Red Wings: Notebook

Red Wings take a chance on Drew Miller

Chris McCosky / The Detroit News

Detroit -- You can't blame Drew Miller for being just a bit confused about how his young NHL career has gone thus far.

The Ducks liked him enough to put him on the ice in the Stanley Cup Finals in 2007, though he spent the regular season in the American Hockey League. They liked him enough to play him for 13 games (two goals and an assist) in the playoffs last season, though he again spent most of the year in the AHL.

The Lightning liked Miller enough to trade Evgeny Artyukhin to the Ducks for him last August.

Yet, his production and ice time gradually diminished over 14 games, and the Lightning put him on waivers for purposes of sending him to the AHL. The Wings surprised the Lightning, and Miller, by plucking him off the waiver wire Wednesday.

"I am not sure exactly what happened there," said Miller, 25, a forward who made his Red Wings debut against the Canucks on Thursday. "They chose to go with a different lineup sometimes. I was having trouble getting points (no points, minus-3), but I was still contributing on the penalty kill and defensively. Those are some of my strong points, but I was playing limited minutes."

Miller, who is on a two-way contract, was going to be sent down to make room for Ryan Craig, who had missed 13 games because of a lower-body injury. The Lightning didn't expect any team to claim him.

"It is what it is," Miller said. "It happened and it's a great opportunity to end up in Detroit. I look at it that way and move forward."

Miller played on the fourth line with his former Michigan State teammate Justin Abdelkader and former Anaheim teammate Brad May. He also played with Todd Bertuzzi in Anaheim.

"To come to a team that has had the success the Wings have had in the past and to be able to play with players of this caliber and with such a good coaching staff, it's a big thing," Miller said after a quick skate Thursday morning.

Coach Mike Babcock thought Miller would fit in quickly and he did, helping to kill off five penalties against the Canucks.

"We are excited to have him here," Babcock said. "He skates good, he knows how to play the game. This should be a good opportunity for him."

Miller, the brother of Buffalo goaltender Ryan Miller, cousin of former Red Wing Kevin Miller and one of 10 from his family to play at Michigan State, is just thankful for the opportunity.

"It's a great feeling to be picked up off waivers by my hometown team," he said. "I will fit in good with the system here."

Ice chips

Forward Kirk Maltby and goaltender Chris Osgood were out because of the flu.

... The Wings recalled goaltender Daniel Larsson from Grand Rapids.