The Detroit Red Wings’ first summer development camp since 2019 begins later this morning, and two articles related to said camp’s goals and attendees, respectively, hit the wires this morning.
- First, Detroit Hockey Now’s Nate Brown took note of Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman’s comments regarding the importance of being able to assess the vast majority of the team’s prospects in person:
“For a few reasons we really like it,” Yzerman said. “It’s an opportunity. The European kids and the college kids, that’s our only time we have really to spend with them throughout the year.”
Yzerman and his staff get the opportunity to see the prospects front and center, which noted in the team’s press release, that 13 of the current Red Wings on the roster played in the camp.
For Detroit’s general manager, it’s a great time to get to know his players better.
“For some of them, it will be the first time I get to see them and to meet them,” Yzerman said. “I’m excited about it. I can talk about (2022 first round pick) Marco (Kasper) a little bit. Obviously I’m more familiar with that pick. I’ll get a chance to see some of these other kids and meet them in person and get to know them. It’s another step in the process. I’m excited about seeing the kids.”
2. Conveniently, the Free Press’s Helene St. James breaks down the Wings’ 2022 draft class via a set of capsule profiles as well…
F Marco Kasper
Drafted: No. 8.
Size: 6 feet 1, 187 pounds.
Scouting report: Ultra competitive center who can also play either wing, has good speed and good hands. Likes to engage in physical battles and is comfortable making plays and shooting the puck. Excellent around the net. Yzerman emphasized Kasper is more about efficiency than flash. One of those players who does everything well.
F Dylan James
Drafted: No. 40.
Size: 6-0, 177.
Scouting report: Physical left winger who uses body positioning well and likes to drive to the net. Led all draft-eligible forwards in the USHL with 61 points in 62 games. Plays a 200-foot game and can be trusted in all situations. Committed to North Dakota.
Continued (paywall)…
I can’t emphasize enough how important this camp will be for the Wings’ participants in terms of educating them.
The players engage in both on-ice activities which introduce them to the Red Wings’ style of play and aim to develop their skills, and the off-ice portion of development camp includes learning how to work out properly, how to eat well and how to deal with social media.
