from Ansar Khan of Mlive,

Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman wants to add size, especially up front.

That’s why he traded for Adam Erne in August and why Evgeny Svechnikov and Givani Smith were promoted from the Grand Rapids Griffins.

That’s also why the Red Wings acquired 6-3, 211-pound left wing Brendan Perlini Monday....

Perlini hasn’t panned out like many expected after being drafted 12th overall by Arizona in 2014. But he’s young (23) and still has potential. The Red Wings, who acquired him from the Blackhawks for defense prospect Alec Regula, are hoping he will blossom with his third NHL team.

“It doesn’t take much to watch him on tape and see he’s a big guy who can really skate and really shoot,” coach Jeff Blashill said. “He’s got a really good skill-set, that’s why he went 12th overall. He’s been on two teams where it hasn’t necessarily gone great. I think sometimes when guys go through struggles, they can come out stronger on the other end. That’s what we’re hoping, that with the opportunity he’s going to have here, with the learned things he’s had to go through, that he can make an impact for us.”

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