DETROIT – Tomas Tatar finally earned a roster spot with the Detroit Red Wings after spending four seasons with the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Now, he must earn a spot in the lineup. And that might take some time.

Tatar will start the season as an extra forward when the Red Wings host the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday (8 p.m., NBC Sports Network). Coach Mike Babcock doesn't hide the fact that he leans toward veterans. And for now, Todd Bertuzzi and Mikael Samuelsson are ahead of Tatar in the pecking order.

Babcock values Bertuzzi's size and Samuelsson's right-handed shot on the second power-play unit.

“I like him,'' Babcock said of Tatar. “I think he's a good player. He's a very usable player, has a knack for the net. But early going in the season, tie goes to the veteran not to the kid. That's just life.''

Tatar, 22, who has a strong training camp and preseason, accepts being the low man on the totem pole for now.

“I’m the youngest guy in the locker room,'' Tatar said. “I know the chance is coming, so I just have to wait for a spot and when it’s open just grab it and hold it.''

Injuries are inevitable and players will experience slumps. So chance are Tatar won't be sitting for long.

“Especially when we get another forward here (Daniel Cleary), it starts to get a little shaky for everybody,'' Tatar said. “So everybody has to battle and it was a huge battle for spots, I mean, obviously, I’m happy that I made it here, now it’s chance for another step, a challenge for me to get in the lineup for everyday.”

Tatar played well during an 18-game stint with the Red Wings last season, picking up four goals and three assists before being sent back to the Grand Rapids Griffins, replaced by Gustav Nyquist (who was assigned to Grand Rapids on Monday).

Tatar excelled in the AHL, winning playoff MVP honors as the Griffins captured the Calder Cup. He had 16 goals and 21 points in 24 playoff games.

He carried that confidence over into training camp and the preseason.

“It was a lots of games in a short time, so it was really hard, but every day you can learn something here in the Red Wings locker room,'' Tatar said. “I hope that I can pick up something from here and obviously it’s been an experience for me playing in lots of exhibition games and it’s going to give me more confidence. Now the season starts and so we have to focus on that.”

“Obviously, you can do better every time; you can’t be happy with yourself, but I think I did pretty good and I did what I wanted to do. I battled hard and I wouldn’t have made it here, it wouldn’t have happened. Now I have to wait for the right chance.”

Here are the lines and defense pairings the Red Wings skated with on Tuesday:

Henrik Zetterberg-Pavel Datsyuk-Justin Abdelkader

Johan Franzen-Stephen Weiss-Daniel Alfredsson

Daniel Cleary-Joakim Andersson-Todd Bertuzzi

Drew Miller-Cory Emmerton-Mikael Samuelsson

Tomas Tatar and Jordin Tootoo and Darren Helm, both on injured reserve) are the extras.

Niklas Kronwall-Jonathan Ericsson

Danny DeKeyser-Jakub Kindl

Kyle Quincey-Brendan Smith

Brian Ladhoff-Xavier Ouellet (extras)

Jimmy Howard

Jared Coreau