Red Wings Lose Pulkkinen and Frk on Waivers

The Red Wings' Andreas Athanasiou made the team, Anthony Mantha was sent to Grand Rapids, and two promising young forwards are lost to other teams in a numbers game.

The Red Wings waived 24 year old Teemu Pulkkinen, and he was picked up by the Minnesota Wild today.   The Red Wings lost another forward on Monday, as Martin Frk was picked up by the  Carolina Hurricanes on waivers.  Pulkkinen only makes $812 thousand dollars a year, so it's no surprise that at least one of 27 teams found a spot for him.   The hard-shooting forward had shoulder surgery but has bounced back ahead of schedule.   The Detroit News writes that Coach Jeff Blashill says he likes Pulkkinen a lot, but that his failure to put up scoring numbers was a concern.

Several other Wings cleared waivers, including defensemen Nick Jensen and Brain Lashoff and forwards Eric Tangradi and Mitch Callahan.  All will play in Grand Rapids along with goalie Jared Coreau and forwards Tyler Bertuzzi and Anthony Mantha.   NHL teams have to finalize their rosters by 5pm today.    The Red Wings start the regular season Thursday in Tampa.