Detroit Red Wings release veteran forward to free agency after failing to crack the roster

The Red Wings have made some roster cuts as they head into the final three games of the preseason.

On Wednesday, they ended Alex Chiasson's professional tryout and sent prospect Emmitt Finnie back to the Kamloops Blazers in the WHL. This brings the roster down to 55 players, who will finish out the preseason, starting with Thursday's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Chiasson, who was recovering from hip surgery last season, rejoined the team on a tryout after playing 20 games for Detroit in 2022-23. He was a key player on the power play during that stint, scoring six goals and nine points. However, despite his recovery and effort in training camp, this tryout didn't result in a contract.

Finnie, a seventh-round pick in the 2023 draft, had a breakout season with Kamloops, scoring 59 points in 62 games. He also played three games with the Grand Rapids Griffins in the AHL. Since he's under 20, NHL rules require him to return to junior hockey unless he makes the NHL roster, which wasn't expected this season. He'll head back to Kamloops looking to keep building on his progress.