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TATAR JOINS MURSAK IN DETROIT

Dec 31, 2010
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Detroit Red Wings on Friday recalled left wing Tomas Tatar (toh-MAHS tah-TAHR) from the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Tatar, 20, will be available to make his NHL debut tonight when the Red Wings host the New York Islanders at 7 p.m. He would become the second 2010-11 Griffin and the third Grand Rapids alumnus overall to make his NHL debut this week, joining Detroit's Jan Mursak (Griffins NHL alumnus No. 112 on Monday at Colorado) and the Nashville Predators’ Chris Mueller (No. 113 on Tuesday vs. Dallas).

The Griffins’ leading scorer with 29 points (9-20—29) in 35 games, Tatar also paces the club in assists and game-winning goals (two, tied) while tying for second with a plus-11 rating.

As the AHL’s youngest player last season, he became the first Detroit draft pick to begin the season with the Griffins in the same year he was drafted (Detroit’s second pick, 60th overall, in 2009). Tatar led Grand Rapids’ rookies in scoring with 32 points (16-16—32) in 58 games, and he also represented his native Slovakia at both the World Junior Championship in Canada and the World Championship in Germany.

The Griffins will host the Toronto Marlies tonight for their 14th annual New Year’s Eve bash at the special time of 6 p.m. After bidding farewell to 2010, they’ll celebrate the arrival of 2011 on Saturday with their inaugural New Year’s Day game against Peoria at 7 p.m., one of 11 games on the AHL’s Jan. 1 docket.