Jordin Tootoo’s hockey career languishes in limbo after he clears waivers

Detroit Red Wings forward Jordin Tootoo of Rankin Inlet has cleared waivers and now finds himself in no-man’s land.

After being put on waivers Nov. 6, any National Hockey League team had a 24-hour window to take over the rest of his contract, which is worth $3.8 million over two years.

But that deadline has come and gone, and no team picked up him up.

Discussions with the Red Wings’ back room staff on what happens next are said to take place soon.

Holland and head coach Mike Babcock have the option of keeping Tootoo on the Red Wings’ roster while leaving him off the lineup.

But Holland can also choose to drop Tootoo to the Red Wings’ American Hockey League affiliate team, the Grand Rapids Griffins.

If that happens, the Red Wings’ can free up almost $1 million worth of cap space.

Holland first told the Detroit Free Press that Tootoo would be sent to the minors if Tootoo cleared waivers.

Holland’s position seems to have changed, however. Holland now says Tootoo will stay with the Red Wings for now.

But Detroit’s official website says it is “likely” Tootoo will be sent to the AHL a week from Nov. 7.

Tootoo was left off the lineup for the Nov. 7 game against the Dallas Stars, even ‘though he did skate with the team earlier in the day for an optional practice.”

Speaking to media after the deadline passed, Tootoo said he had a hunch about being put on waivers.

“I had an idea something was going to happen,” Tootoo is quoted as saying on the Red Wings’ official website, DetroitRedWings.com.

“Obviously it comes down to numbers and cap space,” Tootoo said, adding that he wanted to thank the organization.

Tootoo said that “hopefully one day I can come back and be a Red Wing again.”

But professional athletes like him are expected to move around, he said.

“You just got to show up and do your job. Part of our job is being moved around. I don’t think about it, I just come to work and get the job done,” he said.

Tootoo showed a hint of disappointment in the decision to be put on waivers, however.

“It’s not rocket science. Unfortunately I’m the one they decided to put on waivers or move,” Tootoo told the website.

“I’ve been around long enough to understand what being a pro is and obviously I’ve been through this path before. It’s not my first rodeo,” Tootoo said.

Coach Mike Babcock said Nov. 6 that the reason Tootoo had been put on waivers is because the team has too many right-wingers.

Tootoo is a minus-four player this year. He has recorded no points in the eight games he’s played, and has notched five minutes of penalty minutes for fighting.