Detroit Red Wings Recall Defenseman Xavier Ouellet
DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings today recalled defenseman Xavier Ouellet from the American Hockey League's Grand Rapids Griffins.
Ouellet, 22, has spent the majority of the season with Grand Rapids, totaling a professional career-high 29 points (4-25-29) in 61 games, adding 66 penalty minutes and a plus-18 rating. The third-year professional also skated in five games with the Red Wings, logging one assist, two penalty minutes, four shots on goal, five hits, three blocked shots and three takeaways in 16:14 average time on ice. Since making his NHL debut during the 2013-14 campaign, Ouellet has totaled 30 NHL games, picking up four points (2-2-4). He also appeared in one postseason game with the Red Wings during the team's first-round series against the Boston Bruins in 2014.
In 183 games with the Griffins over the past three seasons, the 6-foot, 200-lb., blueliner has tallied 62 points (9-53-62), 112 penalty minutes and a plus-21 rating, adding six points (1-5-6) in 24 AHL playoff games. He was also named to the AHL All-Star Classic in 2015 and 2016. Prior to his professional career, Ouellet spent four seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with the Montreal Juniors and Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, notching 160 points (41-119-160), 177 penalty minutes and a plus-61 rating from 2009-13. He was a two-time QMJHL First-Team All-Star (2012 and 2013) and also made the QMJHL All-Rookie Team in 2010. The Bayonne, France, native skates for Canada internationally and contributed a goal and two assists during the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championships.
