RED WINGS ASSIGN THREE TO GRIFFINS
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday assigned defenseman Joe Hicketts, forward Evgeny Svechnikov and goaltender Tom McCollum to the Grand Rapids Griffins.
Hicketts, 21, has skated in five games with the Red Wings this season, tallying three points (0-3—3), a plus-five rating and two penalty minutes while averaging 17:20 of ice time. Hicketts banked his first pro points with a pair of assists in the team’s 5-2 win against Pittsburgh on March 27. The 5-foot-8, 180-pound blueliner became the 168th Griffins alumnus to play in the NHL when he made his debut with the Red Wings on Jan. 22 at New Jersey.
In his second campaign as a pro, Hicketts has produced 10 points (3-7—10) and 32 PIM in 63 games with the Griffins this season.
A 2017 Calder Cup champion with Grand Rapids, Hicketts paced all Griffins defensemen in scoring with 23 points (7-27—34) in 73 games last season. Among the AHL’s first-year blueliners, the Kamloops, British Columbia, native placed seventh in point production and tied for third with a plus-15 rating. Among the league’s rookie defensemen, Hicketts placed second in playoff points with eight (1-7—8) while skating in all 19 contests of the Griffins’ title run.
Svechnikov, 21, has accounted for four points (2-2—4), eight PIM and 15 shots in 14 games with Detroit this season, averaging 8:49 of ice time. The 6-foot-3, 208-pound winger notched his first NHL goal on March 20 versus Philadelphia.
Detroit’s first-round draft selection, 19th overall, in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, Svechnikov became the 164th Griffins alumnus to play in the NHL when he debuted with the Red Wings last April 3 against Ottawa.
A second-year pro, Svechnikov shows 22 points (7-15—22) and 56 PIM in 52 appearances this season with the Griffins.
During his rookie campaign in 2016-17, the Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Russia, native ranked third on the Griffins in scoring with 51 points (20-31—51) in 74 games while also placing among the American Hockey League’s first-year leaders in points (4th), goals (T7th), assists (9th). Svechnikov suited up in all 19 of the team’s playoff games and added 12 points (5-7—12), third-most among the league’s rookie players, helping the Griffins win the 2017 Calder Cup. Svechnikov made his AHL debut with the Griffins during the 2016 Calder Cup Playoffs and posted one assist in two games, joining the team after two years with Cape Breton of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
McCollum, 28, served as a backup to Jimmy Howard in last night’s 5-4 overtime loss at Columbus.
Detroit’s first choice, 30th overall, in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, McCollum became the 117th Griffins alumnus to play in the NHL when he made his debut with the Red Wings on March 30, 2011 at St. Louis. Appearing in three career games with Detroit, he shows a 2.96 goals against average and a 1-0-0 record.
McCollum posts an 18-13-3 record, a 2.72 GAA, a 0.909 save percentage and one shutout in 34 appearances with the Griffins this season. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound netminder is on a six-game winning streak, one shy of equaling his career high. Since Jared Coreau was recalled by Detroit on Feb. 20, McCollum posts a 10-5 record, a 2.18 GAA, a 0.923 save percentage and one shutout in 15 appearances.
In his eighth season with the Griffins, McCollum is the franchise’s all-time leader in goaltender wins, games played, minutes and saves, while owning a 121-104-19 record, a 2.78 GAA and eight shutouts in 260 career appearances with the club since 2009. A 2013 Calder Cup champion with Grand Rapids, McCollum adds a 12-9 record and a 2.53 GAA in 23 Calder Cup Playoff games.
A ninth-year professional, McCollum shows an all-time AHL mark of 133-106-23 alongside a 2.73 GAA, a 0.907 save percentage and nine shutouts in 278 appearances.
The Griffins continue their push for the playoffs on Friday and Saturday when they travel to take on the Pacific Division-leading Tucson Roadrunners. Both games will start at 10:05 p.m. EDT.
