Red Wings recall defenseman Robbie Russo from Grand Rapids

By @StefanKubus – 

With Ryan Sproul suffering an injury against Edmonton Saturday night, opportunity calls for another young defenseman.

The Detroit Red Wings announced Monday the recall of Robbie Russo from Grand Rapids.

Russo, 24, has 31 points in 56 games from the blue line this season for the Griffins, his second year at the professional level after spending four years with Notre Dame.

He leads all Griffins’ defenders in scoring and is seventh overall on the team. After leading the league in plus-minus last season as a rookie (plus-40), the 2017 AHL All-Star is tied for the team lead in that department this season.

The Westmond, Ill. native was originally drafted by the New York Islanders in the fourth round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. The Wings signed him as a free agent in 2015.

The 6-foot, 195-pound Russo is also an alumnus of USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program, having played with the team in Ann Arbor from 2009-11.