The Detroit Red Wings on Sunday assigned forwards Tomas Jurco and Riley Sheahan, defenseman Xavier Ouellet and goaltender Jake Paterson to the Grand Rapids Griffins.
Jurco, 21, returns to the Griffins after spending 36 regular season games with Detroit this season, earning 15 points (8-7-15) and 14 penalty minutes, in addition to appearing in three playoff games with the club. Detroit’s first choice (35th overall) in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Jurco made his NHL debut with the Wings on Dec. 15 versus Tampa Bay. Jurco has also skated in 32 games with the Griffins, notching 32 points (13-19-32), 14 PIM and a plus-10 rating. The second-year pro also represented his country at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, posting one goal in four games.
Sheahan, 22, has split his second professional season between Detroit and Grand Rapids, producing 24 points (9-15-24) and six PIM in 42 games with the Wings and 18 points (8-10—18) and 12 PIM in 31 games with the Griffins. Detroit’s first choice (21st overall) in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, Sheahan has appeared in 110 regular season career games with Grand Rapids, collecting 56 points (25-31—56), and 24 career playoff games, earning 16 points (3-13—16).
Ouellet, 20, has skated in 70 regular season games with Grand Rapids during the 2013-14 campaign, netting 17 points (4-13-17), a plus-three rating and 22 penalty minutes. The 6-foot, 200-pound blueliner also suited up in four regular season games with Detroit, registering four shots and two PIM. Detroit’s second choice (48th overall) in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Ouellet made his NHL debut with the Wings on Oct. 21 versus the San Jose Sharks. The Bayonne, France, native skated in his first NHL playoff game in Detroit’s 4-2 loss to the Boston Bruins on April 26.
Paterson, 19, appeared between the pipes in 45 regular season games with the Spirit this season, producing a 24-18-2 record, a 3.41 goals against average and a 0.906 save percentage. In five playoff contests with Saginaw, the 6-foot-1, 183-pound netminder yielded a 1-2-2 record, a 4.67 GAA and a 0.889 save percentage. The Mississauga, Ontario, native owns a 70-54-12 record with a 3.44 GAA and a 0.904 save percentage in 142 career OHL games. Paterson was Detroit’s second choice (80th overall) in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.
