Red Wings' Dominik Shine finally has his moment: 'Something I'll cherish forever'

DETROIT Dominik Shine had accepted this day might not be in the cards.

There was a point last season, after the birth of his first child, that Shine had even thought about hanging up his skates thinking about the demanding travel schedule of the American Hockey League and how much he would be away from his family.

And after eight seasons in the AHL, it would have still been a darn good pro hockey career had he done so.

He considered it but realized how special it was for his son to see him play, and decided to stay for another year and see what happened.

Advertisement Monday, what happened was this: at about 10:30 a.m.

Shine was driving with his son, Cooper, to Peranis Hockey World to buy ice skates when his phone rang.

It was Red Wings assistant general manager Shawn Horcoff.

The Red Wings needed him.

Shine is a Detroit kid.

Growing up, he dreamed of being a Red Wing.

Pretended he was one.

With that phone call, he really finally was.

To actually be able to wear (the Red Wings jersey) in a regular season game, and be here, is just something Ill cherish forever, Shine said Monday night, minutes after finally making his NHL debut at age 31 in a 5-2 Red Wings win over the Los Angeles Kings .

At 31 years, 284 days, hes the oldest Red Wings player to make his NHL debut since Vaclav Nedomansky (33) in 1977.

Coming out of college as an undrafted free agent in 2017, he signed with the Red Wings AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids.

Hes been a mainstay there for the Griffins ever since, playing 462 regular season games, and 19 more in the playoffs.

For years, hes been through training camps and preseasons with the team right there on the doorstep.

But after so long, he acknowledged Monday, he didnt think the call would ever come.

Instead, after a frantic morning which culminated with Shine signing a two-year deal with the Red Wings and joining the team in Detroit there he was, hitting the ice in a Red Wings uniform.

His son, Cooper, and wife, Taylor, were right along the glass for warmups, and then right outside the Red Wings locker room to greet him.

Its so fun to see, said Red Wings forward Elmer Soderblom , who like so many other young Red Wings players played with Shine in Grand Rapids on his way to Detroit.

Ive been with Shiner for multiple years now, so its just so exciting to see him out there.

The hard work hes put in, he really deserves it.

Advertisement Shines opportunity came via some extenuating circumstances.

Red Wings forward J.T.

Compher was ruled out with an injury, and Vladimir Tarasenko wasnt feeling well enough to play.

That left Detroit a body short going into a big game against the Kings.

Red Wings coach Todd McLellan admitted that he didnt know Dominik Shine ...

existed, as of Monday morning a product of being just one month into his tenure with the team, and never having had a training camp to get to know players outside of his 23-man roster.

But the rest of his staff, outside of fellow new coach Trent Yawney, certainly did.

They knew what the rest of the organization knew about Shine: that he was a heart-and-soul player who was ready for his opportunity.

All I heard come out of peoples mouths is hes going to be fine, youre actually going to really like him, McLellan said.

Thats all I needed to hear.

31-year-old Dominik Shine is making his NHL debut tonight for his hometown team, the @DetroitRedWings ! : @NHLNetwork pic.twitter.com/9HnH096Pt5 NHL (@NHL) January 28, 2025 McLellan plugged him in on Detroits fourth line and gave him nine minutes and 50 seconds, in which time Shine registered two hits, two takeaways and a blocked shot.

And while McLellan may not have known Shine personally, hes certainly been around the game long enough to appreciate the role Shine has played for the franchise and what the night meant for him.

Within the organization, its important that somebody shepherds the group somewhere, McLellan said.

And you cant have NHL players in Grand Rapids all the time.

So somebody has to assume that role.

It sounds like Dominik does that there: he shepherds the group, he takes care of it, he leads.

He plays hard for them.

He fights for them.

He scores for them.

And thats likely the reason hes spent seven or eight years there because hes a good shepherd.

If he wasnt, then hed move on and be on four other different teams.

Advertisement But then the person himself, hes persevered.

Hes resilient.

Im sure theres been moments hes probably looked in the mirror and (gone), What the hell am I doing? But he stuck with it, and got rewarded.

Detroit dug an early hole Monday, trailing 2-0 late in the first period, but stormed back to score five unanswered.

One of those goals came from Soderblom.

Two more came from Marco Kasper , another rookie who spent last season in Grand Rapids with Shine.

Star winger Lucas Raymond had a 4-point night.

When the game ended, though, it was Shine holding court at the podium next to Soderblom a testament to just how much his story means in Detroits locker room.

And the fact Shines call-up came in a Red Wings win made it all the better.

Thats what I wanted for this to come out with a win and have everyone in that locker room happy, Shine said.

You cant ask for anything more than that.

As amazing a reward as this call-up was for Shine, it wasnt just given, either.

Hes on pace for a career year in Grand Rapids, with 32 points in his first 40 games just one shy already of his career high of 33 last season.

He credits that surge to opportunity, time on the power play and the composition of the team, with a hard-working, veteran roster around him.

Simply put, hes been one of their best players.

Hes a pro, Soderblom said.

I think hes one of the smartest players Ive played with.

It feels like he always makes the right decision out there.

At this point, its not clear whats next for Shine or how long this NHL stay will last.

In all likelihood, it wont be too long.

But on Monday, all those years of hard work finally paid off for one of the organizations true fixtures.

And as for how reality compared to all those years of dreaming, Shines answer was simple.

Way better.

(Top photo: Dave Reginek / NHLI via Getty Images).

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