Not sure why people are all making this about Pulkkinen vs. Frk. Pulkkinen would have likely been claimed too. There's little reason for a team like Carolina or the Devils or any other team that can give a guy like that 12 minutes a night for half a season not to see if they can make an asset out of him.
The problem here is that the Wings are perpetually signing Modanos, Clearys, Richards, Weisses, Otts, and Vaneks year after year when those offensive, 3rd line, not-expected-to-be-a-defensive-stalwart minutes should be going to the Pulkkinens, Frks, and Jurcos. You don't find out what you have in an offensive, incomplete-as-of-yet youngster by yanking them in and out of the lineup, giving them 7 minutes a night.
If you spend so much time developing these players, then you should give them a fair shake. Its ridiculous to tolerate subpar play from guys like Richards, Cleary, and Modano just because they were once good NHLers and turn around and not tolerate subpar play from youngsters just because they aren't good players yet. There could be a pay off for tolerating the latter group, there is none coming from the former.