MLive’s Ansar Khan posted his customary morning column today, and in his morning missive, Khan discusses the reasons why the Red Wings are holding their first summer development camp since 2019:
Development camp for Detroit Red Wings prospects is akin to summer school on ice. It’s about educating young players, not evaluating them.
Close to 40 prospects – mostly draft picks from the past two years and undrafted free agents – took the ice Sunday at the Belfor Training Center inside Little Caesars Arena for the start of the five-day camp.
They will learn all aspects of the Red Wings way
“We talk about how we want the culture of this team to be, the work ethic, the character, how we treat each other,” Daniel Cleary, the team’s assistant director of player development, said. “In terms of the education purposes, they work out with Rob (head strength coach Campbell). They see how to work out, proper technique, what our pros are doing. We’re going to have our skills guys here, our skating coaches here.
“We also teach them about all the recovery things we have. This is a good time where you should rest, or this is a good time where you need to go cold and hot. Whatever the recovery calls for. Lisa McDowell (team nutritionist) is really important. These kids are only starting to learn what to eat, how to eat, how to cook, when to eat it. That’s an important aspect. We have one of our sports psychologists here talking to the kids. The mental side of it is huge. Some of these kids didn’t play hockey last year (due to the pandemic). That takes a grind on you. So, it’s all interesting information. Try to give them as much as you can and even if they just take a little bit here, a little bit there, that’s what this camp’s for.”
