Red Wings sign David Pope to 2-year entry-level deal

Per the Detroit Red Wings:

Red Wings sign David Pope to entry-level deal

2013 draft pick led Nebraska Omaha in scoring in 2017-18

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings today signed left wing David Pope to a two-year entry-level contract.

Pope, 23, has spent the last four seasons at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, where he totaled 94 points (45-49-94) and 41 penalty minutes in 133 games. As a senior in 2017-18, Pope led the Mavericks in goals (20) points (41), power-play goals (12) and shots on goal (123) while tying for the team lead in assists (21). He tied for 28th overall in the nation in scoring, and finished second overall in power-play goals. Pope tied school records in 2017-18 by recording four assists and five points in a game on Jan. 12 vs. Miami, and he also registered his first NCAA hat trick on Feb. 2 at St. Cloud State. The 6-foot-3, 194-pound forward placed fourth overall in conference scoring with 28 points (14-14-28) in 23 National Collegiate Hockey Conference games and was selected to the NCHC First All-Star Team and NCHC All-Academic Team.

Originally drafted by the Red Wings in the fourth round (109th overall) of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, Pope spent three seasons (2011-14) in the British Columbia Hockey League prior to his collegiate career. In 131 BCHL games between the Cowichan Valley Capitals, Westside Warriors and West Kelowna Warriors, the Edmonton, Alberta, native registered 114 points (52-62-114) and 71 penalty minutes. In his final junior season, Pope led West Kelowna with 50 points (27-23-50) in 45 games and was selected to the BCHL Second All-Star Team.

David Pope, Left Wing
Born Sep 27 1994 — Edmonton, ALTA
Height 6.03 — Weight 194 — Shoots L

Selected by Detroit Red Wings round 4 #109 overall 2013 NHL Entry Draft

— Regular Season —  —- Playoffs —-
Season   Team                        Lge    GP    G    A  Pts  PIM  GP   G   A Pts PIM
————————————————————————————–
2011-12  Cowichan Valley Capitals    BCHL   24    2    5    7   12  —  —  —  —  —
2011-12  Westside Warriors           BCHL   20    6   12   18   19  —  —  —  —  —
2012-13  West Kelowna Warriors       BCHL   42   17   22   39   20   7   4   1   5   2
2013-14  West Kelowna Warriors       BCHL   45   27   23   50   20   6   2   4   6   2
2014-15  U. of Nebraska-Omaha        NCHC   33    8    6   14    6  —  —  —  —  —
2015-16  U. of Nebraska-Omaha        NCHC   31    4    4    8    8  —  —  —  —  —
2016-17  U. of Nebraska-Omaha        NCHC   34   13   18   31   14  —  —  —  —  —
2017-18  U. of Nebraska-Omaha        NCHC   35   20   21   41   13  —  —  —  —  —
————————————————————————————–

Update: FYI:

Update: Here’s the Free Press’s Helene St. James on Pope:

Negotiations with the 23-year-old forward drafted 109th overall in 2013 had been on hold while he finished up his senior year at University of Nebraska-Omaha. Pope posted career highs in 2017-18 with 20 goals, 21 assists and 41 points in 39 games. He’s 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds with good offensive instincts and soft hands and knows how to get open away from play.

Pope will be at development camp in late June, where he’ll mingle with the likes of 2017 first-round pick Michael Rasmussen. A better feel for whether Pope can help the Wings as soon as next season will come at training camp, but it’s a good chance for Pope to get acquainted with the team.

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George Malik

My name is George Malik, and I'm the Malik Report's editor/blogger/poster. I have been blogging about the Red Wings since 2006, and have worked with MLive and Kukla's Korner. Thank you for reading!

18 thoughts on “Red Wings sign David Pope to 2-year entry-level deal”

  1. Since I apparently do nothing but criticize the Wings…let me be the first to say this is great news. I’ve always liked Pope’s combination of size and speed. I think he can step in quite soon and give our bottom 6 a boost of speed, size, and skill. Also excited to see other college kids like Pearson and Holway continue their solid development.

