Detroit Hockey Now’s hockey writers have ventured to the periphery of the Red Wings’ prospect system over the past couple of days, and today’s entry from Kevin Allen is no different: he scouts center Owen Mehlenbacher, who the Red Wings selected 201st overall in the 2022 draft.
Mehlenbacher was essentially scouted in the Wings’ backyard, posting 17 goals, 25 assists and 42 points in 52 games for the USHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks, and he’s headed to the University of Wisconsin this upcoming season.
The 6’2,” 190-pound Mehlenbacher took part in the Wings’ summer development camp, and while his excellent reach stood out, he, 212th overall pick Brennan Ali and 137th overall pick Tnias Mathurin all looked incredibly raw and all of 18 years old.
Mehlenbacher (Wisconsin) and Ali (Notre Dame) can’t participate in the prospect tournament due to their NCAA eligibility being on the line, so, as Allen notes, the Red Wings made an educated decision in picking the big center:
A slow start kept him off many of the ranking lists. He was not ranked by the NHL’s Central Scouting, but the Red Wings appreciated his improvement as the season wore on. Mehlenbacher can skate, play a two-way game and knows how to use his big frame.
Detroit Red Wings director of Amateur Scouting Kris Draper took note of Mehlenbacher when he started to play impressively well in the second half of the season. The 6-foot-2 forward is from Fort Erie, Ontario and played in the Buffalo Junior Sabres program.
Mehlenbacher said the primary reason why he went to Wisconsin was to be coached by former NHL player and coach Tony Granato. That could have influenced the Red Wings in deciding to draft Mehlenbacher.
Granato is a former Detroit Red Wings assistant coach, and has a strong reputation as a coach who can develop players. Mehlenbacher can skate, play a two-way game and knows how to use his 6-foot-2 frame.
It took Mehlenbacher a while to get comfortable in the USHL. He could also have an adjustment period in college. Mehlenbacher has thought about that. Of course he has.
“Jumping from minor hockey to junior hockey, I found that time and space changes and it’s very dramatic in that sense,” Mehlenbacher told the Wisconsin State News. “So going from junior hockey to college, I can just imagine how much of a difference that will be.”
Continued; We’ll have to see how Mehlenbacher adapts to playing at the NCAA level to further gauge his true potential as a late-round pick.
