Red Wings Prospect Felt Team Wasn’t Making Him a Priority

Forward Wojciech Stachowiak finished last season with the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins after being acquired by the Detroit Red Wings from the Tampa Bay Lightning. At the end of a one-year contract, he was interested in staying with the Red Wings organization.

He doesn’t believe that the feeling was mutual.

“We negotiated and talked a lot,” Stachowkiak told the German website Eishockey News. “In the end, it didn’t sound like a priority for them to bring me into the NHL.”

An unrestricted free agent, the Polish-born Stachowiak is working out in his hometown of Gdansk and awaiting his next hockey opportunity to come knocking.

“I definitely want to stay in North America,” Stachowiak said. “I didn’t go to North America to play in the AHL, I want to be in the NHL.

“And now it’s about finding the right opportunity.”

The 27-year-old left-winger showed some offensive flash after arriving in Grand Rapids following that late-season trade. The German international put up 4-11-15 totals in 10 games for the Griffins.

After finishing second overall in the AHL, the Griffins had high hopes of a Calder Cup run. But the dream died in the Central Division final.

Grand Rapids was eliminated by the Chicago Wolves.

“Of course, this was a bit surprising for me and my teammates, because we had hoped for more,” Stachowiak said. “But it was our own fault.

“We should have scored a few more goals.”

He looks upon his first season in North America as being worth it, even with all the ups and downs Stachowiak endured.

“Ultimately, it was also a good season, even if many injuries and many not so good things happened,” Stachowiak said. “I’m happy with the season, even if I didn’t play an NHL game.

“Of course, it wasn’t easy. But you have to be mentally strong and move on.

You have to learn to deal with it.”

Even though the calendar has turned to August and teams will soon be pointing toward training camp, Stachowiak isn’t giving up on his NHL dream.

“The most important thing for me now is that I find a team where I really have a chance to make my NHL debut,” Stachowiak said. “I’m definitely optimistic.

I’m someone who always looks forward.”

He even thinks that being a UFA without a team can work to his advantage.

“I can look around for all the possibilities and can talk to any team in the NHL,” Stachowiak said.