    How about this for a bold prediction…David Pope will score more goals in his NHL career than Svechnikov.

    1. Yes!!! Pope may surprise some Wings fans, just keeps getting better every year!

      Great Signing, IMO

  2. “Since I apparently do nothing but criticize the Wings…let me be the first to say this is great news”

    Was it necessary to make it about you and victimize yourself? Those are the things that are cancerous…be an adult.

    On subject now…hopefully Pope can make the main squad. My question and intrigue is do they make that room…if they do?

    1. No it wasn’t necessary to make it about me.

      Nor is it necessary to say I’m a cancer, I’m a hater, I need help, EVERYTHING I say is negative, etc…

      So yeah, let’s all be adults.

      As for the roster decisions, I don’t think Pope has any chance to win a job out of camp. All of those forwards will be pre-determined, as per usual. Sigh. But if he does outperform and “win” a job, he’ll start in Grand Rapids while they try to make room. So then maybe Frk gets sent packing?

      1. “So yeah, let’s all be adults.”

        You mean like starting out two comments that focus on yourself while ignoring the fact that someone has pointed this out as CONSISTENTLY annoying about you? Seriously, you are acting just like my seven year old….[sorry for dragging you into this little buddy.]….and like I politely ask him, please stop.

        My bold prediction will be…….Pope scores at least as many NHL goals in his career then Sheahan had in his first 81 games last season.

        1. GrrRahRah, I would encourage you to do 2 things:

          1) Ignore me. George provided that function for you.
          2) Post about the articles at hand.

          Thanks, FatSavage

        2. Please let it go. The goal here is to not have anybody attack anybody else, even if they think that the other person might be a dick. FS is making an effort and I expect everybody else to make an effort to rein in the negativity that is lingering like a bad fart.

          2. “FS is making an effort…”

            fatsavage
            Ignored says:
            May 7, 2018 at 5:36 PM
            Haha. Suddenly it’s silent. Nice going George!

            Some effort George.

  3. I saw a thread that began with a quick self-deprecating comment that didn’t detract from the substance of the post at all.

    And was interested to see a good discussion about David Pope.

    Then a couple of people needlessly jumped on the first poster.

    Let’s talk about hockey.

    In that spirit, this is an interesting sleeper pick and signing and shows the positive side of picking a player who goes the college route. It will be interesting to see both how GR makes space for guys like Pope, if earned. And how the Wings recent stockpile of picks shakes out eventually in terms of the 50-player cap.

    1. Well said.

      Barring some sort of mind blowing camp I suspect he’ll be in Grand Rapids until he gets used to the pro game and/or until injuries hit the wings next season. It sure seems like he is the type of player that the wings could use in their line up and it will be interesting to see how he stacks up against other pros. Nice signing by the wings.

    2. Thanks lefty. Always appreciate your posts. The petty attacks from others get in the way of a good discussion. My sense is the fanbase tends to overvalue guys in the CHL/AHL route and then undervalue our college kids. I’ve seen on other sites where our top 10 prospects are “ranked” and guys like Pope, Pearson, Holway are never mentioned.

        1. Bev, you have intentionally tried to revive a tactic to start/continue. You can not follow Georges rules as of today. Everyone seems to be trying, except you.

          You will be ignored

          1. Ignore me while you’re at it too. This guy doesn’t try to have discussions. He beats the same crap every day and treats everyone that has different views like they’re idiots. He’s behaving now if you say so. Give him a week and he’ll be doing the same crap. It doesn’t change and it hasn’t. I’ve already taken my discussions elsewhere and will continue to do so.

  4. Be courageous and use the ignore button. FS is a strange bird, but the two that follow him around after every post he makes are much more off. Sad.

    I hope Pope becomes a beast for this team. Looking forward to watching him play in GR or with the big boys next season. Would be nice to have a new shanny on the team.

    1. I don’t see Pope having much in common with Shanny. More like a young David Booth. Fast. Long reach. Finds room to get his shot off. But not too physical. Maybe a little bit like a Kris Kreider or a Brett Connoly? But certainly has the potential to improve our pretty unless bottom 6.

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