Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen posted a profile of Red Wings prospect and University of North Dakota forward Dylan James this morning:
James said [his freshman] season went “pretty well.” He wished he could have had a better start. James acknowledges it was difficult to get accustomed to a higher level, new coach and different system.
“I thought he had a good season,” [Red Wings director of player development Dan] Cleary said, “the opposite of what he thinks.”
This is what Cleary saw from James: “He came in and had to find his way. He made some freshman mistakes and had to sit but that’s all part of it. At the end of the day I always look at where you are at the end of the season. At the end of the season, he was trending upwards. Out there in the last minute. I was in Omaha watching and he scored a great goal shorthanded. He’s playing in the regionals as an important player. That’s what I look at. ”
The fact that James wished he could have done more this past season may highlight how badly he wants to keep improving.
James finished with eight goals and 16 points in 32 games as a freshman at North Dakota. He looked strong at the Red Wings Development camp, particularly visible in the 3 v 3 tournament.
“He’s a legit rink rat,” Cleary said. “He doesn’t leave. Everybody might have been gone by 1 or 2. He was here until 4:30. Asked him: “What are you doing here? He said looking at sticks, messing around. He just doesn’t like to leave. I liked him a lot.”
