Former Red Wing Darren McCarty has been offered a professional tryout with the Grand Rapids Griffins. McCarty has been playing for the Flint Generals the past three weeks, a team owned by current Red Wing Kris Draper.

One important point here. Framing this as McCarty moving one step closer to being a Red Wing is wrong. This is the start of McCarty's audition for Detroit and the rest of the NHL. Flint was his training camp.

McCarty will accept the offer to play for the Griffins as soon as the NHL office gives its approval. McCarty's goal is to return to the NHL and he wants to make sure that he doesn't hurt his chances to do so with any move. He secured the NHL's blessing before playing in Flint.
"Everything he needed to go through to play in Flint, he has to go through now," said Detroit general manager Ken Holland.
McCarty played for the Calgary Flames last season, but was unsigned this year. He approached the Red Wings a month ago about making a comeback.
"He'd love the opportunity to get into the American League to win us over, to get to the NHL," said Holland. "He admitted that a month ago, he was in no shape to go to the American League. He was looking at Flint as a training camp. Given my relationship and the organization's relationship with Darren, we said, You get yourself in better shape, we'll give you an opportunity.' He knows he's now being evaluated (in Grand Rapids) for an (NHL) contract."