From MLive’s Ansar Khan…
The Detroit Red Wings will get their first look this season at forward Evgeny Svechnikov on Thursday, when he’s expected to be in the lineup against the Vegas Golden Knights at Little Caesars Arena (7:30 p.m., Fox Sports Detroit).
The Red Wings will recall Svechnikov, their top pick in the 2015 draft (19th overall) from the Grand Rapids Griffins on Thursday.
Frans Nielsen suffered a concussion Tuesday on a hit from Boston Bruins center David Backes, who on Wednesday was suspended three games by the NHL for interference.
Svechnikov, 21, struggled earlier this season, his second in the AHL, but has played better the past 25 games, with four goals and 12 assists. Overall, he has seven goals and 15 assists in 52 games, along with 56 penalty minutes and a minus-4 rating.
And the Free Press’s Helene St. James:
An injury to Detroit Red Wings forward Frans Nielsen spells opportunity for prospect Evgeny Svechnikov.
Svechnikov will play Thursday when the Wings host the Vegas Golden Knights at Little Caesars Arena. Nielsen will miss that game and Friday’s at Columbus after sustaining an upper-body injury Tuesday when he was hit by Boston’s David Backes in a 6-5 overtime loss at TD Garden.
The NHL department of player safety announced a three-game suspension for Backes Wednesday afternoon.
Nielsen was slow to get up and underwent concussion protocol testing during first intermission. He will be reassessed Monday. He is one of the Wings’ most versatile forwards, averaging around 16 minutes per game and playing both special teams.
Even if Nielsen is able to play Monday at San Jose — or later in the California-Colorado trip — Svechnikov will be staying past Nielsen’s return.
The Wings are eager to get a look at their 2015 first-round pick, who has rallied from a challenging first half with the Grand Rapids Griffins to reach seven goals and 15 assists in 52 games.
Prospect is being told ahead of time hes going to play, not sit.
Hes told he will stick around for a bit regardless of his inevitable mistakes.
Managements happy he is coming….
I like this protocol, so far.
Coaches turn now(cringe)
Id like to see them keep trying to play Athanasiou at center
Khan points out that Svechnikov had a “challenging” first half—early-on, wasn’t he working his way back from an injury?
Yes, and unfortunately, it was being used by some fans as a reason to say that he was a bust.