Red Wings general manager Ken Holland placed little-used defenseman Derek Meech on waivers Wednesday.
“I put Derek on waivers to see if a team wants to claim him and give him an opportunity,‘’ Holland said. "If he clears, he’ll come to camp. There’s still a month (before the start of the regular season), things change, there’s injuries. His fate has yet to be determined.’’
Meech has served as the team’s seventh or eighth defenseman for most of his career. He can play forward in a pinch as well, but he’s never been able to stick full-time with the team.
Holland tried to trade Meech but had no luck. That’s not very surprising, considering Meech has picked up just four goals and 12 assists over 126 career games with Detroit. Meech wasn’t a highly touted prospect either, drafted 229th overall back in 2002.
Teams have until noon Thursday to claim Meech. If nobody takes the bait, he’ll join the Wings for camp, and then be promptly sent to Grand Rapids if there’s no serious injuries.