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Red Wings part ways with former first rounder McCollum

Thomas Mccollum

30th overall pick, Thomas McCollum of the Detroit Red Wings poses for a portrait at the 2008 NHL Entry Draft at Scotiabank Place on June 20, 2008 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (June 20, 2008 - Source: Andre Ringuette/Getty Images North America)

The Detroit Red Wings have been credited with their successful drafts in past years, but one pick that hasn’t worked out is 23-year-old goaltender Thomas McCollum.

He was taken with the 30th overall selection in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, but has gone on to log just 15 minutes with the Detroit Red Wings. On top of that he’s struggled with AHL Grand Rapids Griffins to the point where the Red Wings have decided not to send him a qualifying offer, according to MLive.

Since he was originally taken, Jimmy Howard has established himself as the team’s long-term starting goaltender. Additionally, 21-year-old netminder Petr Mrazek has stepped up and outperformed McCollum in the AHL in 2012-13.

Had he stayed with the franchise, McCollum might have found himself slip down to the ECHL, which is something he wasn’t interested in doing.