Just like the Detroit Red Wings received a big boost when rookie defenseman Danny DeKeyser joined the team late in the season, so should the Grand Rapids Griffins for the Calder Cup finals.

DeKeyser, out since May 2 with a broken right thumb, has been cleared to play and will be in the lineup for Game 1 Saturday at the Syracuse Crunch, Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said.

“It's great experience for Danny DeKeyser to play against Syracuse,'' Holland said. “It's a great way for him to finish out this season and go into next season.''

Holland said a hand specialist told the Red Wings during the middle of their playoff series against the Chicago Blackhawks that DeKeyser would be cleared to play during the middle of the next round. He was injured during the third period in Game 2 of the first round against the Anaheim Ducks.

DeKeyser, 23, played in the final 11 games of the regular season, picking up one assist and posting a plus-4 rating. He made his NHL debut April 5 in Colorado, one week after signing as a free agent out of Western Michigan, and quickly secured a regular spot in the lineup because of his strong skating and ability to move the puck.

DeKeyser's teammates were effusive in their praise for the young defenseman last week, when they cleaned out their lockers.

“Playing and coming into the NHL as a defenseman is not easy, and he came in and played so well,'' forward Daniel Cleary said. “With his attitude and his confidence, he's such a great kid. He really gets it.

"He's going to be a great pro, he's going to be a great Red Wing. His ability to make plays and passes and his skating and his steadiness, he's only going to get better."

Michigan State product Drew Miller knows how difficult the transition from college to the pros, especially the NHL, can be.

“He definitely exceeded everyone's expectations, I think, and came in and was an impact player right away,'' Miller said.

Defenseman Kyle Quincey said DeKeyser is “beyond his years.''

“He’s going to be a very good player,'' Quincey said. “We got a glimpse of it. He’s going to be something special.''

Said goaltender Jimmy Howard: “I think he's going to be a great player. He's going to be around a long time and he's a great kid, too.''

DeKeyser said last week that his relatively brief time with the club will be invaluable moving forward.

“The time I had here was great,'' DeKeyser said. “I learned a lot about the professional lifestyle, the professional game. Next year I won’t have much of a transition and I’ll be ready to go right off the bat.

“Couple games in the playoffs was a great experience for me as well. Down the road I’ll know what to expect. It won’t be a surprise for me.''

Free Calder Cup live streaming

The AHL announced that the Calder Cup finals will be available for free live streaming. Using promo code CALDER2013, fans can register and log in at www.ahllive.com and watch all of the action.