Demotions mean Luke Glendening probably close to return

Detroit – They certainly showed they aren’t far from being NHL players. Maybe they are already.

But there isn’t room on the Detroit Red Wings’ roster currently, so defenseman Joe Hicketts and forward Dominic Turgeon were assigned back to Grand Rapids on Tuesday.

The moves likely mean Luke Glendening (wrist) is close to coming off the injured list – probably ready for Tuesday night’s game against Philadelphia – and defenseman Trevor Daley (lower body, day-to-day) is close to coming back.

Hicketts, 21, made his NHL debut in Monday’s 3-0 victory in New Jersey, blocking three shots, recording one hit and finishing with a plus-1 rating.

Turgeon, 21, played in four games with the Red Wings, averaging just under 10 minutes of ice time, and displaying an impressive two-way game.

The Red Wings host Philadelphia Tuesday (7:30 p.m., FSD, 97.1 FM) and Chicago Thursday before having the weekend off for the NHL All-Star break.

ted.kulfan@detroitnews.com

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