The Red Wings’ prospects engaged in their third and final day of skill development at Little Caesars Arena’s BELFOR Training Center today.
Working with skating coaches Brodie and Tracy Tutton, and then skills coach Dwayne Blais, the players built upon their progress made during the first and second days of the skill development part of camp.
Tomorrow, the 2023 Summer Development Camp wraps up with a set of 3-on-3 games, starting at 8:30 AM EDT (to be streamed on DetroitRedWings.com). It will be particularly interesting to see some of the prospects engage in physical play for the first time over the course of their five-day adventure here in Detroit…
But, for the most part, I’m going to be honest: I hope that nobody gets seriously injured or suffers a bruised ego. Development camp is about playing through bumps and bruises, to be certain, but nobody wants to sustain a major injury in a camp where evaluation, not competition, is the name of the game.
As compared with Monday’s sessions, which were truncated in nature, the players returned to nearly two-and-a-half-hour long sets of drills with the Tuttons and Blais and the Grand Rapids Griffins’ coaching staff. Still, the energy level today was higher than it was on Monday, and the players seemed to be having fun as they settled into their roles on their respective teams.
Today’s drills focused, for the most part, on layering the skills which the players have already learned with a few new wrinkles, both in terms of the players’ work with their skating coaches and the player development staff.
The Tuttons continued to focus on edge work, “C cuts,” and they included some one-legged hops and stickhandling after spinning in full 360-degree clockwise or counterclockwise circles, all without relying upon crossovers to get the job done.
For some drills, the players did not use pucks, but most of the time, they lugged black vulcanized rubber discs with them, and there were occasions in which the players plain old struggled to stickhandle, and, during the skill sessions, Marco Kasper wasn’t the only one who fell down, tripping over the “dummy” skater tutors.
The most intriguing skating drill involved players attempting to make 180-degree turns while placing their knees “akimbo,” a.k.a. also 180 degrees apart, utilizing quick cuts in order to change direction by snapping their legs underneath them. They even managed to perform the drill with pucks on their sticks, which was incredibly impressive.
Coach Blais and company (his company included Griffins assistant coaches Brian Lashoff and Stephane Julien, new Griffins goaltending coach Roope Koistinen, and a few other faces which I didn’t recognize) spent their time working on puck retrievals and turnover plays.
Whether their goaltenders were involved or not, the three respective teams (Howe, Lidstrom and Lindsay) mostly retrieved coaches’ passes that were rimmed around the back boards and then reversed toward the net, first in 1-on-1, then 2-on-2 and even 3-on-2 situations, all involving tips, screens and the kind of battling that we haven’t really seen as of yet.
The intensity was upped, regardless of whether the players were engaged in shooting drills or “competition” drills, and that was an exciting development. Heading into tomorrow’s 3-on-3 tournament (which will be streamed on DetroitRedWings.com starting at 8:30 AM EDT), the players needed to engage in some heavy 1-on-1 and 2-on-1 battles, and coach Blais and company ensured that the players finally got to flex their physical muscles.
And again: the Red Wings’ Summer Development Camp is not the kind of camp which determines the organizational pecking order, but it is a camp with which the Red Wings’ front office and player development department make evaluations as to what their prospects–and the free agent invites–might need to focus upon to succeed as athletes and human beings.
For both the Red Wings’ top prospects, their long-shots and the free agent invites for whom participating in an NHL team’s development camp will be the highlight of their athletic careers, the Wings give the same time, energy, effort and fiscal investment, and that’s an impressive thing.
Over the course of three long days of skill development drills, they’ve learned to be better skaters and to generate offense in transition, all while spending their afternoons absorbing cooking, rest and recovery, media training and even financial planning presentations.
This has been a long four-day period for the Wings’ prospects and free agent invites, and they’re going to engage in tomorrow’s early-morning 3-on-3 tournament–and some exit interviews–before scattering for the offseason.
