Backup Goalie Ty Conklin placed on waivers by Detroit Red Wings -NHL Update
Detroit looks to have finalised its roster for going into the 2012 National Hockey League (NHL) playoffs as they placed one of their backup goalies, Ty Conklin, on waivers, announced the Red Wings on Monday, February 20, 2012.
The waivers will be active until Tuesday afternoon, nearly a full day after the decision giving teams around the major league to pick up the player otherwise, he will be heading to Detroit’s minor league affiliate in the American Hockey League (AHL), the
Grand Rapids.
Conklin is currently on a one-year contract worth $750,000, despite the fact he remains in the NHL or is assigned to a minor league club, and is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the 2011-2012 NHL regular season.
One of the reasons seen to send Conklin down is to get him more time playing rather than sitting on the bench, which is something he has been doing in Detroit so far, in order to improve his performance in the major league.
"I think Ty Conklin needs to play," Wings general manager, Ken Holland, told the team's web site. "He hasn't really got it going. His starts have been sporadic and I think his play has probably been sporadic. He's played some good games and played some games
not so good."
The 35-year-old was undrafted and played his first game with the Edmonton Oilers back in the 2001-2002 regular season, after which he spent time with teams like Columbus Blue Jackets, Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins, St. Louis Blues and Detroit Red Wings.
For Conklin, this might be the time to rejoice since another team just might pick him up and even if he goes to the AHL, he will definitely get more time on the ice, something he has been yearning for.
"Knowing Ty, he's going to go and work his rear end off," said Detroit Red Wings’ main goalie, Jimmy Howard. "He's also excited to play in some games, too."
Detroit Red Wings are expected to keep Joey MacDonald as the only backup to Jimmy Howard for the remainder of the season and playoffs as well.
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