Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff looks back to the Red Wings’ summer development camp to offer a profile of Red Wings prospect Robert Mastrosimone. The 21-year-old center/left wing has transferred from Boston University to Arizona State University for his senior year in NCAA Division I hockey, and as he’s still 5’10” and 170 pounds after three years of post-draft development, gaining size and strength are key to his professional future:
In search of carving out a home for himself as part of the future of the Red Wings, Mastrosimone, 21, is moving into a new hockey home for the 2022-23 NCAA season. The 54th player chosen in the 2019 NHL entry draft by Detroit, the senior center is setting a new course in the desert as a member of the Arizona State Sun Devils.
He spent his first three college seasons on the East Coast with the Boston Terriers.
“It was the right thing for me,” Mastrosimone said. “I think I need a fresh start, just to get out in front of some new eyes, some new teammates, new coaches, new area. Really just taking a fresh start and getting my game to the next level.”
As a junior at BU, Mastrosimone collected 11-14-25 totals in 34 games.
Like all developing players, building up strength and adding bulk are at the top of Mastrosimone’s to-do list. It’s one of the reasons he was attracted to what Arizona State has to offer to him.
“Their strength coach Liane (Blyn), she’s amazing,” Mastrosimone said. “She’s an unbelievable person and an unbelievable strength coach. I saw every opportunity to get better there.
Continued; I know that the Red Wings love Mastrosimone’s work ethic and maturity, but small forwards who end up as grinders are something that the Red Wings can find in abundance throughout the free agent ranks, so Mastrosimone is going to have to have one hell of a senior season to separate himself from the pack.
