The Detroit Red Wings recalled forward John Leonard from the Grand Rapids Griffins on Sunday morning, adding another body up front a day before the team visits the Florida Panthers.

Detroit’s forward group has been stretched thin. Marco Kasper and Mason Appleton are sidelined with injuries, and captain Dylan Larkin remains suspended by the club after refusing to play while he waits on a trade. Detroit Sports Nation reported that Kasper and Appleton have recently returned to skating but were not expected back in the lineup right away.

Leonard, 28, has been one of the Griffins’ most dangerous finishers again this fall. He recorded a hat trick on Oct. 18, and entering Sunday he was tied for third in the AHL with four power-play goals and tied for sixth with two game-winning goals. Grand Rapids is 7-1-1-1, sits on a six-game point streak, and plays at the Chicago Wolves on Sunday afternoon without him.

The move continues a busy week of shuttling between Detroit and Grand Rapids. The Red Wings recalled Sheldon Dries under emergency conditions on Oct. 29, then sent defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka to the Griffins and brought up Jacob Bernard-Docker on Oct. 30.

Leonard is no stranger to the call. He led the AHL in goals for much of last season, finished with 33 goals in 47 games, earned Second Team AHL All-Star honors, and spent time with Detroit during the winter. He has eight goals and 13 assists in 81 career NHL games with San Jose, Nashville, Arizona, and Detroit. The UMass product was a sixth-round pick of the Sharks in 2018.

The Red Wings are coming off Saturday’s Halloween matinee against St. Louis. They play at Florida on Monday at 7 p.m.

Sources

• Detroit Red Wings news (NHL.com): “Red Wings recall John Leonard from Grand Rapids,” Nov. 1, 2026
• Detroit Sports Nation: Detroit Red Wings announce roster move, recall John Leonard, Nov. 1, 2026
• Grand Rapids Griffins: Game Notes, Griffins at Wolves, Nov. 1, 2026
• Detroit Red Wings (NHL.com): Leonard recall release, Jan. 4, 2026 (career statistics)
• Grand Rapids Griffins: Sandin-Pellikka assigned to Grand Rapids, Bernard-Docker recalled, Oct. 30, 2026
• Detroit Red Wings (NHL.com): Red Wings recall Sheldon Dries under emergency conditions, Oct. 29, 2026

Correction (November 2, 2026): This story originally said Leonard finished last season with 32 goals in 46 games. He had 33 goals in 47 games. It has been corrected.