GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Detroit Red Wings on Thursday assigned defenseman Derek Meech to the Grand Rapids Griffins for a two-week conditioning stint.

Meech, 23, has recorded six shots and averaged 9:01 in ice time during nine games with the Red Wings this season. He made his NHL debut last year in four games with the parent club, recording a plus-one rating and two penalty minutes.

Detroit’s seventh choice, 229th overall, in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, Meech ranks fifth all-time among Griffins defensemen with 63 points (16-47—63) in 224 games from 2004-07. In 2006-07, he earned a spot on the Canadian AHL All-Star team and tied for first among Grand Rapids’ blueliners with a career-high 29 points (6-23—29) in 67 games.

Meech will be available to play Friday when the Griffins travel to Hamilton to take on the Bulldogs at 7:30 p.m. Listen to the game live on Newsradio WOOD 1300 or online, or watch it live at b2livetv.com.