The Red Wings are getting set to take on the New York Rangers this afternoon and have placed Drew Miller on waivers to make room on the roster for Niklas Kronwall, who will be activated from injured reserve. 

Kronwall has missed the last eight games with a groin injury, but will draw back into the lineup this afternoon. With the emergence of young forwards like Anthony Mantha and Andreas Athanasiou, the writing was on the wall for veterans like Miller. Darren Helm returned from a dislocated shoulder on Friday, which forced Miller to watch from the press box. With Kronwall returning and the only other legitimate waiver option, Steve Ott, on injured reserve, Miller was the only logical choice. 

As you can see by his HeroChart, Miller didn’t provide the Red Wings with much other than his ability to kill penalties, but the likes of Helm, Luke Glendening, Frans Nielsen and Riley Sheahan can pick up the slack in that area. Miller had five goals and one assist in 34 games this season and averaged just 8:58 TOI per game at even-strength, while ranking fifth on the team in shorthanded time on ice per game (1:29). 

This is the first domino to fall in Detroit this season and it was one that Red Wings’ fans nervously awaited. It is a nice message from General Manager Ken Holland, that he is ready to finally move away from the veterans and stick with the kids. Something fans saw as obvious, but that this regime hasn’t always operated like that.