Traverse City — Xavier Ouellet and Ryan Sproul are two young defensemen who’ve come to camp the past three seasons with the intent of making the Red Wings roster.
But crowded rosters on defense pushed both back to Grand Rapids.
This season one, or both, could make the final roster given both are out of minor league options. If they were sent back to the Griffins, they’d have to be exposed to waivers and another team could claim them.
Neither player is thinking too much about those types of situations. They’re intent on finally making the Red Wings.