Red Wings get bad news on veteran forward amid hunt for wild-card spot

The Detroit Red Wings announced that they’ve placed forward Christian Fischer on injured reserve retroactive to Dec. 23. The 26-year-old was hurt in Saturday’s game against the New Jersey Devils and will miss the next two games with the injury, making this upcoming Saturday the earliest he can return.

Fischer has dressed in 33 games and has two goals and six assists in his first season in the Motor City. It’s been a disappointing campaign so far for both Fischer and the Red Wings as both sides likely expected more when the Chicago, Illinois native was signed to a one-year deal back on July 2. Fischer had become an unrestricted free agent after he was non-tendered by the Arizona Coyotes.

In a trio of other roster moves, the Red Wings recalled three players from their AHL affiliate the Grand Rapids Griffins. Detroit has brought up forward Jonatan Berggren, center Austin Czarnik and defenseman Simon Edvinsson under emergency conditions.

Czarnik and Edvinsson were sent down just two days ago, and their recall is a paper transaction. Berggren on the other hand hasn’t played with Detroit since Dec. 14. During his most recent recall, the former second-round pick had a good showing as he posted two goals and an assist in three games, despite averaging less than 10 minutes of ice time per game. In seven games this season with Detroit, Berggren has two goals and two assists.

Detroit is back in action Wednesday night against the Minnesota Wild and currently sits three points out of a wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.