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AHL Grand Rapids Griffins

Red Wings Recall Tangradi, Reassign Paterson to Toledo; Griffins Sign Lerg to PTO

December 28, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release


GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Detroit Red Wings on Monday recalled forward Eric Tangradi from the Grand Rapids Griffins and reassigned goaltender Jake Paterson from the Griffins to the ECHL's Toledo Walleye. In addition, the Griffins signed goaltender Jeff Lerg to a professional tryout.

Signed to a one-year contract by Detroit in July, Tangradi leads Grand Rapids with 13 goals this season and is second in points (13-9-22). Tangradi has appeared in 24 games with the Griffins and his eight-game point streak from Nov. 27-Dec. 26 set a team best. He recorded his fourth career hat trick in a 4-1 victory over Lake Erie on Dec. 5.

Should he appear with the Red Wings, Tangradi will become the 153rd Griffin to play in the NHL.

Tangradi, 26, spent the majority of the 2014-15 season with the AHL's Hamilton Bulldogs, ranking seventh on the team in scoring with 31 points (14-17-31) and 56 penalty minutes in 48 games. Originally drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in the second round (42nd overall) of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, Tangradi also appeared in seven games with the Montreal Canadiens last season and has notched a total of five goals and 10 assists in 143 career NHL games between the Pittsburgh Penguins (2009-13), Winnipeg Jets (2012-14) and Canadiens (2014-15).

The 6-foot-4, 221-pound Tangradi has played the majority of his AHL career with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (2009-13). In all, the left wing has accumulated 174 points (87-87-174) in 250 AHL games since 2009. During the 2010-11 season, Tangradi was named to the 2011 AHL All-Star Classic and earned honors as the AHL Player of the Week for the period ending Dec. 12, after scoring five goals and two assists in three games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Detroit's second choice (80th overall) in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, Paterson has appeared in 11 games with the Walleye during his first professional season. The Mississauga, Ontario, native posts a 5-4-1-1 record between the pipes for the division-leading Walleye to go along with 0.921 save percentage and a 2.53 goals against average. Reassigned to the Griffins on Dec. 9, Paterson served as the backup to Jared Coreau for the last seven games (Dec. 12-27).

Paterson split time with three teams during the 2014-15 season. In 24 games with the Ontario Hockey League's Saginaw Spirit, he accumulated a 12-11-1 record, a 3.48 GAA, and a 0.905 save percentage before being traded to the Kitchener Rangers. In 26 games with the Rangers, he amassed a 14-10-2 record along with a 2.37 GAA and a 0.929 save percentage. Paterson also suited up for six playoff games with the Rangers, producing a 2-4 record and a 5.18 GAA, before being reassigned to Toledo. He concluded the season ranked inside the top 10 in several OHL goaltending categories including fourth in save percentage (0.917), fourth in saves (1,579), tied for sixth in shutouts (three), seventh in goals against average (2.90) and eighth in wins (26). Paterson made his professional debut with the Walleye in a relief effort on April 11 against Kalamazoo before earning his first professional victory behind 32 saves on April 12 against Kalamazoo.

A native of Livonia, Mich., Lerg has played in 17 games with Toledo this season, ranking eighth among ECHL goaltenders with a 2.01 GAA to go along with a 12-3-0 record, a 0.929 save percentage and one shutout. Lerg appeared in 45 games for the Walleye during the 2014-15 season, finishing with a 32-9-3 record, 2.37 GAA and 0.920 save percentage. Prior to his professional career, Lerg spent four seasons (2005-09) with Michigan State University and turned out a 2.38 GAA and a 76-51-17 record.

The Griffins travel to Milwaukee on Tuesday before returning home to face the Admirals on New Year's Eve. Grand Rapids rounds out the week with a trip to Manitoba on Sunday.

Fans can secure their full-season, select-season or group ticket packages by calling (616) 774-4585 ext. 2. Single-game tickets for all home games are now available for purchase at all Star Tickets locations, including The Zone, online through griffinshockey.com, or by phone through Star Tickets at (800) 585-3737.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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