If the Red Wings have a “stealth prospect,” UMass-Lowell defenseman Seth Barton is that player.
As DetroitRedWings.com’s Dana Wakiji notes, the 6’3,” 185-pound defenseman has slowly developed into a two-way defensive prospect with some offensive aplomb, and, after reviewing significant figures from Barton’s 2019-2020 campaign, she speaks with Wings director of player development Shawn Horcoff regarding Barton’s upside:
Quotable: “I think Seth played some real good hockey toward the end of the year. Not that he didn’t at the start of the year, I just think he really, really kind of got himself dialed in and was playing really, really good solid hockey at the end of the year. He’s a good defender, he’s got good size, he can skate. I think one thing is the offensive side of his game is starting to come a little bit more, he’s getting more pucks to the net, he’s jumping up in the play more, becoming more of a well-rounded defenseman. But he’s relied upon at UMass for big minutes. He’s only in his sophomore year, he’s got two more years of eligibility yet. I know he wants to have a big summer this year and hopefully have a big year next year and make a decision.” — Shawn Horcoff, director of player development and assistant director of player personnel
Continued; Barton hasn’t been able to replicate his 33-points-in-44-games campaign with the BCHL’s Trail Smoke Eaters during two college campaigns, but I keep hearing that the young defenseman’s skating skills and late-blossoming status make up for his lack of statistical dominance at the NCAA level.
