DETROIT -- The Detroit Red Wings have to deal with the salary cap so they had to make a few decisions Monday in advance of the 5 p.m. deadline to set rosters.
They sent forward Gustav Nyquist and goaltender Petr Mrazek to the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League.
Sending Nyquist down is a move to help the team get under the $64.3 million cap, meaning he won't be stuck in Grand Rapids the whole season. Nyquist did not have to go through waivers.
"Obviously, adversity's not about the decision made, it's about how you handle it," Wings coach Mike Babcock said. "Choose your attitude right. Justin Abdelkader had the same thing happen to him, Big E (Jonathan Ericsson) had the same thing happen to him. It's not the first time that's happened here.
"I'm sure he's very, very disappointed. But I know him good, he'll go down and be a real good pro and he'll be prepared when he gets the opportunity."
Darren Helm, who missed all but one game last season with a back injury, will go on long-term injured reserve. That means Helm has to miss at least 10 games or 24 days.
"Obviously a long-term injury is a tough decision for any player," Babcock said. " He's not available so we just continue like we did last year. He hasn't been available forever. It's not like we're missing anything. We're hoping to make a trade here coming up and get him back."
With as much time as he's missed, Helm knows he can't rush.
"I don't know when I'm going to be ready," Helm said. "This gives me the opportunity to relax – not relax – but keep my mind off being ready now. It was kind of getting close to some pressure put on me, this takes some pressure off and get better at a little slower pace, might be better for my body."
The Wings also ended up placing Patrick Eaves on long-term injured reserve.
"Had a conversation with Patrick Eaves and he felt he wouldn't be ready to go in the next two to three weeks," Wings GM Ken Holland sai. "He needs the necessary 10 games and 24 days on long term IR to get ready, then we had some cap space.
"We were able to maximize our 23-man roster and cap space."
On Sunday, the Wings waived forward Cory Emmerton. After clearing waivers Monday, he also can be sent to Grand Rapids.
Monday the Wings also recalled goaltender Jared Coreau.
"He's starting on the roster today," Wings general manager Ken Holland said. "By putting Coreau on roster, it's very complicated to run the cap. Coreau's got a higher cap number and also the way Coreau played in camp, we're OK putting Coreau on our roster tonight at 5 and we'll reassess as the week goes on.''
The Wings also have a few players on short-term injured reserve: goaltender Jonas Gustavsson (groin), Patrick Eaves (ankle) and Jordin Tootoo (shoulder).
Tootoo did participate in Monday's practice.
"For me personally it’s coming along very well, I think quicker than we expected," Tootoo said. "Today’s practice was pretty intense for me. Added a little physicality in there for me and it felt good.
"I’ve just got to be professional about it and go about my business."
Gustavsson did some on-ice work for the first time in several days after his teammates had finished practice.
"It was an opportunity to go on the ice for the first time in a few days," Gustavsson said. "What I did felt good. Hopefully keep going in the same direction tomorrow and I can take the next step and then we'll see how many steps I need to be 100 percent."
