Red Wings prospect Filip Larsson’s being held out of the prospect tournament due to some soreness in his groin out of an abundance of caution. The highly-heralded prospect still hopes to compete for a spot on the Grand Rapids Griffins’ roster through his play over the course of the Wings’ main training camp and exhibition season.
He spoke with the Traverse City Record-Eagle’s Lance-Michael Correia regarding the work he’s been putting in to achieve his goals:
While he might not be focused on his own long-term prospectus, Larsson sidled up to Howard after inking his deal, trying to soak up all he could from the former NHL All-Star and Calder Trophy runner-up.
“I got to work with Jimmy a lot this summer,” Larsson explained. “I tried to watch him and see some of the details in how he plays the puck. He’s had a great career and has seen a lot of things. He’s also a really hard worker even in practice, and I tried to take some of that too. Hopefully, these things will also help me when I get an opportunity.”
Larsson’s initial opportunity to showcase his abilities against NHL-caliber competition is likely to come next week when the Red Wings open their 21st training camp in Traverse City. Salajko says the team is expected to employ seven netkeeps during the camp.
“I’ve said it many times: the jump from college to pros is the biggest leap – more so for goalies than skaters,” said [Red Wings goaltending coach Jeff] Salajko, who spent three seasons coaching the position at Ohio State University before joining the Wings’ AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids in 2013. “The game is so much faster. Let’s face it: You’re now playing against full-grown men who are faster and bigger and stronger, and you’re playing with the trapezoid (limits where a goaltender can play the puck). It’s definitely an adjustment for anyone. You don’t see many guys like Jonathan Quick or Ryan Miller, who can come right from college and play in the NHL right away. Even Jimmy had four years in the American League before he came up.”