Here are my assessments of the players I watched on Tuesday:
TEAM HOWE:
Forwards:
#15 Dean Loukus*: Loukus may have had his best day at the Summer Development Camp on Tuesday, but he’s still something of a mystery to me. The Saginaw Spirit left wing and free agent invite is 20, so he’s been passed over in the draft twice, and that’s despite posting 56 points in 65 games this past season–while playing with a 5’10,” 175-pound, right-shooting frame. He’s speedy enough and possesses a solid all-round skill set, but he’s not stood out among a fair crop of free agent invites.
#43 Carter Mazur: At 21 years of age, Mazur is turning pro after two seasons at Denver, and the 6,’ 172-pound forward is still a little too lanky for his own good, but he insisted to the media on Monday afternoon that he’s working on gaining both muscle mass and mass, period. A tremendously tenacious, aggravating and agitating player, Mazur forechecks with aplomb, he loves to engage in one-on-one battles to steal pucks from opponents, and when he wins the vast majority of his battles, he skates superbly well and deposits pucks in the net, both as a sniper and “dead zone” lurker who jams home rebounds and loose pucks for “ugly goals.” Mazur has self-improved in a big way over the past two years, and, as he begins his professional career this fall, his ceiling continues to rise thanks to a tremendous desire to get better and better.
#46 Riley Sawchuk**: At 24 years of age, the Red Wings only Grand Rapids Griffins-contracted summer development camper stands at 5’11” and 181 pounds, and what he has been thus far is a solid all-round player who’s being utilized as an off-ice leader. The plain truth of the matter is that Sawchuk is going to be a grinder on either the Griffins or Toledo Walleye, but as he’s played Canadian University hockey, he’s grown into his body and he knows how to take care of himself, he’s here to teach his compatriots how to be professional hockey players.
#48 Liam McLinskey*: McLinskey is a very lanky and skinny 6’3″ and 165 pounds, so he does stand out because he barely fills out his jersey at times. He posted 23 goals in 25 games for Holy Cross this past season, but the 22-year-old looks a little under-powered thus far.
I will say this, however: each and every one of the Red Wings’ free agent invites, McLinskey included, have a higher and higher “floor” in terms of their respective talent levels every year. It’s encouraging to see even the prospects who struggle come into development camp with strong skill sets, and leave with at least a little more confidence in their games.
#56 Brennan Ali: I’ve liked watching Ali hustle his tail up and down the ice over the course of three days’ worth of viewing. He’s grown into his 6,’ 200-pound frame, and the center who posted a solid 43 points in 57 USHL games for Lincoln is ready to make the jump from USHL hockey to the NCAA game on an ever-contending Notre Dame team. He’s tenacious in terms of his battle level and competitiveness, and he possesses a good shot, solid passing skills and great foot speed. Carter Mazur II? We shall see down the line.
#61 Karsen Dorwart*: Dorwart had a very good day on Monday, and took a bit of a step back on Tuesday. He’s 21 years old, but the free agent invite from Michigan State is only a sophomore at MSU, having posted 27 points in 38 games as a freshman. The 6’1,” 191-pound center has played solidly enough to blend in with the other free agent try-outs.
#62 Liam Dower Nilsson: Dower Nilsson readily admitted today that he’s taking a step back to take a step forward. The 20-year-old center is dropping down from Frolunda HC of the SHL to IF Bjorkloven of the Swedish Allsvenskan, and he’s doing so in order to fully establish himself as a useful professional player. At 6′ and 172 pounds, he isn’t as physically developed as his younger brother, but he’s a fine play-maker who’s polishing his game into one with professional potential, presuming that he continues his upward trajectory.
#64 Maximilian Kilpinen: Kilpinen flew under the radar on Sunday and Monday, but on Tuesday, the 19-year-old center began to display some snarl in terms of the battle drills in which he engaged, as well as a comfort level which allowed a strong-skating game to shine. Kilpinen is still very raw at 6’1″ and 179 pounds, but he’s transferring from Orebro’s J20 team to MoDo’s J20 squad, and he should earn a bigger role on his new team. For a 4th-round pick in 2022, he’s improving…
#67 Redmond Savage: Savage seems to embody his name to some extent, as he can play a downright viciously competitive game. The 20-year-old transfer from Miami of Ohio to Michigan State will spend his junior season attempting to both fill out his 5’11,” 185-pound frame and establish himself as a stalwart 3rd line center. Savage is not going to be an offensive star by any stretch of the imagination, but his grit, jam and determination are fantastic, he skates smoothly and superbly, and he loves to give and take physical jabs as he out-grinds his opponents toward winning battles for loose pucks.
