We’ve discussed the fact that Red Wings defensive prospect Antti Tuomisto bet on himself in a big way last season, leaving the University of Denver for TPS Turku of the Finnish Liiga.
The move looked puzzling at the time, because he was leaving North America to play pro hockey in Europe, but Tuomisto posted 20 points in 60 games, he established himself as an efficient and “heavy” defenseman at 6’5″ and 205 pounds, and the Red Wings saw enough in the right-shooting defenseman to sign him to an entry-level contract late last spring.
DetroitRedWings.com’s Jonathan Mills looked back toward Tuomisto and Red Wings director of player development Dan Cleary’s comments about “Big Antti” from the Wings’ summer development camp:
“I thought he had a good season in Finland,” Red Wings assistant director of player development Dan Cleary said on July 5. “He certainly progressed well. He’s a smart, cerebral player.”
Tuomisto said this past season with TPS was a learning experience.
“There’s a lot of skating in Finland, too, with the bigger sheet,” Tuomisto said. “Also, puck battles and stuff like that with bigger guys. It’s harder, so I think that helped me a lot.”
While playing overseas, Tuomisto gathered plenty of hockey tidbits from former NHL defensemen Niklas Kronwall and Sami Salo. Kronwall, who spent his entire 15-year career with Detroit, including a 2008 Stanley Cup championship, currently serves as the Red Wings Director of European Player Development.
“I want to use my shot,” Tuomisto said. “That’s one thing I worked on a lot with Sami Salo, who was our D-coach in Finland. And of course, with Niklas Kronwall a lot on that. I think I got a lot better in that last season.”
Continued; Tuomisto will probably play this upcoming season in Grand Rapids, but he’s got “all the tools” necessary to succeed as a physical defender going forward…
And it’s important to note that prospect development isn’t always linear. Sometimes players have to take a perceived step backwards to really step forward, and that’s what Tuomisto did playing for a TPS team that’s known for developing young players.
