Detroit Red Wings: Veleno to Junior and Martin Frk Running out of Time
By Bob Heyrman
The Detroit Red Wings have indeed sent Joe Veleno back to junior. Martin Frk has been hampered by injuries much of training camp and all of the preseason until now, but is it too late?
Martin Frk is a forward the Detroit Red Wings used sparingly last season. Frk is not precisely Jeff Blashill’s favorite forward. Frk found himself a power play point man for the Red Wings last season.
Frk played last season as the Detroit Red Wings 12th forward. Martin Frk averaged 10:17 minutes of ice-time a night for the Jeff Blashill Red Wings last season. Martin Frk scored 11 goals and added 14 assists in 68 contests last season. Frk played about half of his minutes on the power-play and recorded 9 of his 25 points with the man advantage.
We had high hopes for Martin Frk last season; he was coming off of back to back 27 goal seasons for the Grand Rapids Griffins. Jeff Blashill did not trust Frk at all; he was a minus 14 on the season.
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Martin Frk has that right-handed blast from the point or the circle, as he waits to tee up a one-timer with the man advantage. Control hasn’t been Frk’s strong suit if he can find a way to direct more of those blasts on goal it would translate to more goals.
Is it too late for Frk to make the Detroit Red Wings? I wouldn’t say too late but I believe Evgeny Svechnikov has surpassed Frk as of today for a final spot on the everyday roster. Martin Frk has been hampered with an oblique injury early on in training camp. It is a terrible time to be injured, especially if you’re not already an established regular.
The Detroit Red Wings have a lot of youthful forwards pushing for a job, and Martin Frk will have about three preseason contests to evacuate Jeff Blashill’s doghouse. Martin Frk signed a one-year deal this summer for 1.05 million. Martin Frk would need to be placed on waivers to be sent to Grand Rapids if the Red Wings choose that route. Martin Frk is expected to make his preseason debut tomorrow or Wednesday.
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Joe Veleno as expected was reassigned to the Drummondville Voltigeurs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. We will be tracking Joe Veleno’s progress throughout the season. Expect Veleno to push hard for a roster spot at this time next season. Veleno will be the Michael Rasmussen of next summer. Michael Rasmussen was a fringe cut last season; this season big Ras is not going back to Junior.