Detroit Red Wings demote veteran forward Kirk Maltby
The Detroit Red Wings’ locker room will be a little bit quieter this season, as one of the team’s long-time veteran voices has been sent down to the minors.
Kirk Maltby was sent down to the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League by the Red Wings on Wednesday afternoon, October 6, after having spent 13 seasons with the team. He
gained a reputation as a terrific checking forward, and was often paired with Kris Draper on Detroit’s checking line. Maltby and Draper had many years of success together with Darren McCarty, creating a potent checking trio that was known as the 'Grind Line'.
Maltby, who is capable of playing on both the left and right wings, was drafted 65th overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 1992 National Hockey League Entry Draft. He spent parts of three
seasons with the Oilers, and scored 11 goals and 8 assists for 19 points in his rookie season. He was eventually traded to Detroit in the 1995-96 season, in exchange for defenceman Dan McGillis.
The 37-year-old native of Guelph, Ontario scored 14 goals and 23 assists for 37 points in 2002-03, both of which were career highs. Despite being a prolific scorer in the junior ranks,
Maltby was never renowned for his offensive skills in the NHL. He has never been a 20-goal scorer, as his highest goal outputs were a trio of 14-goal seasons.
Maltby’s checking and leadership made him somewhat of a legend in Hockeytown, even though his offensive contributions were few in number. He won four Stanley Cups
playing with the Red Wings, and his grittiness was one of many key factors in each of those championships.
Maltby was also one of the NHL’s more versatile players, and would frequently step up whenever the opportunity called for it. He played his 1,000th career game
on 27 February 2009, and is currently ranked 169th overall on the NHL’s all-time games played list.
In 1,072 career games, Maltby has scored 128 goals and 132 assists for a total of 260 points.
Detroit Red Wings demote veteran forward Kirk Maltby
The Detroit Red Wings’ locker room will be a little bit quieter this season, as one of the team’s long-time veteran voices has been sent
down to the minors.
Kirk Maltby was sent down to the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League by the Red Wings on Wednesday afternoon, after having
spent 13 seasons with the team. He gained a reputation as a terrific checking forward, and was often paired with Kris Draper on Detroit’s checking line. Maltby and Draper had many years of success together with Darren McCarty, creating a potent checking trio
that was known as the “Grind Line.”
Maltby, who is capable of playing on both the left and right wings, was drafted 65th overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 1992 National
Hockey League Entry Draft. He spent parts of three seasons with the Oilers, and scored 11 goals and 8 assists for 19 points in his rookie season. He was eventually traded to Detroit in the 1995-96 season, in exchange for defenceman Dan McGillis.
The 37-year-old native of Guelph, Ontario scored 14 goals and 23 assists for 37 points in 2002-03, both of which were career highs. Despite
being a prolific scorer in the junior ranks, Maltby was never renowned for his offensive skills in the NHL. He has never been a 20-goal scorer, and his highest goal outputs were a trio of 14-goal seasons.
Maltby’s checking and leadership made him somewhat of a legend in Hockeytown, even though his offensive contributions were few in number.
He won four Stanley Cups playing with the Red Wings, and his grittiness was one of many key factors in each of those championships. Maltby was also one of the NHL’s more versatile players, and would frequently step up whenever the opportunity called for it.
He played his 1,000th career game on 27 February 2009, and was the 169th NHL player to hold this honour.
In 1,072 career games, Maltby has scored 128 goals and 132 assists for a total of 260 points.
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