The Athletic’s Sunaya Sapurji posted a superb profile of the Red Wings‘ latest draft pick, Redmond “Red” Savage:
Savage, who played for the U.S. National Team Development Program’s U18 squad and finished with 18 goals and 42 points in 46 games, was ranked No. 54 in the NHL Central Scouting Bureau’s North American final rankings. But scouts are all over the place on him — many of them either see the upside or they don’t.
“He’s a hardworking, versatile player,” said one NHL scout who had multiple viewings. “He finishes his checks hard and does a lot of the little things well. He can contribute with the puck but is most likely a bottom-six forward in pro. I thought he was one of (U.S. NTDP’s) more consistent players over the course of the year.”
The ranking doesn’t matter much to Savage. His father, Brian, was drafted in the eighth round — No. 171 —by the Montreal Canadiens in 1991. Brian Savage had quit hockey for two years to focus on landing a golf scholarship before going back to the sport and being picked as a 20-year-old.
“I tell Red it’s not where you get drafted,” said Brian Savage. “It’s what you do after and what you continue doing — what he has been doing — which is making the right choices, the professionalism, and I think if he continues the way he’s been going, he has a chance.”
Continued (paywall)…
Update: Here’s more on Savage from Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff:
With the 114th pick, they tabbed a familiar name in USNTDP U18 center/left wing Red Savage, the son of Brian Savage, a five-time 20-goal scorer during his NHL career.
“It’s pretty nice to have all the connections that my dad has,” Savage said. “He’s a pretty people-pleasing guy and has a lot of friends around the whole hockey scene. We’re pretty good friends with the Drapers and a lot of people connected to the Red Wings.
“I’m really excited to be drafted by this organization, excited to hopeful be able to put on the Red Wings jersey one day.”
