Game Day Updates: Red Wings vs. Kings

It’s been a newsy Monday for the Red Wings ahead of a 7:00 p.m. game against the Los Angeles Kings at Little Caesars Arena.

First, the Red Wings have signed long-time Grand Rapids Griffins forward Dominik Shine to a two-year contract and recalled him to the NHL.

These are among my favorite bits of NHL news, as Shine has been a loyal soldier for the Griffins, appearing in 462 games with the team since 2016-17. At 31 years old, he’s the kind of player every organization seeks out to fill out its AHL roster — he’s a relentless forechecker, physical presence, offensive contributor, and not afraid to drop the gloves (quite capable of punching above his weight class, as well). It’s clear if you follow anyone who’s spent time around the Griffins how highly they regard him, both as a mentor for the young players and an ambassador for the organization as an established community member who has made West Michigan his home.

It’s not just Shine cashing in those loyalty reward points, though. He’s seized a top-six role and is having a career year offensively, with 32 points in 40 games to lead the team. Barring news like this — a well-deserved call-up — he would otherwise be on pace to smash his previous career-high point total of 33 in 65 games.

The Pinckney, Mich., native is possibly in line to make his NHL debut tonight for his hometown team, as the Red Wings are down some bodies tonight. Per Max Bultman, J.T. Compher is out after the high hit he took from Tampa Bay’s Emil Lilleberg (two-minute penalty for a late, targeted headshot — NHL gonna NHL), Patrick Kane has been placed on IR (more of a formality to free up the roster space, he’s eligible to come off as early as tomorrow), and Vladimir Tarasenko is questionable due to an illness. Tyler Motte is expected to return and Michael Rasmussen has avoided injury after the cheap shot he took from Nikita Kucherov last game.

Shine may be recalled in case Tarasenko can’t go, but I don’t think they would have burned a contract (two years at that), if they didn’t intend to get Shine in a game sooner or later. Should he debut tonight, I would expect to see him in a fourth-line role, providing energy and speed on that line, but he’s certainly capable of finding the back of the net with his wrist shot and the offensive confidence he’s developed over his time in Grand Rapids.

How to Watch
Time: 7:00 p.m. EST
TV: FanDuel Sports Network Detroit Extra/NHL Network
Radio: 97.1 The Ticket

Red Wings Projected Lineup
Kasper – Larkin – Raymond
DeBrincat – Copp – Rasmussen
Berggren – Veleno – Fischer
Soderblom – Motte – Shine

Chiarot – Seider
Edvinsson – Johansson
Gustafsson – Holl

Talbot
Lyon

Those forward lines are a guess since they sounded light on healthy bodies at morning skate, so no lines were reported. If Tarasenko plays, I’d expect he’ll be back on that second line with Rasmussen centering the 3rd or 4th. They’re a little light on natural centers so the bottom six could be a little jumbled (I have seen Shine play a bit of center but he’s a natural winger).

The Kings had an optional skate this morning so here are there lines from their last game in Columbus. Of note, Drew Doughty is apparently on this trip after suffering a leg injury during preseason, but there is no word yet that he’d be returning tonight.

Los Angeles Kings Projected Lineup
Turcotte – Kopitar – Kempe
Foegele – Byfield – Moore
Fiala – Danault – Laferriere
Jeannot – Helenius – Lewis

Anderson – Gavrikov
Edmundson – Spence
Moverare – Clarke

Kuemper
Rittich