Megan Wades Into Town

The rash of injuries amidst the forward group of the Detroit Red Wings has led to an opportunity for Wade Megan. The Wings recalled the 28-year-old center from the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins and he will suit up Thursday at Little Caesars Arena against the New Jersey Devils. “What I’ve been told from down there is Megan has been their best player every single night,… Detroit coach Jeff Blashill told Mlive.com. “He had a real good training camp.… Megan scored 33 goals with the AHL Chicago Wolves in 2016-17 but slumped to 11 goals last season. Still, he offers more of an offensive upside than Christoffer Ehn, who began the season in Detroit but was recently assigned to Grand Rapids. “I’m going to try to bring a well-rounded game here,… Megan said. “Just try to be reliable in the D zone. I think opportunities will arise offensively, in which case I think I can capitalize. Just try to play a well-rounded game and be reliable defensively and hopefully help out in the faceoff circle as well.… Megan, who has 2-2-4 totals in eight games with the Griffins, shows four games of NHL experience and one NHL goal on his resume, all with the St. Louis Blues from 2016-18. Injury Updates It could be that Megan’s NHL stay will be a short one. Two of Detroit’s trio of ailing forwards - Frans Nielsen (undisclosed injury) and Andreas Athanasiou (leg injury) - are near a return. “We’re hoping for Saturday (against Edmonton),… Blashill said of Nielsen. “See how he did here today and then go through practice tomorrow.… Athanasiou is also close, though his status is less certain than Nielsen . “Day to day, definitely out today,… Blashill said. “Didn’t skate, so that probably puts him out Saturday, unless he feels way better tomorrow and skates tomorrow. They all have to go through a full practice tomorrow in order to play Saturday.… Defenseman Danny DeKeyser should also be back in action Saturday. He’ll miss his eighth game Thursday due to a hand injury. I’m good, I’m feeling good out here,… DeKeyser said. “I think today and tomorrow will be good resting up. I’m not playing tonight, but I should be ready to go on Saturday. “I just have to do some battling, it’s not shooting or passing, it’s more the battling stuff in the corners trying to win puck battles and not have any hesitations about it.… Forward Thomas Vanek is out 2-4 weeks with a lower-body injury. Hicketts Demoted To make room for Megan on the 23-player roster, defenseman Joe Hicketts was sent to Grand Rapids. Hicketts had no points in eight games. “My message was go be the best player, the best defenseman down there,… Blashill said. “We’ve got a number of young D down there, so when it becomes time to get called up, you’re the guy getting called up. Him, (Libor) Sulak, (Filip) Hronek, they’re going to make the choice of which one gets called up.… Follow me on Twitter @asktheduffer