DetroitRedWings.com’s Art Regner has posted a profile of Red Wings prospect Dylan James, who was drafted 40th overall in the 2022 NHL Draft. James had an up-and-down freshman season with the University of North Dakota, but that was to be expected:
And after compiling 16 points (8-8-16) in 36 games his freshman year at the University of North Dakota, the 19-year-old is focused on the process of improving his overall game as the competition increases.
“I thought I did pretty well from the start to the end (of last season),” Detroit’s 40th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft said on July 4. “I wish I started a little bit better, but I feel like it was just getting comfortable with the coaches and understanding what they wanted. I feel like my adaptation to the level of play got better throughout the year.”
Navigating his first college hockey season was difficult at times, but James said he appreciated when Red Wings director of player development Dan Cleary offered advice throughout the year.
“He would get in touch with me every couple months,” James said. “Tell me something I would need to work on and how I’ve been playing. It’s good to hear what he has to say. He had a good career in the NHL, so I’ll take what he says to heart.”
Cleary said he felt James “had a good season” as a freshman with the Fighting Hawks.
“He came in and had to find his way,” Cleary said on July 5. “Some weekends, he made freshman mistakes and would sit. But that’s all part of it. At the end of the day, I always look at it as where are you at the end of the season? At the end of the season, he was trending upward.”
