Detroit Red Wings: It feels like now or never for Matt Puempel

With Detroit Red Wings forward Anthony Mantha on the shelf for an estimated 4-6 weeks after having surgery to repair a broken hand. It seemed to be the right time to call up forward Matt Puempel.

The Detroit Red Wings did make a phone call down to the Grand Rapids Griffins for a forward but his name wasn’t Matt Puempel.  I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to call up the 25-year-old scoring winger from the Griffins to fill in for the ailing Anthony Mantha. I know, never say never but it certainly feels that way with Puempel.

The Wings are currently missing Darren Helm and Anthony Mantha, both are expected to be out for quite some time.  The pair both regularly flank stand-out center, Dylan Larkin.  The injuries have forced the Detroit Red Wings head coach to shuffle his deck and mix up the forward lines.

They’ve elected to roll Justin Abdelkader with Larkin and Gustav Nyquist.  That isn’t horrible, although Abby is better suited on say, the third line.  Gus had built tremendous chemistry with Athanasiou and Nielsen skating as the second unit over the last couple of weeks.  The Mantha injury throws a curveball into the lineup.

More from Octopus Thrower

• Detroit Red Wings forward Carter Mazur injured in Prospect Tournament
• Detroit Red Wings: What does Klim Kostin’s role look like in 2023-24?
• Detroit Red Wings: 3 players who will make biggest impact in first year
• The Detroit Red Wings need Andrew Copp to start fast in 2023-24
• Detroit Red Wings had a busy off-season; but was it enough?

I would rather the Detroit Red Wings take a look at Michael Rasmussen up with Larkin and Nyquist and putting Abby with Glendening and de La Rose making more of a checking unit as the third line. I have no issue with Vanek being elevated to play with AA and Neilsen in fact, it may get the veteran forward going offensively.

It is a foregone conclusion Martin Frk won’t be anything more than a fourth line, power play specialist player.  That leaves Wade Megan and Christoffer Ehn to skate with Frk on the last line.

I think this is the perfect opportunity to call forward Matt Puempel up.  Puempel would be able to handle himself on the fourth line in favor of Ehn.  Puempel has a much higher scoring ceiling and is talented enough to work on the second power-play unit.

The 6 foot 1 winger has a nose for the net and can provide a nice net-front presence with good enough hands to finish on the PP.  Last season in the AHL Puempel knocked in 23 goals, notched 57 points and was a plus 8 in 61 games played.  Pump has recorded 10 goals, 15 points in 79 career NHL games.

Puempel is off to a nice start again this season.  He currently sits second on the Grand Rapids Griffins with 10 goals.  He is fourth on the team with 16 points in 22 games.  He is also currently operating with a plus 5 rating.  He is due for another chance in the show, I just don’t know if the Wings feel the same way.  They seem to favor players like Ehn and Megan who can both kill penalties.

Another option could be Chris Terry who currently leads the Griffins with 14 goals and 23 points.  I wouldn’t be surprised if Terry was called up if he continues to rip it up at this pace.  If the Wings struggle to score Terry could be the next call.  He did lead the American Hockey League in scoring last season.

Just a quick note on Filip Zadina.  A lot of fans will be wondering why he isn’t being called up right now.  He is playing much better in the A of late but is still finding his way.  One issue is he is dead last on the team with a minus 8 rating.  He does have 7 goals and 15 points in 22 games with the Griffins.

Once Z cleans up some of his defensive issues he will be a new years call-up candidate. Although they have yet to make a decision yet as camp opens Dec.10,  I expect the organization will allow him to represent the Czech Republic during the World Juniors tournament.