Detroit City Wire

With Andrew Copp out for the rest of the 2024-25 season due to pectoral surgery and Michael Rasmussen's status day-to-day, the Detroit Red Wings have bolstered their forward lineup by recalling Sheldon Dries from the Grand Rapids Griffins. Dries, who has played in 122 NHL games with the Colorado Avalanche and Vancouver Canucks since 2018-19, is no stranger to such calls.

Dries emphasized his readiness: “This is a huge opportunity,” he said at Xcel Energy Center. “You want to take it day-by-day, don’t get ahead of yourself too much, enjoy the moment and the small things. And when your name is called, be ready.”

Hailing from Macomb, Michigan, Dries played four seasons at Western Michigan University and was captain during his sophomore through senior years. After signing with the AHL’s Texas Stars as a free agent in 2017, he amassed 231 points in 322 AHL games across various teams.

Detroit head coach Todd McLellan commented on Dries’ experience: “He knows what to feel and expect when he goes into a lineup and into arenas... He's well-established.” He noted that whether Dries' role would be full-time or part-time depended on Rasmussen's recovery.

In his first season with the Griffins under a two-year contract with the Red Wings, Dries has scored 27 points in 48 games. On joining Grand Rapids, he said: “A great group of guys... There’s so much skill and young talent down there.”

For Dries, joining the Red Wings was more than fulfilling a dream; it was also about family proximity. "Having both teams [Red Wings and Griffins] so close," he explained. His father and uncle both had collegiate hockey careers.

Reflecting on family support throughout his career: “My family was amazing with it,” Dries said. His childhood idol was former Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg: “[Zetterberg] played every position, so reliable... one of my favorites.”

Dries remains focused on consistency and reliability: “It’s all about consistency... if I come in here and help anyway that I can, I’ll be happy.”