Red Wings prospects won several championships at the developmental hockey level this past season, including NCAA Division I hockey (Shai Buium, Carter Mazur and Antti Tuomisto at Denver), the WHL (Sebastian Cossa in Edmonton), the Champions Hockey League (Marco Kasper and William Wallinder with Rogle), the SHL (Albert Johansson with Farjestad) and USHL (Dylan James with Sioux City).
This morning, Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff discusses said championships, as well as what “winning” means in terms of prospect development:
It’s been six long seasons without playoff action for the Detroit Red Wings. However, several top prospects in the Detroit organization are sensing that championship feeling.
Numerous players climbing the ladder of the Red Wings chain won titles in their respective leagues last season. It might not be the Stanley Cup playoffs but it’s a title, and that’s a big deal at any level of the game. Making a long playoff run in whatever the league in which they are playing is an important step in the development of a player.
“I just think it’s great for their confidence, great for development, playing in playoff series, or college hockey winner go home sudden-death games,” Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman said. “I think they’re tremendous experiences. You build up your nerve, you build up your resolve.”
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Yzerman believes whether players win or lose in a championship round, just surviving the grind and getting there is a benefit in itself.
“There’s a lot to be learned from winning and losing,” Yzerman said. “We’re very happy that some of these kids got a chance to go deep into their playoffs, or even win a national championship, or a championship in some cases.
“I think it’s great for their confidence as hockey players but also in their development, to be thrown into these situations and have to perform. Win or lose, you’re getting a lot out of it.”
Continued; the Wings prefer that the Grand Rapids Griffins and Toledo Walleye make the playoffs, too, to earn playoff experience at the professional level.