Savage was particularly fun to watch during the battle drills today, because he’s utterly possessed when it comes to coming out on top in puck battles. He’s a hard-working player and self-improver who will continue to get better with developmental time.
#83 Noah Dower Nilsson: Liam’s younger brother is actually the bigger and more developed player, physically speaking. He’s 6′ and 185 pounds, and as something of a sniper, he posted 54 points in 37 games for Frolunda’s J20 team. While his brother attempts to establish himself in the Allsvenskan, the skilled left wing named Noah plans on trying to push for a spot on Frolunda’s men’s team.
#89 Kevin Bicker: Kevin Bicker is a bit of a booger! The Red Wings used their 147th overall pick on the German-born forward, and while he’s 6’1″ and 176 pounds, the left wing has grit, jam and an edge to his surprisingly skilled and sometimes “greasy” game. He posted 21 points in 20 games with the Jungadler Mannheim, and he’s aiming to join the DEL’s pro ranks with the Frankfurt Lowen this upcoming season.
Bickell is something of a long-shot prospect, but I wouldn’t bet against him.
#92 Marco Kasper: Kasper and Mazur are arguably the best of the Red Wings’ offensive prospects right now. At all of 19, the 6’1,” 183-pound center from Austria has a professional pedigree (as his dad was a professional hockey player), he speaks three languages, and Kasper’s pedigree as a graduate of Rogle BK’s SHL program bolsters his chances of succeeding as a two-way center with a bit of an edge to him.
Kasper is an impeccably talented skater, he’s got a fantastic shot, he’s a real play-maker, and he can be downright nasty, wandering into scrums and causing physical altercations after the whistle without really trying. He’s never going to be a Tkachuk-style player, but he’s definitely got a “Gentleman’s Instigator” edge to him.
#97 Michael Horth*: Horth has bobbed along with the other free agent invites. The 19-year-old Charlottetown Islander posted 45 points in 66 QMJHL games, but he just hasn’t stood out, positively or negatively, over the course of three viewings.
Goaltenders:
#33 Sebastian Cossa: Cossa has come a long way, baby, and he’s got a ways to go. The 20-year-old goaltender stands at 6’6″ and 229 big pounds, and after a successful regular season and playoff run with Toledo this past season, he’s going to try to make the jump from the ECHL to the AHL this upcoming season, likely in tandem with free agent signing Alex Lyon.
Cossa still needs to work on some rebound issues, a few squeakers that get through his blocker, and stopping tipped shots, but he’s developed into a tremendous first-shot-stopper who can scramble well when he dishes out rebounds, he’s utterly massive, and his strength and stamina are excellent.
#68 Rudy Guimond: Guimond was drafted 169th overall this past week in Nashville, and the 6’2,” 166-pound goaltender was selected out of Taft School. He’ll play for the USHL’s Cedar Rapids Roughriders before going to Yale in 2024-2025, and, in the interim, the goaltender with the beat-up pads and baseball-style catching style has utilized a wide butterfly style to boot out smartly-placed rebounds and block pucks with aplomb. He’s all of 18 years of age, however, so he’s got a long developmental road ahead.
TEAM LINDSAY:
Forwards:
#29 Nate Danielson: Danielson seems like a placid young lad, but the Red Wings’ 9th overall pick last week in Nashville was actually frustrated, pissed off and sometimes downright grumpy this afternoon. His shots weren’t going in as easily as they normally do, he was making some defensive mistakes, and the usual inconsistencies that you see in an 18-year-old–even an 18-year-old first-round pick–flared up in a way that just made him furious.
