from Peter J. Wallner of Mlive,

A move down to the Grand Rapids Griffins, whether temporary or not, did not come as a surprise to Taro Hirose.

Self-evaluation told him that.

"I think when you're not playing and not playing well, as I don't think I was, there's always the reality that you can get sent down," he said after his first game with the Griffins and in the AHL. "I'm just looking at it as a positive and trying to get better while I'm down here."...

It's uncertain what happens next. Up top, Justin Abdelkader might be ready to return from injury, which could leave both player in Grand Rapids. If not, one of them is expected to return.

Based on recent outings, Zadina would appear the frontrunner. Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill had spoken about moving him to the first line and he had been practicing earlier this week on the power play unit.

Where could that leave Hirose? He said that's out of his hands.

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