Fischer assigned to Cincinnati
Top prospect Jiri Fischer made the jump from major junior to the NHL this season after a strong training camp showing in September.
By Matthew Wuest

Monday, January 3, 2000

DETROIT, MI (GW)

The Detroit Red Wings announced Saturday that Jiri Fischer would be assigned to Cincinnati of the AHL on a 2-week conditioning stint. Fischer, the Red Wings’ top prospect, made the team out of training camp and survived the 10-game CHL cut. Arriving at training camp in tremendous physical shape, Jiri was paired with Red Wing star Nicklas Lidstrom and drew rave reviews.

Fischer became a fairly regular member of the Detroit blue line at the beginning of the 1999-2000 season and appearing in 20 the Wings’ first 37 games. Recently, however, Fischer struggled to stay in the lineup with Lidstrom, Chris Chelios, Steve Duchesne, Larry Murphy, and Aaron Ward all ahead of him on the depth chart. In addition, swingman Mathieu Dandenault had returned the blue line and fellow prospect Yan Golubovsky has raised his level of play.

The main reason for Fischer’s demotion was to give him ice time. Although not spectacular, Fischer had been solid as a rookie defenseman on a veteran team, averaging around 10 minutes a game. However, Scotty Bowman has always given precedence to more experienced defensemen, and Fischer has become a victim of the veteran coach’s tactics.

With a solid two-week stint in Cincinnati, Fischer can play himself back into the Red Wings NHL lineup. The hulking defenseman joins fellow defensive prospects Jesse Wallin and Shane Hnidy with the AHL franchise.