That was refreshing to see, because the 6’2,” 186-pound center doesn’t seem like a guy who’d kill a spider sometimes. That’s not to say that the Brandon Wheat Kings’ captain is anything less than tenacious in his own way, and superbly talented as a skater, passer, shooter, checker and competitive player, but finding out that he possesses an actual edge in addition to all that poise was great.
#34 Kienan Draper: Draper can be a frustrating player to watch. An incoming sophomore at the University of Michigan, Draper’s got skills and possesses a grinder’s game, but his fit and finish are terrible sometimes. He shanks shots, flubs passes, and generally looks like a late-bloomer who has yet to bloom some days. At 21 years of age, he played 23 games as a 4th-line forward last season, and when Draper puts his game together, there are shades of his father in the right winger, but when he’s off, he’s off.
#37 Alexandre Doucet: As I’ve been saying, it seems like the Red Wings’ free agent signing can absolutely score at will, and that may very well be true given that Doucet posted 58 goals and 115 points in the QMJHL this past season. Still, the 21-year-old left wing needs to work on his overall skill set, especially in terms of playing two-way hockey, if he is to succeed in Grand Rapids over the long haul.
Doucet’s got a ton of skill in terms of his shot, his skating, and his panache, but there are some rough edges to his game, and we’ll see whether he needs some time in the ECHL to iron them out.
#42 Nick Granowicz*: This free agent try-out is a 25-year-old native of Macomb, MI, and the four-year University of Michigan right winger is headed to UMass-Lowell for a fifth NCAA season. At 6’1″ and 174 pounds, he’s not overly big, and there is definitely some maturity to his game, but I’m going to be curious to see whether he’s got a skill set that stands out in the 3-on-3 game. Thus far, he’s bobbed along with the try-outs.
#58 Chase Bradley: I’m still not sure if Bradley has a professional future, but he sure plays like someone who is physically and mentally ready to play pro hockey. The 5’11,” 180-pound left wing posted a very solid 20 points in 35 games as a sophomore at the University of Connecticut, and he just busts his tail every time he’s on the ice, winning battles for the puck and occasionally showing glimmers of skill and poise. He’s definitely a lunch-pail type.
#63 Sam Stange: On the other side of the coin, the 22-year-old Stange is about to become a senior forward at the University of Wisconsin, but the right-shot right winger hasn’t established himself as a goal-scorer at the NCAA level. He had a tremendous high school career in Wisconsin, and the Red Wings drafted him expecting Stange to blossom into a goal-scorer in college, but he’s simply remained a wonderfully-talented sniper who has yet to put the disparate pieces of his game together.
#70 Theodor Niederbach: Like Liam Dower Nilsson, Niederbach faces a particularly consequential season to come with MoDo, which earned a promotion from the Swedish Allsvenskan to the SHL this past season. The 5’11,” 172-pound center had a great playoff run with MoDo, but the lanky right-shot isn’t quite consistent enough to come over to North America…yet. Niederbach is a superb passer, a good shooter, he skates quite well, and he’s able to win faceoffs and even play with some grit, but he only does those things some of the time. That’s got to change if he wants to come over to North America.
#72 Dylan James: James had a very ordinary freshman season with the University of North Dakota, posting 16 points in 36 games, but the 40th overall pick in 2022 insisted today that he’s a player on an upward trajectory. The 6,’ 180-pound left wing does possess speedy skating, a strong set of passing and shooting skills, and he’s got some grit and determination to his game, but there are players who develop and mature a little more slowly, and that may be the case for the highly-heralded and highly-drafted James.
#78 Amadeus Lombardi: At 5’11” and 171 pounds, “Ammo” is far from a massive player, but the little guy who posted a 45-goal, 102-point season with the OHL’s Flint Firebirds this past season is most likely to turn pro this fall with Grand Rapids or Toledo because he’s got a motor on him the size of a Lamborghini.
Lombardi’s pluck, jam and determination belie tremendous passing and excellent shooting skills, strong skating, and a low center of gravity which allows him to rag the puck around the ice despite heavy checking from bigger, stronger opponents.
