Detroit Red Wings: Christian Djoos finding a role with new club

The Detroit Red Wings claimed defenseman Christian Djoos on waivers earlier this season, and since then, he has logged 13 games for the Red Wings. He has settled into his new role and even managed to get on the scoresheet nearly a handful of times.

While the Detroit Red Wings claiming Djoos was not a monumental pickup or addition, he has found a way to stick with the team. Similar to when the Red Wings signed Patrik Nemeth last offseason, there may not be a ton there to be excited about, but he serves a purpose for this team.

The Red Wings claimed Djoos from the Washington Capitals, where he had not logged a single game this season. He has already logged more games than he did in 2019-20 with the Capitals and Ducks.

Djoos is no Norris Trophy-type candidate defender, but he has started to settle in as a bottom-pairing defender for the Red Wings in the 2020-21 season. With Danny DeKeyser being put on waivers and COVID protocols keeping Jon Merrill off the ice earlier this season, Djoos has had opportunities.

By no means is he some top-flight defenseman, but Christian Djoos has settled into a role with the Detroit Red Wings since being claimed.

More from Detroit Jock City

• Tigers Sign Manager A.J. Hinch to Long-Term Extension
• Lions vs. Bears Week 14 Opening Odds Disrespect Detroit
• Former Tigers Celebrate Jim Leyland Hall of Fame Call
• This Pistons Team Could be the Worst in Detroit Sports History
• 4 Free Agents Tigers Should Sign During Winter Meetings

So far in 2020-21, Djoos has played in 13 games for the Red Wings, where he has logged one goal and two assists for three total points. He is a minus-two rating and averages 16:17 in ice time night in and night out.

Looking a little bit further, Djoos has a 46.2% Corsi For percentage (CF%), which is not the greatest, but he is 3.7% below the team average for the 2020-21 season.

But, this has not been the biggest indicator of Djoos’ performance this season with the Red Wings. He has been able to be a serviceable defender for the team.

While he likely does not have this opportunity on teams who are much better than the terrible Red Wings, he still has found a new role.

Even if that role is just being a logjam defender, some of the prospects work their way into the NHL.

However, amid a pandemic, getting players to make the transition from the Swedish Hockey League(SHL) or any European league for that matter is not the easiest.

The younger players will eventually get here, and Djoos could become obsolete on this roster, but for the time being, he is the perfect third pairing logjam defenseman. He is not invisible on the ice as some former Red Wings defenseman have been; he has found ways to get on the scoresheet here and there.

Claiming Djoos was not a big deal, and his new role is not a big deal either, but there is something to be said about General Manager (GM) Steve Yzerman being able to find ways to bring in bodies for this team.

A putrid Red Wings team that is clearly struggling through a rebuild, and Yzerman has been able to get cost-effective players who can simply fill roles until the Detroit Red Wings are competitive once again.