TATAR RETURNS TO GRIFFINS
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday assigned left wing Tomas Tatar (toh-MAHS tah-TAHR) to the Grand Rapids Griffins.
Tatar, 20, was recalled on Dec. 31 and made his NHL debut that night in the Red Wings’ 4-3 overtime loss to the New York Islanders, forcing the extra session with his first NHL goal at 10:18 of the third period. The 114th Griffins alumnus to play in the NHL, he averaged 10:16 in ice time over five appearances with Detroit, registering four shots and an even rating.
Despite missing Grand Rapids’ last five games, Tatar remains the Griffins’ leading scorer with 29 points (9-20—29) in 35 contests. He also paces the club in assists, game-winning goals (two, tied), and plus-minus rating (plus-11).
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.
Tatar is expected to return to the Griffins’ lineup on Thursday when they begin a four-game Texas road swing with an 8 p.m. EST start against the San Antonio Rampage.
Tatar, 20, was recalled on Dec. 31 and made his NHL debut that night in the Red Wings’ 4-3 overtime loss to the New York Islanders, forcing the extra session with his first NHL goal at 10:18 of the third period. The 114th Griffins alumnus to play in the NHL, he averaged 10:16 in ice time over five appearances with Detroit, registering four shots and an even rating.
Despite missing Grand Rapids’ last five games, Tatar remains the Griffins’ leading scorer with 29 points (9-20—29) in 35 contests. He also paces the club in assists, game-winning goals (two, tied), and plus-minus rating (plus-11).
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.
Tatar is expected to return to the Griffins’ lineup on Thursday when they begin a four-game Texas road swing with an 8 p.m. EST start against the San Antonio Rampage.
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