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Holland admits Wings taking ‘risk’ by waiving Nestrasil

Detroit Red Wings v Toronto Maple Leafs

Detroit Red Wings v Toronto Maple Leafs

NHLI via Getty Images

The Detroit Red Wings needed to clear a roster spot so Stephen Weiss could go to AHL Grand Rapids for a conditioning assignment, and did so by waiving 23-year-old winger Andrej Nestrasil on Wednesday.

It’s a move that could end up backfiring.

#RedWings GM Ken Holland on Andrej Nestrasil being waived: “We know it’s risk, but he needs more time in AHL to establish himself.”

— Helene St. James (@HeleneStJames) November 19, 2014


Nestrasil, the club’s third-round pick (75th overall) at the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, made his NHL debut this year and has appeared in 13 games, scoring two points while averaging over 11 minutes per night. The former Quebec junior league standout had a good year with Grand Rapids in ’13-14 -- scoring 16 goals and 36 points in 70 games -- and could very well get scooped off waivers by a NHL team looking to add talent up front.

“He’s a guy whose strong on the puck, good with the puck,” head coach Mike Babcock said of Nestrasil, per the Detroit Free Press. “He’s been good defensively, he’s been smart.”