11/19: Sportnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that Czarnik has cleared waivers, and can safely be assigned to Grand Rapids.
11/18: With Detroit’s trip to Sweden now over, they’ve opted to make a roster move. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports (Twitter link) that the Red Wings have placed forward Austin Czarnik on waivers.
The 30-year-old cleared waivers in training camp but has spent most of the season with Detroit so far. Czarnik played in two games with the Griffins where he had two goals and an assist before being recalled in mid-October. He was sent back down at the end of the month but one day later, he was brought up on an emergency basis and was converted to a regular recall soon after.
Czarnik has played in 11 games so far for the Red Wings on their fourth line but has been limited to just a single assist while averaging 8:35 per night. Last season, he had a bit more success at the top level, collecting two goals and three helpers in 29 games, the most NHL games he played in since the 2018-19 campaign.
Since Czarnik has been in more than ten games since last clearing waivers, he now must once again pass through unclaimed to make it back to the Griffins. He’s in the second and final year of a two-year, minimum salary contract which carries a $762.5K AAV. Teams will have until 1 PM CT on Sunday to place a claim on Czarnik if they so desire.