Red Wings assign Taro Hirose and Danny O'Regan to Griffins
Hirose leads Grand Rapids with 56 points in 69 games; O'Regan has tallied 30 points in 37 games with Griffins
Hirose, 26, appeared in three games with the Red Wings this season, recording two penalty minutes, two shots and a pair of blocks in 10:20 average time on ice. The 5-foot-10, 162-pound forward has also skated in 69 games with the Griffins and ranks among the team leaders with 15 goals (3rd), 41 assists (1st), 56 points (1st), three power play goals (6th) and 147 shots (2nd). Hirose split the 2021-22 campaign between Detroit and Grand Rapids, notching four points (1-3-4) in 15 games with the Red Wings while tallying 53 points (15-38-53) in 59 contests with the Griffins. In all, Hirose has logged 20 points (4-16-20) and 14 penalty minutes in 60 games with the Red Wings since making his NHL debut in 2018-19. He has also accumulated 164 points (40-124-164) and 40 penalty minutes in 192 games with the Griffins over the last four seasons. Originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Red Wings on March 12, 2019, Hirose posted seven points (1-6-7) in 10 contests during his first NHL stint in 2018-19.
A native of Calgary, Alberta, Hirose spent three seasons at Michigan State University prior to turning professional, compiling 116 points (33-83-116) and 39 penalty minutes in 106 games from 2016-19. As a junior in 2018-19, Hirose was named the Big Ten Player of the Year and a Hobey Baker Award finalist after tying for the NCAA's scoring lead with 50 points (15-35-50) in 36 games. He was also an All-Big Ten Second Team selection as a sophomore after showing 42 points (12-30-42) in 36 games during the 2017-18 campaign. Before starting his collegiate career, Hirose played two seasons with the Salmon Arm Silverbacks of the British Columbia Hockey League from 2014-16, totaling 121 points (33-88-121) and 30 penalty minutes in 116 games, in addition to five points (1-4-5) in six postseason contests. He paced Salmon Arm with 71 points (15-56-71) in 58 games during the 2015-16 season and was named the team's Rookie of the Year after collecting 50 points (18-32-50) in 58 games in 2014-15.
O'Regan, 29, has spent the 2022-23 season with the Griffins and San Diego Gulls, recording 48 points (17-31-48) and 16 penalty minutes in 64 AHL games. The 5-foot-10, 180-pound forward was acquired by Detroit from the Anaheim Ducks on Dec. 19, 2022 as part of a three-team deal that sent right wing Givani Smith to the Florida Panthers. O'Regan split the 2021-22 campaign between Anaheim and San Diego, tallying one assist in five appearances with the Ducks, in addition to 34 points (13-21-34) and 20 penalty minutes in 53 contests with the Gulls. Originally selected by the San Jose Sharks in the fifth round (138th overall) of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, O'Regan has logged six points (1-5-6) in 30 NHL games with the Sharks, Buffalo Sabres and Ducks since 2016-17. He has also compiled 303 points (113-190-303) and 132 penalty minutes in 398 AHL games with the San Jose Barracuda, Rochester Americans, Hartford Wolf Pack, Henderson Silver Knights, Gulls and Griffins. In his first professional season in 2016-17, O'Regan led all AHL rookies with 58 points (23-35-58) in 63 games and represented the Barracuda at the 2017 AHL All-Star Classic. In recognition of his efforts, O'Regan was named to the AHL All-Rookie Team and was the recipient of the Dudley "Red" Garrett Award as the AHL's most outstanding rookie.
Prior to turning professional, O'Regan played four seasons at Boston University, totaling 154 points (66-88-154), a plus-28 rating and 72 penalty minutes in 154 games from 2012-16. He was named a Hockey East First-Team All-Star and NCAA East Second All-American Team selection after pacing the Terriers in goals (17), assists (27) and points (44) in 39 contests during his senior year. O'Regan was also a Hockey East Second-Team All-Star and NCAA Tournament All-Regional Team selection as a junior after helping the Terriers win the Hockey East title and clinch a berth in the 2015 NCAA Division I championship game. He was also selected to the 2012-13 Hockey East All-Rookie Team after becoming the first freshman in program history to lead the team in points since Tony Amonte in 1989-90. Before starting his collegiate career, O'Regan skated with the U.S. National Team Development Program in 2011-12. A native of Berlin, Germany, O'Regan has represented the United States on the international stage, netting one goal in four appearances at the 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship. O'Regan earned a gold medal with Team USA at the 2012 IIHF World Under-18 Championship, notching four points (1-3-4) in six games. He also competed at the 2011 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, recording five points (2-3-5) in four games.
Taro Hirose, Left Wing
Born Jun 30 1996 -- Calgary, AB
Height 5.10 -- Weight 162 -- Shoots L
Danny O'Regan, Center
Born Jan 30 1994 -- Berlin, Germany
Height 5.10 -- Weight 180 -- Shoots R
