Bertuzzi had to miss the Red Wings' western Canada trip due to being unvaccinated but joined the team in Seattle for Saturday's game. He should be back in the top-6 and top power-play unit.
Vlasic was a second-round pick of the Blackhawks in 2019 and is set to make his NHL debut after finishing his third year at Boston University. The towering (6-foot-6, 199 lbs.) defenseman had eight points (1G / 7A) and 31 PIMS in 32 games with Boston University this season. He'll start out on the third pair with Erik Gustafsson.
Grzelcyk has missed the last two games but will replace Jack Ahcan in the lineup on Saturday. Grzelcyk has not scored a goal since January 10th, posting just six assists in his last 19 games.
Knight and Jonas Johansson swap spots, likely so Johansson can get some game action in over the weekend. Without a back-to-back over the weekend, Knight is likely to serve as Sergei Bobrovsky's backup on Sunday.
Bertuzzi still isn't eligible to travel to Canada, so he won't play in Calgary, Edmonton or Vancouver. This is tough timing for the Red Wings, who lost Robby Fabbri for the season on Thursday. Taro Hirose was recalled from the AHL to fill in.
Grzelcyk was on track to return to the lineup after missing one game with an upper-body injury but is now under the weather and will miss his second straight game. Jack Ahcan will stick on the Bruins' blueline and PP2 with Grzelcyk out.
Bertuzzi missed Wednesday's practice due to a non-COVID illness and is questionable to play Thursday vs. the Wild. Expect Givani Smith to draw into the lineup if Bertuzzi can't go.
Knight will be make his first NHL start since February 1st. He's had ups and downs in 2022 but his last three NHL starts were solid, going 2-1-0 with a .931 SV%. He's spent almost half of the season in the AHL, where he is 7-3-0 with a 2.55 GAA and .917 SV%.
Grzelcyk is dealing with an upper-body injury and will be a game-time decision vs. the Kings. If Grzelcyk can't go, look for Jack Ahcan to slot back in and take his place on PP2.
The Panthers open the week with a back-to-back on Monday and Tuesday and Knight is expected to start one of those games. With the easier matchup on Monday in Buffalo, it seems likely that Knight will start the front-end of the back-to-back. Knight has gone 7-3-0 with a 2.55 GAA And .917 SV% in 10 AHL games.
