Although Darren McCarty was put on Grand Rapids' 22-man Clear Day roster, he might not be in the Griffins' playoff plans. The Clear Day roster is the list of players who are eligible for the American Hockey League playoffs. If you're not on the list, you can't play in the post-season.
Detroit general manager Ken Holland has said that McCarty will be with the Red Wings once his conditioning stint is over.
According to Randy Cleves, the Griffins' senior director of public relations, McCarty needed to be on the Clear Day roster to ensure that he would be AHL eligible for the remainder of his conditioning stint. That rule makes no sense to me, but it wouldn't be the first AHL rule that sounds goofy.
There was a scenario in which McCarty wouldn't be eligible had he not been on the list and some of the Griffins' emergency conditions had been alleviated by players returning from injuries or being assigned by the Red Wings.
So, McCarty might remain with the Red Wings once he arrives next Monday.