GRAND RAPIDS - The injuries and uncertainly on the Detroit Red Wings' defense has created a trickle-down effect that will impact the Grand Rapids Griffins when they open the season Friday.
Following Wednesday's moves, four defensemen with two-way contracts will be with the Red Wings for their season opener Thursday in Dennis Chowlowski, Libor Sulak, Joe Hicketts and Filip Hronek.
That's two more than most projected, but injuries to Mike Green, Jonathan Ericsson and Niklas Kronwall changed that. And Trevor Daley has been hampered, too, though he plans to play.
"We knew there were going to opportunities for young defenseman on the back end, for sure, but for four guys to make the team out of camp, we weren't expecting that by any means," Griffins coach Ben Simon said.