I apologize for posting a single Wing on The Athletic’s Corey Pronman’s prospect list. Here’s a modified post noting that five Wings make the Top 100 cut:
6. Filip Zadina, RW, Detroit
Skating: 55
Puck Skills: 65
Physical Game: 55
Hockey sense: 55
Shot Grade: 60Zadina skates well, with a powerful stride that eats up ice efficiently. He has near elite-grade hands, which allow him to be quite elusive. He can create as a playmaker and tends to make good decisions moving the puck, but he’s known as a trigger man with one of the better wrist shots in the draft class. What I love about Zadina is how multi-dimensional he is. He can attack defenses by dangling through guys, he can protect pucks and drive around guys, and he can power his way past defenders or utilize an inch of space to score from long distance. He is a highly competitive player who gets high marks for his character and competes his butt off to win puck battles on the ice.
43. Joseph Veleno, C, Detroit
Skating: 60
Puck Skills: 55
Physical Game: 50
Hockey sense: 55Veleno is an excellent skater and he gets up to top speed quite easily with a powerful stride. Veleno works hard and plays a powerful style on the puck without taking many bad penalties. I don’t think he’s a dynamic playmaker, but he’s certainly above-average with the puck and can flash a tier higher. I like his puck skills. He’s a very smart player and he can consistently make above-average plays. While his shot/finishing ability is a bit worrying, Veleno has the speed, skills, smarts and physicality to be a very good playmaker and zone entry artist as an NHLer, combined with being a reliable two-way center.
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52. Michael Rasmussen, C, Detroit
Skating: 50
Puck Skills: 50
Physical Game: 75
Hockey sense: 55Rasmussen, when healthy, had a solid third season in Tri-City and was very good in the WHL postseason. He’s a great playmaker, especially for a big man, who makes quick reads and shows good vision. He’s tough on the puck along the walls using his massive 6-foot-6 frame, is good in front on the power play getting his stick on pucks and taking up space, and has a quality shot to finish chances. Rasmussen is also solid defensively and wins puck battles using his size. He skates fine for a giant with a decent top gear but he’s not incredibly quick on his first few steps. With strength it’s possible the latter won’t be as much of an issue. He gets a bad rap, but he can play. Will he be a star? No, but he could be a top-six center.
Pronman also lists Filip Hronek (#58), Jonatan Berggren (#66) and gives Filip Larsson an honorable mention…
veleno – fast athletic skater that ide think could hound even mcdavid . can also carry puck up ice and get into o zone then make a good pass = huge asset for a team even if he doesnt have great finish . surround him with mantha and zadina youve got an elite line . love this pick
razz – throw back player whose worth could NEVER be measured in stats , NEVER . though i predict his lines +/- is going to be great . i see him with the C on his sweater big time , got leader written all over him .
zadina – after seeing his weak showing in prospects strength tests ide like seeing him in gr for 2 years for his own sake , not naturally strong enough to get by on his talent vs the big boys . though a wicked sniper with the edges to make his own space
You’re kidding Mule, right? No way will Zadina be in Grand Rapids for 2 years. He is too skilled. I predict he either makes the wings out of camp or plays a little over 20+ games with GR, dominates, then hops onto to big club.
Preseason should make things more lucid to us on how these guys can handle playing with Pros. Ras made a great debut last preseason. I think Zadina needs to have just as good or better preseason than Ras had last year to make the team. I really think he needs time to grow into his body, so a year in the AHL would not be too bad for him. Once again, I hope I am wrong and he dominates the preseason and he makes the team. Time will tell shortly.