Red Wings make roster swap ahead of third game of season

Per a team announcement, the Detroit Red Wings have recalled forward Austin Czarnik, while sending down forward Zach Aston-Reese to their AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins. Aston-Reese was recently recalled by the team in preparation for Saturday night’s win against the Tampa Bay Lightning but ultimately did not dress.

Based on the severity of forward Robby Fabbri’s undisclosed injury, this may not be the last time that Detroit cycles through depth forwards over the coming days. Even if Czarnik does not stay with Detroit for long, the Red Wings also have forward depth such as Jonatan Berggren, Elmer Soderblom, and Taro Hirose who could see more NHL minutes in the future.

Playing on the last season of a two-year, $1.525M contract signed with Detroit before the 2022-23 season, Czarnik has spent much of his time as a part of the Griffins during his stay with the Red Wings organization. In 43 games played last year in Grand Rapids, Czarnik would chip in 14 goals and 23 assists, as well as getting off to a hot start this season scoring two goals and one assists in the team’s first two games.

Aston-Reese, on the other hand, is much newer to the Red Wings organization, signing a one-year, $775K contract only a week ago. He did go scoreless in his first career game with the Griffins but could be a solid bottom-six player for Detroit throughout much of the season. Playing in a similar role last year with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Aston-Reese would chip in 10 goals and four assists in 77 games played.