DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings had to call on Brian Lashoff sooner than they anticipated this season, due to injuries.

Once he arrived, it didn't take them long to determine that he will not be an AHL journeyman.

“I told his agent, Rick Curran, last week that we've seen enough to think he's a National Hockey League defenseman, do they want to talk security?'' Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said.

Lashoff received some security on Monday, when the Red Wings signed him to a three-year, $2.175 million extension. It's a one-way deal (NHL-salary only) all three years, with a salary-cap hit of $725,000.

“We like to reward young people when they play well,'' Holland said. “It gives him the confidence that, 'I'm doing good things and I'll be in the NHL.' We think he'll get better and better.''

The 6-foot-3, 212-pound Lashoff, 22, has been a pleasant surprise. He was expected to spend the entire year with the Grand Rapids Griffins, but injuries to Carlo Colaiacovo, Jonathan Ericsson and Jakub Kindl forced the Red Wings to recall Lashoff on Jan. 21.

He scored a goal in his NHL debut that night, in a 4-3 shootout win at Columbus.

More importantly, he has been strong and steady on defense, used on the top pairing for much of the season with Niklas Kronwall. He has one goal, two assists, four penalty minutes and a minus-4 rating in 15 games.

“He's played 18-to-20 minutes a night and a lot of nights he’s playing against the other team’s best players,'' Holland said. “He's played on the penalty kill. He's rangy, he competes hard, he makes a good outlet pass.

“He’s well positioned. He makes mistakes, but that’s part of having young people. They make mistakes and they have to learn from it. We feel he has potential.''

This is Lashoff's final waiver-exempt season. Holland would not say whether he will be reassigned to Grand Rapids once their three injured defensemen return. Kyle Quincey (left ankle) could be ready for Wednesday's game in Los Angeles. Brendan Smith and Colaiacovo (both out with shoulder injuries) are due back by Sunday's game against Chicago, if not sooner.

“No plans right now,'' Holland said. “I'm hoping we got a roster issue to worry about.''

He said they will have no 23-man roster issues to worry about for some time because they have the flexibility to send down forwards Tomas Tatar and Joakim Andersson.

“We're not going to keep younger players up here to be healthy scratches,'' Holland said.

Lashoff, an undrafted free agent from Albany, N.Y., played in parts of five seasons with the Griffins, picking up 11 goals and 24 assists in 161 games.

He was invited to Red Wings training camp on a tryout in 2008. He was in the final year of his contract ($524,000) and due to become a restricted free agent this summer.

“He ended up playing his way onto the U.S. World Junior team that won a gold medal (in 2010) and then he turned pro,'' Holland said. “He kind of bounced around his first year as a pro between Toledo (ECHL) and Grand Rapids on left wing and defense.

“He established himself as a real legitimate (AHL) defenseman last year. The good thing for us, with the work stoppage he got another half-year of pro and he stepped into the NHL and has done a real good job.''

Lashoff will earn $650,000 next season, $675,000 in 2014-15 and $850,000 in 2015-16.

Holland said he is not close to signing anyone else. The Red Wings hope to get Jimmy Howard, Valtteri Filppula and Damien Brunner signed before the end of the season. All are due to become unrestricted free agents on July 5.