The Detroit Red Wings currently have more forwards than they can carry on the regular season roster, but Wings coach Mike Babcock thinned the herd a little bit today regarding the status of Drew Miller.
↵↵↵“I don’t think Miller is battling for a job,” Babcock said. “I think he has one. To me, he does what he does -- he’s a good skater, he’s smart, he’s good with the puck. He can play up if you need him, he can kill penalties if you need him. He’s a good player for us.
↵↵
“I think he’s going to be a Red Wing.”
↵
Detroit will carry 14 forwards, which leaves two spots for reserves on the roster. It's widely believed that Darren Helm and Justin Abdelkader will occupy two of the spots on the fourth line, leaving Miller, Patrick Eaves, Kris Draper and Mattias Ritola battling for the last space.
↵↵
Miller was a solid acquisition last season for Detroit. He was claimed off of waivers from Tampa Bay mid-season to help replace injured players. He scored a career-high 10 goals and nine assists while playing as a good two-way forward.