Red Wings finalize roster, taxi squad; Svechnikov clears waivers, stays in organization

Detroit —  The Red Wings finally announced their final roster — and there weren’t any major surprises.

The suspense, if there was any, concerned the taxi squad.

The Wings will carry two goalies, Calvin Pickard and Kevin Boyle, along with defensemen Dennis Cholowski and Gustav Lindstrom, and forwards Givani Smith and Michael Rasmussen on the squad, which is new in the NHL this season because of the pandemic and likely need to shuttle players in and out of the lineup.

The Wings open the NHL season Thursday with a game against Carolina. The two teams play again Saturday a Little Caesars Arena.

The Wings were off Tuesday but resume practice Wednesday.

As for the Opening Night roster, here it is by position group:

► Forwards: Tyler Bertuzzi, Dylan Larkin, Anthony Mantha, Bobby Ryan, Robby Fabbri, Filip Zadina, Vladislav Namestnikov, Valtteri Filppula, Sam Gagner, Mathias Brome, Luke Glendening, Frans Nielsen and Adam Erne are listed.

► Defensemen: Danny DeKeyser, Filip Hronek, Marc Staal, Patrik Nemeth, Troy Stecher, Jon Merrill and Alex Biega.

► Goaltenders: Jonathan Bernier and Thomas Greiss.

Forward Darren Helm, who has been unfit to play the entire camp, and defensemen Christian Djoos and Jared McIsaac were declared non-roster players.

Ryan is another player who has been unable to practice the last several days, but might be ready to begin the regular season.

The intriguing news Tuesday was the return of Evgeny Svechnikov to the organization.

The former first-round pick went unclaimed on waivers — as did the other Red Wings players put out there Monday — and will remain in the organization.

Svechnikov was sent to minor-league affiliate Grand Rapids.

Svechnikov, 24, the Wings' 2015 first-round draft pick, appeared to injure his arm in the team’s first intrasquad scrimmage Jan. 5, but was on the ice for Monday's practice. 

Svechnikov has played in 20 games over three seasons with the Wings, with four points (two goals). Svechnikov missed the entire 2018-19 season after tearing an ACL in the Wings’ final exhibition game.

In 51 games with Grand Rapids last season Svechnikov had 11 goals and 14 assists but was hampered on occasion by the knee..

Along with Svechnikov, assigned to the Griffins were forwards Riley Barber, Kyle Criscuolo, Turner Elson, Taro Hirose, Chase Pearson, and Dominic Turgeon; defensemen Joe Hicketts, Brian Lashoff and Dylan McIlrath; and goaltender Kaden Fulcher.

Those Griffins players soon will begin skating informally in Grand Rapids in advance of the start of Griffins training camp later this month. The Griffins are scheduled to begin the American Hockey League’s season on Feb. 5. 

ted.kulfan@detroitnews.com

Twitter: @tkulfan