The afternoon media availability session at the Red Wings’ summer development camp was very productive. We were able to speak with six players in “scrum” interviews, including the following:
Chase Pearson, who turned pro after his junior season at the University of Maine, discussed his decision-making process, what he’s learning in terms of adjusting to the pro game both during his stint with the Grand Rapids Griffins and during this summer, and Pearson talked about his father’s influence upon his game as a former NHL player:
Massive 6’7″ forward Elmer Soderblom discussed being drafted by the Wings in a more soft-spoken interview, speaking about the advantages and disadvantages of being such a massive forward. He said that he’s “always been big,” so there was no growth spurt that propelled Soderblom to his towering size:
Ryan Kuffner gave a fantastic interview, enthusiastically discussing turning pro after four seasons at Princeton, working out with several “summer Wings” who are staying in the Metro Detroit area to both work out at the Wings’ workout facility and skate 3 times a week in Dylan Larkin, Filip Zadina, Darren Helm, Justin Abdelkader and Jimmy Howard, Kuffner spoke about the challenges he faces in turning pro full-time next season, and he was VERY LOUD, which was useful from an audio collection process:
Ethan Phillips, a Boston University commit, discussed his status as a small (5’9,” 146 pounds) forward who is hoping to get bigger, stronger and faster as he graduates from the USHL. Phillips has an intriguing story as he’s from Nova Scotia and billited with Filip Zadina, but Phillips chose to play high school and then USHL hockey instead of going thorough the QMJHL system:
Another soft-spoken Swede, Albin Grewe, the Red Wings’ resident Swedish pest, discussed his professional journey thus far, his status as a pain-in-the-ass in the Brad Marchand mold, his belief that he can get better at both being a hockey player and being said pain in the ass, and he discussed his familiarity with the Wings as the NHL’s “Svensk Lag” (Swedish Team):
Finally, goaltender Jesper Eliasson spoke with the media, discussing his development with the Vaxjo Lakers’ junior team, his 6’3,” 209-pound frame, his hopes of improving upon his game and his familiarity with the Wings:
