The Detroit Red Wings recalled right wing Landon Ferraro from the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League (AHL) on Monday. Ferraro has 27 goals and 15 assists in 70 games with the Griffins this season and played four games for the Red Wings last season.

The Red Wings – currently trying to keep their playoff spot in the Eastern Conference – drafted Ferraro in the second round (32^ndoverall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

And while the 23-year-old forward said he enjoys playing with the Griffins, Ferraro said his ultimate goal is to become a permanent part of the Red Wings’ roster.

“I’ve enjoyed it. It’s my fourth year,” Ferraro said of playing for the Griffins. “The level of play is really good and you’re one step away from the NHL, so it’s a good spot to be at. Guys going back and forth make you realize how close you are and how much more you gotta push to make sure that you get your chance and, when you get your chance, you really take advantage of it.”

Ferraro played junior hockey for the Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League (WHL). During the 2007-08 season, he played 54 games for the Rebels, notching 13 goals and aided 11 assists for a total of 24 points. The following season, Ferraro was the team’s leading scorer registering 37 goals and 18 assists for a total of 55 points in 68 games.

During his fourth season with the Rebels, 2009-10, Ferraro missed time early in the season due to an injury. He scored 16 goals and tallied 30 assists for a total of 46 points in 53 games played. He also played his first two games for the Griffins.

Ferraro’s fifth and final season in the WHL was spent with the Everett Silvertips, where he suffered an injury that resulted in missing six weeks of play. In total, he laced up for 41 games, scored ten goals and tallied 17 assists for a total of 27 points.

After a successful run in junior, Ferraro began his professional career by signing a three-year entry-level contract with the Detroit Red Wings. Ferraro said he enjoys being a part of an organization like Detroit, which has a storied hockey legacy.

“It’s something special,” Ferraro said. “After I was drafted and met with (General Manager) Kenny Holland at the table, I did all the press stuff, and then went up into the team’s box and the first person I saw… it was just me and Steve Yzerman in the press box together.”

“Then, before I played my first American League game I was standing there, getting ready to go out for warm ups, and Gordie Howe comes walking in.  One day in Detroit, Ted Lindsay comes into the room. There are so many all-stars and legendary heroes of the game that are casually walking through Detroit’s organizations’ compound of Grand Rapids and Detroit, so it’s a pretty special experience.”

During the 2011-12 season, his first full professional season with the Griffins, Ferraro played 56 games, scored nine goals and tallied 11 assists for a total of 20 points, ranking second among Griffins rookies.

While playing professional hockey, Ferraro said he has become familiar with the Professional Hockey Players’ Association (PHPA), the collective bargaining representative for players in the AHL and ECHL. He also mentioned that the Griffins’ PHPA Player Representative, Brennan Evans, constantly keeps himself and the other guys in the locker room in the loop on anything and everything they need to know

“Every time that PHPA staff have come in and talked to our team at the beginning of the year, they’ve always been informative and really try to make sure that we have everything we need,” Ferraro said of the PHPA. “It’s obviously run well and any time a guy needs something, they’re there for you, so it’s all you can ask for.”

In his second professional season with the Griffins, during the 2012-13 season, he recorded a team-high of 24 goals and 23 assists for a total of 47 points in 72 games.

“That season was interesting, because we had so many guys going up and down, back and forth,” Ferraro said. “We learned how to play through some adversity and that’s what the American League is all about, when it comes down to it, is which team can stay together when the best pieces are being pulled away. Obviously, we’re here to develop, but at the same time, we’re here to make sure that we give depths to our NHL teams and, at the end of the day, if they need someone, they’re gonna take them regardless of whether we have an important game or not that night.”

The Griffins finished first in the Midwest Division that season and went on to win the Calder Cup championship.  In 24 playoff games, Ferraro notched five goals and 11 assists.

“It was something that I never experienced, going that long in a playoff run,” Ferraro explained. “I hadn’t won a playoff game since midget.  Four years in the Western (Hockey) League, I never won one, so it was a little bit of a change adding another 24 games to the season.  Just being able to see how far you can push your body and how much of a team we were, it was the most fun I’ve ever had playing hockey with those guys, so it was a pretty special experience.”

During his third full season with the Griffins in 2013-14, Ferraro played 70 games, scored 15 goals and tallied 16 assists for a total of 31 points.  He also made his NHL debut for the Red Wings on March 18, 2014 in a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. He went on to play three additional games for the Red Wings during that time.

“It was really exciting,” Ferraro said. “When I first got the call, I was really excited to call my parents and my brother, and then you have the two hour drive to Detroit and you’re thinking different things on the way up and you get there and I didn’t know if I was playing or not. It was a game time decision at that point, so I just took part in the morning skate and was hanging around until I got the ‘yes’ or ‘no’ and I didn’t even really find out until after warm ups.  Playing my first game was everything I’ve always dreamed of.  I got to play in the same building that my dad finished his career, so that was pretty special too and to have him and my mom there was pretty cool.”

Ferraro is the son of former NHL player and current hockey analyst Ray Ferraro.  Landon said his father gave him a bit of advice before his first game.

“He just said to enjoy it and don’t be too nervous.  Just get your first shift in and then after that, it’s just a game. It was really nice knowing both my mom and my dad were able to be there to see my first game. I obviously put a lot of work into it, but – at the same time – it was a lot of hours of them driving me to the rink and everything that they’ve given up to help me, so it was nice to be able to share it with them.”

After his first stint with the Red Wings, Ferraro said he was happy with himself and the way he played.

“I just felt that I kind of proved myself, that I could play at that level,” he said. “There are still things that I need to work on, and I feel like I’ve done that pretty well, just being better defensively, being harder on pucks is a big thing that I worked on, so I just came back knowing that I could play there instead of just thinking that I could.”

In July 2014, Ferraro signed a one-year two-way contract with the Detroit Red Wings. This season, 2014-15, Ferraro has played a total of 70 games for the Griffins, scored 27 goals and recorded 15 assists for a total of 61 points.

“It’s going really well,” Ferraro said of the Griffins’ season. “We had a slow start, but things have been really good as of late. For me, it’s always about trying to get stronger and putting on some weight. I’m getting the same amount of chances I did last year, but they seem to be going in this year.  Playing with a lot more confidence definitely helps.”

As for his future with the Red Wings, Ferraro said he hopes to be the guy that’s called up if the Red Wings need more depth, which is exactly what happened on Monday. He also added that he wants to help the Griffins reach the playoffs and bring another Calder Cup championship to Grand Rapids.

“My main goal is making the NHL and being able to stay there,” Ferraro said. “I’ve had a really good year so far this season. I feel like I’ve been good defensively and that’s where my game has to be good if I’m gonna make it.  I hope to finish out strong and have a good playoff and hopefully bring another championship to Grand Rapids.  From there, just try to make the team out of camp and see where that goes.”

The Ottawa Senators are only two points behind the Detroit Red Wings. The Red Wings have a chance to clinch a playoff spot when they host the Carolina Hurricanes during their regular-season finale on Tuesday night at the Joe Louis Arena. The puck drops at 7:30 p.m.