Gemel Smith should have booked a return ticket: He came to the Detroit Red Wings from the same team that claimed him when the Wings waived him.
The Wings exposed Smith Friday because a couple injured players are expected to be available when their schedule resumes Wednesday, and that created a roster crunch. Smith, claimed Jan. 19 after being waived by the Lightning, made his season debut Feb. 2. He had one assist and a minus-2 rating in three games.
On Friday, coach Jeff Blashill described the decision to waive Smith as a matter of flexibility, and sounded hopeful Smith would clear and stay in the system.