X RETURNS

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday assigned defenseman Xavier Ouellet to the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Recalled by Detroit on Feb. 13, Ouellet has played in five games with the Red Wings and recorded one assist (0-1—1) and two penalty minutes.

Detroit’s second choice, 48th overall, in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, Ouellet has collected 17 points (3-14—17) and a plus-eight rating in 38 games with the Griffins this season. In January, he was selected to participate in the 2016 AHL All-Star Classic – his second consecutive all-star selection – as he became just the fourth Griffins player ever to be named an all-star in back-to-back years (Niklas Kronwall 2004-05, Gustav Nyquist 2012-13, Michel Picard 1997-98 in the IHL). Ouellet was unable to play in the 2015 All-Star Classic because he was on recall with the Red Wings.

Ouellet appeared in 52 games with the Griffins last year, registering 16 points (1-15—16), a plus-24 rating and 24 PIM.

The 6-foot-1, 200-pound blueliner also played in 21 games with Detroit during 2014-15, notching two goals, an assist and a plus-four rating, including his first NHL point (assist) on Nov. 22 at Toronto and his first NHL goal on Nov. 28 at New Jersey. During the 2015 Calder Cup Playoffs, Ouellet appeared in 16 games with Grand Rapids and led team defensemen in scoring with six points (1-5—6) and a plus-six rating.

A native of Bayonne, France, Ouellet has tallied 50 points (8-42—50) in 160 career AHL games with the Griffins since 2013.

The Griffins will play three home games in three nights this weekend, beginning with the Iowa Wild on Friday at 7 p.m.

Fans can secure their full-season, select-season or group ticket packages by calling (616) 774-4585 ext. 2. Single-game tickets for all home games are now available for purchase at all Star Tickets locations, including The Zone, online through griffinshockey.com, or by phone through Star Tickets at (800) 585-3737.