{"id":482118,"date":"2025-12-31T09:58:09","date_gmt":"2025-12-31T09:58:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/482118\/"},"modified":"2025-12-31T09:58:09","modified_gmt":"2025-12-31T09:58:09","slug":"leonard-decision-by-red-wings-makes-no-sense-dhn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/482118\/","title":{"rendered":"Leonard Decision by Red Wings Makes no Sense \/ DHN"},"content":{"rendered":"

Of all the moves the Detroit<\/a> Red Wings could\u2019ve made to create a place in the lineup for winger James van Riemsdyk<\/a>, sending John Leonard<\/a> back to the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins<\/a> was the easiest one.<\/p>\n

That doesn\u2019t mean it was the best one.<\/p>\n

Still, that\u2019s the choice the club made on Tuesday, shipping Leonard back down to the Griffins \u2013 even though he\u2019s done everything asked of him and looked effective in all seven games he played for the club.<\/p>\n

\n

UPDATE: The #RedWings<\/a> have assigned John Leonard to the AHL\u2019s Grand Rapids Griffins. pic.twitter.com\/Pt6GVrsuCH<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 31, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Leonard accounted for 2-2-4 totals over that span, giving a team lacking in consistent depth scoring another threat. Even the guy he was called up to fill in for, Patrick Kane<\/a>, was impressed.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe played well,\u201d Kane said. \u201cI think you see his anticipation for the play, his ability to get to the net. He\u2019s got a great shot. He\u2019s proved that in the minors as well, scoring a lot of goals.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut yeah, he did a great job. And, you know, that line was still, you know, finding ways to be effective.\u201d<\/p>\n

Against Toronto on Sunday, in what would be his last game with the Red Wings, Leonard dropped down to play alongside Marco Kasper and Nate Danielson as Kane returned to the lineup. He was alternating on that line with van Riemsdyk during practice on Tuesday, so perhaps the handwriting was already on the wall.<\/p>\n

Red Wings Lacking Depth Scoring<\/p>\n

While it\u2019s absolutely true that the game is about more than just scoring goals, Leonard was displaying an all-around game during his time in Detroit. His defensive play was far from substandard.<\/p>\n

His awareness without the puck was very responsible. Unlike a lot of guys who fill the net with pucks in the AHL, Leonard played the game just as solidly when his team didn\u2019t have the puck.<\/p>\n

\u201cI liked his game,\u201d Red Wings coach Todd McLellan said. \u201cYou could see his speed, creativity.\u201d<\/p>\n

Evidently, they didn\u2019t like his game enough to keep him.<\/p>\n

\n

Practice today. Winnipeg in town tomorrow. pic.twitter.com\/WYiaLw4EPQ<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 30, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

What\u2019s even more perplexing about this move is that the Red Wings didn\u2019t need to ship a player out to make room for van Riemsdyk. They are now going with 22 players, one under the NHL roster limit. But since Leonard is on a one-way contract, they aren\u2019t saving any money by sending him down, other than the NHL per diem he\u2019d receive when the team is on the road.<\/p>\n

Perhaps it\u2019s merely a numbers game. Maybe the Wings want Leonard playing every night in GR rather than being in and out of the lineup in Detroit. It could be that he\u2019ll be back before long.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s hope so.<\/p>\n

Someone needed to give way to get van Riemsdyk and his nine goals back into the lineup.<\/p>\n

That someone shouldn\u2019t have been Leonard.<\/p>\n

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