Red Wings Call-Up Bertuzzi, Put Vanek on LTIR

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7 years ago

The Detroit Red Wings announced on Monday that Tyler Bertuzzi was called up from the Grand Rapids Griffins, with Thomas Vanek placed on long-term injured reserve to make room for him.

UPDATE: The #RedWings today recalled LW Tyler Bertuzzi from the @griffinshockey and placed LW Thomas Vanek on LTIR retroactive to Oct. 25th. pic.twitter.com/Y0xWtSbvJL

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) November 7, 2016

Vanek’s LTIR stint is back-dated to October 25th, so he’s eligible to come back late next week.

The interesting thing is that, with a player like Bertuzzi, you’d think he’d be called up so a guy like Steve Ott could sit. Ott’s signing last summer essentially took away Bertuzzi’s spot on the fourth line. But then there’s this:

#RedWings Bertuzzi practicing on a line with Nielsen and Larkin this morning.

— Dana Wakiji (@Dwakiji) November 7, 2016

#RedWings Kronwall and Zetterberg not skating this morning.

— Dana Wakiji (@Dwakiji) November 7, 2016

If Bertuzzi was slated for the fourth line in Philadelphia tomorrow, wouldn’t he be practicing on that line while the 13th forward fills in for the missing Henrik Zetterberg? Is Bertuzzi the spare, called up just in case Zetterberg can’t go against the Flyers?

If Bertuzzi was called up as insurance, it’s really interesting that the Red Wings didn’t go with Anthony Mantha. A top-six spot opens up and they don’t go with the supposed top-six guy? I don’t know.

Jeff Blashill said maintenance day for both Henrik Zetterberg & Niklas Kronwall.

— Helene St. James (@HeleneStJames) November 7, 2016

Apparently Zetterberg will be ready to play tomorrow. In that case, Bertuzzi taking his spot in practice confuses me. I guess we’ll see tomorrow.

Update, 12:20 PM: MLive’s Ansar Khan, who still has me blocked on Twitter, says that Bertuzzi will play in a top-six role.

#RedWings Blashill indicated Bertuzzi will start on line with Nielsen and Larkin tomorrow at @NHLFlyers More …

— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) November 7, 2016

I really don’t get why they didn’t go with Mantha here and I’m confused as to what they want from him.