from Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press,

The Detroit Red Wings have veered from their usual path when it comes to Evgeny Svechnikov, a former first-round pick who has struggled to make an impact.

Svechnikov was added to the taxi squad Feb. 16, seemingly an encouraging sign for the 24-year-old winger. But he didn’t get into the lineup when the Wings played the next day, and stayed on the taxi squad even when he could have been reassigned to the Grand Rapids Griffins and played in their games last week. That’s an unusual pattern from a team that has a history of wanting its prospects to play in the minors if they aren’t playing in Detroit.

Coach Jeff Blashill downplayed the team’s decision, describing it as a day-to-day process.

“Right now he’s on the taxi squad," Blashill said Thursday. “He was down in Grand Rapids to get started. We’ve cycled guys on and off the taxi squad — that gives us the ability to have guys here in case we need them, and also to get them games. So we will see what tomorrow brings.”

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from Ted Kulfan of the Detroit News,

Dylan Larkin is continuing to develop into a fine two-way center who can provide offense, and defend opposing teams’ best player as well.

Larkin's defense has been fine this season. The offense, though Larkin leads the Red Wings with 11 points (four goals, seven assists) heading into Thursday’s game, has been lagging.

Larkin’s shooting percentage is 5.9%, a career low at this point. He continues to average about three shots per game, which gives Blashill confidence the goals eventually will arrive.

“Shooting percentages even out over time, that’s what all the statistical people tell you,” Blashill said. “He certainly has not had the production that we want him to have or he wants to have. But if he keeps getting shots, in time it will equal out closer to what that shooting percentage evens out.

“Like our team, he’s ebbed and flowed.”

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