It was obvious that good news was on the horizon after the Red Wings announced that Zach Aston-Reese and Jonatan Berggren were being assigned back to the Grand Rapids Griffins. The Red Wings have been playing without four key players. All of which play on offense. That forced Steve Yzerman to call-up three players from the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins. Berggren, Aston-Reese, and Austin Czarnik all made their way back up to the NHL, but now, Czarnik is the only one who remains. That’s because two of the four missing pieces are coming back after a stint on the injured list.
Red Wings and Tigers reporter Daniella Bruce shared the news from Derek Lalonde that Klim Kostin will play tomorrow and that they are confident J.T. Compher will also play tomorrow against the Philadelphia Flyers.
This is big news for Detroit, Compher is a key contributor for the Wings’ offensive attack, and his absence has been felt, especially with Dylan Larkin and David Perron being out as well. No doubt about it, Klim Kostin is also a key piece. Not everyone will agree with that, but even though his numbers haven’t been impressive, he is the most physical player on the team by far, and they need his style of play back in the lineup. Should allow the Wings to have a little bit more intensity throughout the games. The game the Red Wings missed him the most was when they played the Ottawa Senators. The game could have gone a lot of different ways with Kostin playing. Regardless of his goals and assists, it’s always nice having a healthy Klim Kostin playing for your squad.
J.T Compher by the Numbers
Compher signed a five-year deal with the Red Wings this off-season. He came from one of the Wings’ biggest rivals, the Colorado Avalanche. This is the first season not in an Avalanche jersey for Compher.
Compher has two goals and an assist in his last five games. Throughout the season, Compher has racked up six goals on 31 shots on goal and 13 assists for 19 points.
Klim Kostin by the Numbers
Kostin was a first-round pick of the St. Louis Blues in 2017. This off-season, Steve Yzerman completed a trade that sent Kostin to Detroit to join a bunch of other former Blues.
St. Louis was Kostin’s home for three years before joining the Edmonton Oilers. Kostin set a ton of career highs with the Oilers, including games played (57) and reaching double-digit goals for the first time in his career with 11.
Kostin has two goals and an assist this season for only three points, but he has racked up 27 penalty minutes in the Red Wings’ enforcer role.
ITR 43: It's Winning Time – Inside The Rink
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