SVECHNIKOV REJOINS GRIFFINS

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday assigned forward Evgeny Svechnikov to the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Svechnikov became the 164th Griffins alumnus to play in the NHL when he debuted on Monday and scored the deciding goal in the shootout as Detroit defeated Ottawa 5-4 at Joe Louis Arena. He also recorded three shots on goal in the Red Wings’ 2-0 loss at Ottawa last night.

Detroit’s first round draft pick (19th overall) in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, Svechnikov, 20, has skated in 68 games with the Griffins and ranks among the AHL’s rookie leaders with 44 points (T6th), 18 goals (T10th) and 26 assists (T14th). Earlier this season, the 6-foot-3, 205-pound winger logged a 12-game point streak that marked the longest by a Griffins rookie and tied for the fourth-longest run in club history.

Joining the Griffins at the end of last season after playing two seasons for Cape Breton (QMJHL), Svechnikov made his AHL debut in the 2016 Calder Cup Playoffs and tallied one assist in two games.

Svechnikov played in 105 games for Cape Breton from 2014-16 and recorded 157 points (64-93—157). His 79 points (32-47—79) in 50 games during the 2015-16 campaign ranked second on the team and tied for 18th in the QMJHL, while his 47 assists placed 17th and his 13 power play goals tied for eighth. Svechnikov’s 78 points (32-46—78) during the 2014-15 season landed him a spot on the QMJHL All-Rookie Team.

Prior to his North American debut, Svechnikov played two seasons in Russia. From 2012-14, he appeared in six games (2-2—4) for Irbis Kazan Jr., 63 games (23-22—45) for Bars Kazan Jr. and debuted professionally with Ak Bars Kazan of the KHL for three games in 2013-14.

A native of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Russia, Svechnikov skated in seven games for his country during the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship and helped the Russians win the silver medal.

The Central Division-leading and playoff-bound Griffins battle the Moose in Manitoba tonight at 8 p.m. EDT.

Single-game tickets are currently on sale. Fans can secure their full-season, select-season or group ticket packages by calling (616) 774-4585 ext. 2 or visit griffinshockey.com for more information.