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Wings send Weiss to AHL for conditioning stint

Detroit Red Wings v Buffalo Sabres

<> at First Niagara Center on November 24, 2013 in Buffalo, New York.

Jen Fuller

Having played just one game this year and seemingly unable to crack the lineup, Stephen Weiss has been sent to Detroit’s AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids for a conditioning assignment.

Weiss, 31, has been a major disappointment since inking a lucrative five-year, $24.5 million deal with the Wings last July. He appeared in just 26 games last year due to a lingering sports hernia injury and, despite going into this season healthy, has been unable to get onto Mike Babcock’s lineup card.

So it’s off to Grand Rapids.

This move is similar to what Vancouver did with veteran winger David Booth last season. After suffering through a myriad of injuries, the 29-year-old Booth agreed to a conditioning stint in AHL Utica last November in the hopes of getting his game back on track.

To a certain degree, the move worked -- Booth played three games with the Comets and proceeded to chip in offensively for the Canucks, finishing the year with nine goals and 19 points (most of which came after his time in Utica).

Weiss should get a good chance at some much-needed playing time with the Griffins. They play tomorrow night at home against Rockford, and Friday at home against Chicago.