The Detroit Red Wings are coming off an enormous win over the Connor Bedard-less Chicago Blackhawks. Despite Chicago being without Bedard, Detroit earned its victory because it continues to cement itself within the Atlantic Division playoff picture. On Sunday night, they made a move that might give them a little bit of goal-scoring depth ahead of their next game.
The Red Wings have recalled forward John Leonard from the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins, the team announced on Sunday night. In a corresponding move, veteran defenseman Erik Gustafsson has been reassigned to Grand Rapids. Gustafsson returns to Grand Rapids after a temporary recall under emergency conditions on December 11.
Leonard has been across the block a bit in his skilled profession. He’s a former sixth-round pick of the San Jose Sharks within the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut with San Jose in the course of the COVID-shortened 2020-21 campaign, scoring three goals and 13 points in 44 games.
Since then, he has only played 26 NHL games, with little impact. Nevertheless, he has grow to be one in every of the AHL’s best scoring forwards over the previous few seasons. In 2024-25, he scored a profession high 36 goals for the Charlotte Checkers, who’re affiliated with the Florida Panthers. Leonard signed with Grand Rapids in the course of the summer.
His addition to the Griffins has been a large one. Grand Rapids is way and away the very best team within the AHL this season. In actual fact, they’ve lost just twice this yr, owning a record of 22-1-0-1 up to now. Leonard, as mentioned, leads the league with 19 goals in 20 games. He’s third within the league with 29 points, as well.
It’s unlikely Leonard will provide this level of play for the Red Wings on the NHL level. Nevertheless, it’s actually hard to argue that he hasn’t a minimum of earned a glance. With Mason Appleton hitting injured reserve, Detroit needed an additional forward. Leonard is primed to make his team debut on Tuesday night against the Recent York Islanders.