On Wednesday night, the Detroit Red Wings announced an emergency call up of forwards Sheldon Dries, John Leonard and Eduards Tralmaks.
Recent injuries to captain Dylan Larkin and Andrew Copp have forced the Red Wings to search for outside help as they try to chase down a playoff spot. The Atlantic division is the most competitive division in the NHL, so they'll need all the help they can get to make an impact.
What each Griffins call-up brings to the table
Sheldon Dries: A steady, solid defensive forward
The Red Wings and Dries agreed to a two-year, two-way contract extension on February 1st, keeping the 31-year-old center in the organization for the foreseeable future. Throughout his nine-year career, Dries has skated in 122 games with both the Colorado Avalanche and Vancouver Canucks. During that time, Dries posted 16 goals and 10 assists for 26 points.
Through 48 games this season with the Grand Rapids Griffins, Dries is tied for second among Griffins in scoring with 20 goals and 17 assists for 37 points. A reliable forward, Dries will be tasked with helping keep the puck out of the Red Wings’ net in a bottom-six forward role until one of Copp or Larkin returns.
John Leonard: A little even-strength scoring
Leonard impressed many Red Wings fans when he made his debut with the club earlier in the season. In nine games, Leonard recorded two goals and two assists. During that time, he was relentless in his attempt to retrieve loose pucks. Leonard scored in back-to-back games on December 20th and 21st. Both goals were during 5-on-5 play. The Red Wings have struggled with even-strength scoring this season, so an infusion from Leonard, no matter how small, could go a long way.
Through 34 games with the Griffins, Leonard has recorded 27 goals and 14 assists, leading the team in goals and points with 41 on the season. Any offense that Leonard can bring will be a welcoming sight for Red Wings fans.
Eduards Tralmaks: A wild card with untapped potential
The 6-foot-4, 225-pound, Latvian-born forward flourished on the Olympic stage. Through four games in the 2026 Milan Corrtina Olympics, Tralmaks recorded three goals and one assist, using his physical frame to produce against some of the best competition in the world. If Tralmaks appears in a game, it will serve as his NHL debut, joining Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, Emmitt Finnie and Axel Sandin-Pellikka as players who made their NHL debut this season.
Signed on March 21, 2025, to a one-year, two-way contract, Tralmaks has spent the entirety of the 2025-26 season with the Griffins. Tralmaks has appeared in 49 games, tallying 18 goals and 10 assists with a plus-minus rating of +24. Tralmaks’ size and scoring ability, showcased at the Olympics, has the potential to pay dividends for the organization. Should he thrive in this role, he may even earn a longer look on NHL ice.