I don’t know whether he’s going to qualify as an offensive specialist or an all-round player because he’s so small right now, but if he keeps working on his strength and conditioning, we might see another Jonatan Berggren-type player in the making.
#79 Owen Mehlenbacher: Mehlenbacher has gotten better and better in terms of his comfort level over the course of the past three days. A still-raw incoming freshman at the University of Wisconsin, the 6’2,” 193-pound center is simply a strong skater, an all-round good player in terms of his shooting, passing, playmaking and even checking skills, and he’s competitive as well…But the 19-year-old has a ways to grow, and his NCAA career will provide him with the opportunity to do just that.
#82 Israel Mianscum*: A free agent try-out, the 20-year-old left wing from Griffins assistant coach Stephane Julien’s Sherbrooke Phoenix posted 61 points in 65 games this past season, plus 10 points in 14 playoff games. He finally looked a little more comfortable in his own skin today, and as such, the 6’1,” 198-pound wing began to stand out a bit from his free agent try-out brethren. We’ll see whether he earns an invite to the prospect tournament in the fall.
#88 Emmitt Finnie: Finnie, like Bicker, is a little bugger with a big sense of self. The 6,’ 163-pound left wing was snagged with the 201st overall pick this past week in Nashville because the Kamloops Blazers winger has moxie and poise, having grown eight inches over the course of the past year.
We’ll see whether the pesky, speedy little winger has as he develops over time.
#93 Nicholas Sima*: Sima was a late invite, and he’s participated in yesterday and today’s prospect events, but I only got a good look at him today. An 18-year-old right-shooting right wing from the OHL’S Saginaw Spirit, he stands 6’2″ and is 185 pounds. He split this past season between North Bay and Saginaw, posting 16 points in 61 OHL games.
What I DID see out of the passed-over 2023 Draft-eligible player was good, for a first impression, anyway: Sima is big, strong, and he skates well, with a stick that’s always available to accept passes from teammates. He’s a little under-powered for his size, but he’s got a solid shot, and he may very well earn an invite to the Red Wings’ fall prospect tournament. He just hasn’t produced much in the way of points over the course of his young OHL career, so that’s likely where he’ll return this fall.
We’ll see how he performs in tomorrow’s 3-on-3 tournament.
Goaltenders:
#31 Carter Gylander: Gylander is something of a redemption story. After a rough first two years at Colgate, Gylander snagged the starting goaltender’s job this past season, posting a 19-15-and-5 record in 39 games. At 6’5″ and 190 pounds, the 22-year-old goaltender is big, heavy, and his body stops pucks because he’s got fast feet, a great blocker, a good glove and smart positioning. He was headed to the Wings’ goalie scrap heap a year ago, and now, he’s going to have the opportunity to start for Colgate during his senior year and attempt to earn a pro deal. He’s done it by working his tail off.
#80 Trey Augustine: Augustine also has room to grow, but in a different sense: the Red Wings selected him last week in Nashville because the 6’1,” 190-pound goaltender possesses absolutely impeccable technique, overcoming his very average size with great positioning and a cerebral game. He’s calm in the net the vast majority of the time, using his speedy toes, sharp blocker and glove, strong stick and upright stance to either gobble up pucks or boot rebounds out of trouble.
There are still holes in his game, but the US NTDP alumnus is headed to Michigan State in the fall having posted a 29-1-and-2 record this past season, and he’s viewed as an “elite recruit.” Here’s hoping that the South Lyon, MI native can and will deliver on his promising potential.
TEAM LIDSTROM:
Defensemen:
#3 Connor Punnett*: As I said on Monday, Punnett is one of those free agent invites who is likely to shine come fall’s prospect tournament. The 20-year-old Barrie Colts defenseman posted 48 points in 66 games, but the 6’2,” 198-pound defender also posted 109 penalty minutes, and at 20, there’s urgency for the likely OHL “overager” to utilize what I’ve witnessed to be more and more real and particularly effective physical talents in order to earn a pro contract.
