Darren McCarty Comeback Tour 2008: Coming to a NHL Arena Near You?

Back in early January, Darren McCarty, known for his bright red goatee and massive gambling debts, made a bit of news when he announced his intentions to make a NHL comeback.

Few people took it seriously, nothing that McCarty didn't score a single point in 32 games with the Flames last season. The prior two seasons? Just 24 points in 110 games.

Yet, with the Wings mired in a losing streak and in need of some beef up front, Darren McCarty's recent AHL hat trick must be tweaking a few ears in the front office of the Red Wings. As our own J.P. puts it, "McCarty's totally making it back to the NHL, with Detroit playing like such dogs. "

Newly re-employed Hollywood writers couldn't have dreamed up this plot. Playing before his largest Michigan home crowd in nearly four years and making his Griffins debut at Van Andel Arena, Darren McCarty tallied a hat trick and added an assist to power Grand Rapids to a 6-3 win over the Lake Erie Monsters on Friday.

The immensely popular former Red Wing scored 5:53 into the first period, 2:17 into the second and 2:45 into the third to ignite the throng of 10,062 and provide one of the most memorable and magical nights in the Griffins' 12-year history. He capped off his four-point evening - the first of his 16-year career - with a helper on Grand Rapids' final goal.

With five points in four AHL contests, and a renewed focus on hockey, we may yet see McCarty back in a Red Wings sweater. Before you think it a pipe dream, remember the Wings have only three forwards that are taller than 6'0". As the Ducks showed last season, size and grit are important during a long playoff run, and the Wings certainly will need some more help in that regard.