Taro Hirose is back in the NHL but his future with the Red Wings is uncertain

After spending the majority of the last two seasons in the American Hockey League, Taro Hirose is back with the Detroit Red Wings. The 25-year-old winger has four points (one goal, three assists) in 10 games with the Red Wings this season after lighting it up with the Grand Rapids Griffins to begin the year. Hirose remains the Griffins’ 2021–22 scoring leader (with 45 points in 52 games) despite not having suited up for the team since March 9. Since the Red Wings signed Hirose to his entry-level NHL contract out of Michigan State University back in 2019, the 5’10”, 162-lb. winger has played 52 games with Detroit over parts of four seasons while also being highly productive in the AHL. As a junior with the MSU Spartans in 2019, Hirose racked up 50 points in 35 games and — along with Adam Fox, Quinn Hughes, and the eventual winner Cale Makar — was named a top-ten finalist for the Hobey Baker Award. Hirose decided to forgo his senior season in college and ultimately chose to join the Red Wings that spring. He i