Weekend Top Shelf

BRUNNSTROM DEMOTED
This morning, the team announced that Fabian Brunnstrom has been assigned to the Grand Rapids Griffins. Perhaps impressed with Chris Conner’s hustle in Friday night’s game in Buffalo and realizing that Bruno is no closer to cracking the lineup that he has been all season, the Wings decided it’d be best if he got to play some real minutes on the farm. He will be available tonight against the Chicago Wolves. With Conner’s recall to the Wings, the Griffins will be without their leading scorer for at least the duration of Detroit’s current road trip. Louis-Marc Aubry was promoted to the top line with Jamie Johnson and Goose Nyquist and had the first three-point night of his professional career last night. One would assume that Brunnstrom will occupy the other wing on the top line. Brunnstrom’s wife, Sandy, gave birth to their first child, Alexander, on Friday.

STRADER CALLING THE AVS GAME
It’ll be like old times on Sunday, as the Wings take on the Avalanche in Denver. Following Friday’s unfortunate passing of Ken Daniels’ 96-year-old father, Marvin, Mr. Daniels will head to Toronto to begin making arrangements for his family. Former Red Wings play-by-play man and current NHL on NBC/Versus announcer Dave Strader will be calling Sunday’s game, reminding us what it’s like to be six years old again. Except, hopefully, Glen Hanlon isn’t in net for Detroit.

Photo Credit: Mandi Wright, Detroit Free Press