The Detroit Red Wings face a pressing situation as veteran center Andrew Copp lands on injured reserve with an undisclosed injury, leaving the team without a specific timeline for his return. Copp suffered the injury during the second period in a recent overtime defeat against the Minnesota Wild, and his absence was felt in the following game against the Anaheim Ducks, which the Red Wings narrowly won. Coach Todd McLellan hinted that the injury might take longer to heal than initially expected.

To fill the gap left by Copp, the Red Wings have called up Sheldon Dries from their AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids. Dries, who previously played for the Vancouver Canucks, brings experience with 16 goals and 26 assists over 122 NHL games. Meanwhile, the team also dealt goaltender Ville Husso to the Ducks, further reshaping their roster as they navigate this challenging phase of the season.

The Rockford IceHogs faced off against the Grand Rapids Griffins, ultimately losing 4-2 at the BMO Center. This match marked the Griffins' first victory against the IceHogs this season after two prior meetings.

Despite a scoreless first period, both teams had opportunities with power plays. The IceHogs had a goal disallowed early on, and both goalies, Sebastian Cossa and Drew Commesso, kept the game tied until the third period.

Gabriel Seger scored twice for the Griffins, while Frank Nazar and Artyom Levshunov responded for Rockford. However, Sheldon Dries' goal sealed the win for Grand Rapids, with Josiah Didier adding an empty-netter.

The Detroit Red Wings have finalized their roster cuts to comply with the NHL salary cap ahead of the 2024-25 season. The team waived Austin Watson, who will be sent to the Grand Rapids Griffins, as part of a strategy to optimize cap space through accrual.

Other players, including Justin Holl and Sheldon Dries, were also sent down, with Holl's situation highlighting potential misjudgments in free agency. Despite these cuts, the Red Wings remain prepared for any injuries that may arise before the season opener.