, was Detroit’s first-round draft pick (19th overall) in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. In 271 career NHL games for the Red Wings he’s scored 16 goals and 51 asists for 67 points.

In 23 games this season, Kindl has two goals and three assists.

Kindl has played 237 career games in the AHL, all with Grand Rapids. He most recently scored one goal during a two-game conditioning stint last season.

Kindl became expendible with the emergence of Detroit rookie defenseman Alexey Marchenko, who seemingly leapfrogged Kindl and Brendan Smith on the Red Wings’ depth chart.

With Kindl in Grand Rapids, $950,000 of his $2.4 million salary cap hit will come off the Red Wings’ books. Reportedly the team will need to make another move to clear space under an internal salary cap of $66 million.