Red Wings recall Witkowski, Hicketts, Hronek; assign Kronwall, Ericsson to IR

By @StefanKubus – 

On Tuesday, the Red Wings assigned Filip Hronek, Joe Hicketts and Luke Witkowski to Grand Rapids.

But with the health of several defensemen up in the air, it was expected they’d be recalled. And on Wednesday, the Wings made it official as the trio will join the Wings as they head into their home and season opener on Thursday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

In a corresponding move, the Wings placed defensemen Niklas Kronwall and Jonathan Ericsson on injured reserve. Wings coach Jeff Blashill told the media that Trevor Daley would be good to go, while Mike Green (virus) remains out for at least a month, as he was placed on IR on Monday.

Daley, Danny DeKeyser, Nick Jensen and Dennis Cholowski have already been penciled in on defense, so a mix of Hronek, Hicketts, Witkowski or Libor Sulak will fill out the final two spots on Thursday night.