We’ll see whether he’s got the “stuff” come September.
#17 Finn Harding*: Harding is all of 18 years of age, and the 6’1,” 182-pound defenseman posted all of 10 points in 63 games with the Mississauga Steelheads, but the right-shooting defenseman has time on his side after being passed over in his first year of draft eligibility. That being said, he hasn’t stood out, good or bad, as of yet.
#20 Anton Johansson: At 19 years of age, Johansson is going to try to make the jump from Leksands IF’s J20 team to its men’s team, and the 6’4,” 196-pound right shot offers an evolving game which offers strong skating skills, a bit of a deke-and-dangle flair, and some poise.
Again, he doesn’t seem to possess the mental “toolbox” in which to place his disparate tools–a good shot, strong passing skills, overall strong skating abilities, etc.–into a coherent package, but he’s still quite young.
#22 Shai Buium: I keep asking the Hockey Gods for another Brad Stuart/Bob Rouse type defenseman, and Shai Buium may be that player. Standing at 6’3″ and 220 pounds, Buium is a junior at the University of Denver, and the 20-year-old plays a supremely self-confident game, issuing slick passes, hard shots, heavy checks and strong skating, all within a massive frame and a whole lot of self-belief.
Buium isn’t going to be a scoring defenseman in my opinion, but he may end up being the kind of defender that’s trusted in all situations, and a defenseman with a wee bit of snarl at that, and those “five-tool” players are invaluable.
#26 Andrew Gibson: Gibson has gotten better and better over the course of the three days’ worth of skill drills. The 6’3,” 202-pound native of LaSalle, Ontario was picked 42nd overall last week in Nashville…
And I’m slowly but surely beginning to see why the Red Wings used a very high pick on a very simple player. Put simply, the Sault Greyhounds defenseman is a right-shooter who plays solid, steady hockey, and there’s a high level of maturity already inherent in the 18-year-old’s game. There’s a lot of room for him to grow–literally and figuratively–and we’ll see what the future holds for the big man.
#32 Cooper Moore: For me, Cooper Moore is the defensive version of Sam Stange. Heading to Qunnipiac after three seasons at the University of North Dakota, the 6’2,” 188-pound Moore has a significant amount of natural talent, he skates superbly with the puck on his stick and his head up, ready to make passes and plays to teammates…with whom he rarely connects.
It’s somewhat frustrating to see the 22-year-old Moore take a whole lot of pro potential and not do very much with it, but no player’s trajectory is linear.
#38 Antti Tuomisto: Tuomisto will compete for a spot on a crowded Grand Rapids Griffins blueline this upcoming season, and it’s hard to not see the 22-year-old defenseman earn a spot. Big, strong and “heavy” at 6’5″ and 205 pounds, he bet on himself by heading to TPS Turku of the Finnish Liiga this past season, posting 20 points in 60 games, and while Tuomisto himself admitted that he needs to get stronger and faster…
He’s an incredibly sound two-way, mostly defensive defenseman, who uses gap control, a smart stick and a physical checking game to separate opponents from the puck. On the rush, he’s got a heavy slap shot and good wrist shot, he passes well enough, and he knows how to utilize his teammates. He’s just a professional player looking to take the next step, and he should do just that this fall.
52 Jackson DeSouza*: I’ve enjoyed watching this free agent invite from the Kelowna Rockets play for the Wings. He’s 6’4″ and 187 pounds, and he posted only 20 points in 66 WHL games as a 20-year-old, but he skates well, he’s got a massive shot, he battles for the puck with aplomb, and he’s got confidence in himself. Is he going to get a contract? Maybe not, but he might get an invite to the prospect tournament.
#54 William Wallinder: Wallinder hasn’t participated in this development camp due to an undisclosed injury, and that’s incredibly disappointing. The 20-year-old stands at a health 6’4″ and 190 pounds, and the Rogle BK graduate is going to try to make the jump to the AHL this fall after earning accolades both literal and figuratively as a strong defenseman in the SHL.
