DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings have gotten good goaltending this season, and that continued Saturday at practice when 4-year-old Merrick stepped into the net.

“Some of the saves he made on some key guys, I think that he at least deserves a contract and maybe we’ll sign him for a day or two and he can pinch hit,” coach Todd McLellan said.

Merrick is a cancer survivor who visited through Make-A-Wish, and the Red Wings were delighted to have him join them on the ice. John Gibson helped get him set up between the pipes.

“It’s always a special day when you can do something a little like that to help him out,” Gibson said. “You could tell how much it meant to him and his family and his sister. So, it’s cool. They’re very appreciative. And anytime you see him being able to smile and have fun out there, and he was excited to stop the breakaway, so it was a good day.”

Gibson showed the boy around the room before practice and spent time with him and his family.

“I have kids around the same age as him, too, so it definitely hits home,” Gibson said. “And to make you feel grateful for what you have, and you see a little boy like that fighting his fight and his battle, and he’s here. He’s just being a kid, happy to be here, and kind of take his mind off whatever they have going on. So nice to just help out, be a small part of his day.”

Said McLellan: “I think he’s working out in the gym with Gibby right now. So, once he’s done his workout, he’ll come in and spend some time with the coaches and maybe he can give us a few pointers. We could use the help.”

McLellan called the experience uplifting for the team.

“It does something for the spirit a little bit, makes you feel good and you reflect on your own situation, whether it’s family immediately or down the road or little ones or whatever it might be, and how fortunate we are,” McLellan said. “And it also makes you think about can we do more to help? We get so wrapped up in wins and losses and slumps and who’s playing well, who isn’t, that there’s probably more time for the real world and we should try to find it.”