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Detroit Red Wings Waive Defenseman Alexey Marchenko

By Evan Stambaugh

Jan 10, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; Detroit Red Wings defenseman Alexey Marchenko (53) with the puck during the first period against the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 10, 2017; Chicago, IL, USA; Detroit Red Wings defenseman Alexey Marchenko (53) with the puck during the first period against the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /
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In order to make room for Brendan Smith, the Detroit Red Wings have waived defenseman Alexey Marchenko.

Today the Detroit Red Wings put defenseman Alexey Marchenko on waivers, according to Ansar Khan. Brendan Smith is returning from injury, so something had to give.

Marchenko had been a healthy scratch the past four games. The last game he appeared in was on January 20 against the Buffalo Sabres. He only played in 30 contests this season, missing time due to an injury as well as healthy scratches.

The Russian defenseman potted two goals and accumulated nine assists over 66 games last season, but accumulated six assists and zero goals over 30 games this season. Like Drew Miller, who was recently waived as well, much of Marchenko’s role involved penalty killing.

With Smitty’s return, there’s no room left on the roster for an additional defenseman. Nick Jensen has played well since being recalled, and Ryan Sproul, although a healthy scratch as of late, possesses better offensive instincts. With the rest of the Wings’ defense clearly not going anywhere, Marchenko was the odd man out.

Marchenko is a big-bodied 25-year-old, so it’s very likely that another team will claim him before tomorrow. If he goes unclaimed, however, he will be sent down to the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Elsewhere Around Hockeytown

  • Jimmy Howard returned to practice on Monday and is slated to make a rehab start for the Grand Rapids Griffins tomorrow night. The Griffins will play the Milwaukee Admirals at Van Andel Arena. I remember my first few Griffins games, and Howard was the team’s starting goalie at that time. I think Niklas Kronwall and ex-Red Wings Valtteri Filppula and Jiri Hudler were on that team, too. Good times.
  • The Red Wings power play is still awful. They surrendered two short-handed goals in Tuesday night’s loss to the New Jersey Devils, which was enough for Jeff Blashill to, at least temporarily, kick Gus Nyquist and Anthony Mantha off the power play unit. I get that Blashill’s trying to send a message, but now Riley Sheahan is in. You know, the Riley Sheahan who still hasn’t scored a goal yet this season. Maybe this is his chance to break through. I don’t know. Nothing has sparked Detroit’s pitiful power play, so I guess it doesn’t matter who’s out there or who’s not.
  • The Wings play a game tonight, in case you forgot. They welcome the New York Islanders to town, who are suddenly playing very well after firing head coach Jack Capuano. Puck drop is at 7:30pm EST. Petr Mrazek will start in net tonight.
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