He’s back! After Monday night’s loss against the Montreal Canadiens, the Detroit Red Wings recalled defenceman Joe Hicketts from the Grand Rapids Griffins.

After the Griffins played three games in three nights over the weekend, the Wings were free to call-up the 21-year-old defenceman to hopefully play with the big club for the rest of the season.

Hicketts has already played one game for the Wings this season, back on January 22nd against the New Jersey Devils – he had 15:13 of ice-time and was +1.

With the Griffins this season, Hicketts has 3 goals and 10 points in 63 games. A decline from the 34 points in 73 games last season, but Hicketts has demonstrated enough skill to warrant this call-up.

His 1.59 shots on goal per game, is fourth among all Griffins blueliners, up from 1.49 his previous season.

At even-strength, he has been on the ice for 31 goals for the Griffins but 44 against.

Ideally, he would have been with the Wings from the start of this season but the logjam on the blueline this team is facing now restricted that. With Mike Green’s injury, the Wings were free to call-up Hicketts and get him playing some important minutes.

Hopefully a preview of what a younger defensive core could look like for the Detroit Red Wings starting the 2018-19 season.