He posted 26 points in 50 games for Rogle last season, he’s a lot like Shai Buium in that he’s tremendously solid in all aspects of his game, and Wallinder has a bit more flair in the playmaking department, so much so that he might project to be a top-three offensive defenseman.
Again, I hope that the Wings bend the rules to get him into the prospect tournament despite ample professional experience.
#55 Sam Duerr*: Duerr just hasn’t stood out as of yet. He’s a 6’1,” 192-pound defenseman from the University of Maine, and the 21-year-old hasn’t matched his high school preparatory point totals, but the junior should have enough time to put his offensive game together at the NCAA level.
#73 Brady Cleveland: Cleveland has been up-and-down to some extent, but, given that he was drafted 47th overall last week in Nashville, that’s okay. He’s massive at 6’5″ and 210 pounds, and the left-shooting defenseman posted 106 penalty minutes in 55 games for the NTDP last season, which is a ton for USHL hockey. He’s got a real edge to him, and Cleveland is incredibly comfortable in his incredibly big (and growing) body, playing with the kind of “toolbox” that veteran defenders display.
#84 Axel Sandin Pellikka: Sandin Pellikka really is a pleasure to watch play hockey. The 18-year-old 17th overall draft pick last week is all of 5’11” and 180 pounds, but he really does show shades of a Brian Rafalski-like game.
He skates excellently forward, backward, and laterally, his shot is seeing-eye, he passes, playmakes and head-mans the puck, and while he’s never going to be much bigger than he already is, he knows how to handle himself in physical battles.
After splitting last year between the Skelleftea AIK’s Under-20 and men’s teams, he ideally makes the jump to the SHL on a full-time basis this upcoming season.
#86 Larry Keenan: Another 2023 draft pick, Keenan is 6’3″ and 186 pounds, and the graduate of the Culver Military Academy will head to the BCHL for a “leap year” season before heading to UMass a year from now. Keenan is very simply a solid and smart defenseman, displaying the kind of promise as an 18-year-old that seems to merit being picked 117th overall.
#87 Jack Phelan: I’m a little less certain about the Wings’ 137th overall pick last week. Phelan is 6’2″ and 171 pounds, and the right-shooting defenseman has been okay as an 18-year-old less than a week into his tenure as a Red Wing, but he’s not been exceptional in any way, shape or form. He’s going to play for the USHL’s Sioux Falls Stampede this upcoming season, and then head to the University of Wisconsin in 24-25.
#95 Tnias Mathurin: At 19 years of age, Mathurin faced significant adversity this past season as he battled through shoulder surgery and a “lower-body” ailment, playing in only 1 regular season game with North Bay. The 6’3,” 205-pound defenseman is probably a lower-pair defender in the making, but I’ve been impressed by the improvements in his skating and mobility over the course of development camp. He’s another big, heavy, physical defender, and you need those kinds of players to succeed in the NHL.
Goaltenders:
#36 Jan Bednar: Is it possible to be too calm? That was my concern about the likely Toledo Walleye-bound Bednar today. The 6’4,” 196-pound Bednar once made spectacular saves but let in tons of soft goals, and he’s completely revised and refined his technique, choosing to become a poised, positionally strong goaltender with an impeccable stance and great blocker, glove, toe save, kick save, stickhandling and butterflying abilities. His 2022-2023 season with Acadie-Bathurst was forgettable, but I still believe that Bednar can reclaim his status as a strong prospect netminder.
#60 Luke Pavicich*: At 6’3″ and 190 pounds, the free agent invite from UMass has been a little inconsistent over the course of three skill development days…
But the 21-year-old junior netminder has very strong fundamentals as a true “hybrid butterfly” goaltender. He’s got a great glove, good blocker, his legs kick out pucks quite well, and he’s working on smothering rebounds. There are just inconsistencies that yield some squeakers from time to time, and he’s got some holes in the four corners of the net. There are junior and senior seasons with which to rectify those issues.
*= free agent invite
**= Grand Rapids Griffins contract
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