The Detroit Red Wings opened training camp in Traverse City, Michigan on Thursday, and Centre ICE Arena was nearly packed to the gills with excited Red Wings fans as the “big club” finally hit the ice for a set of three practices.
Team Lindsay, which consisted mainly of camp try-outs, Grand Rapids Griffins and Toledo Walleye-bound players, skated for an hour, after a 15-minute video session which started bright and early at 7:55 AM, and they worked with Grand Rapids Griffins coaches Dan Watson, Brian Lashoff, Stephane Julien, Roope Koistinen, and Toledo Walleye coach Pat Mikesch;
Teams Delvecchio and Howe, which consisted of more NHL players, skated for two one-hour sessions, with each preceded by 15-minute video presentations, and they were guided by the Red Wings’ full coaching staff.
The vast majority of today’s drills were relatively simple in nature: all three teams focused on dump-in retrievals, outlet passing, neutral zone play, and end-to-end rushes, with the two “NHL” teams spending their second hours both engaging in more complicated retrieval drills and utilizing line changes to add wrinkles to their puck possession play. They also ended their practices with “small area games,” in which the players skated in 2-on-2 and 3-on-2 situations.
Coach Lalonde was particularly emphatic in terms of pushing the pace over the course of the second hour of Team Howe’s practice, and the general emphasis was on keeping pace high and establishing possession with both speed, purpose, and urgency.
Things are only going to get more complicated as the week progresses, so working on situational drills which establish the basics of puck pursuit, puck control and structured breakouts and regroups was a smart way to go for an established coaching staff.
For what it’s worth, there were only a couple of no-shows on the first day: Carter Mazur took in Team Howe’s video session wearing workout garb; Jonatan Berggren did not participate with Team Howe, and Ben Chiarot did not participate with Team Delvecchio.
In terms of player impressions, keeping in mind that this is the first day of training camp for the vast majority of the Wings’ 68 participants, let’s get underway here:
TEAM LINDSAY:
Forwards:
#28 Riley Sawchuk**: Sawchuk is what he is. At 24 years of age, the 5’10,” 179-pound center and graduate of Mount Royal University is Griffins-contracted, and the plucky little 24-year-old is battling for a spot on the Griffins or Toledo Walleye roster, depending on how he performs during training camp (and possibly an exhibition game or two). Speedy, versatile, and undersized, Sawchuk has more or less developed into the player that he’s going to be, and at the AHL or ECHL level, that’s a useful player who can win faceoffs and take a leadership role.
#56 Matyas Melovsky*: Melovsky still puzzles me a bit. The free agent try-out from the Baie-Comeau Drakkar posted 52 assists in 58 games this past QMJHL season, and you can tell that the 19-year-old has strong passing skills, but the 6’3,” 190-pound right wing has yet to flex his passing muscles for more than glimpses and glimmers of the talent that he clearly possesses.
#58 Dean Loukus*: Loukus was passed over in his first two years of draft eligibility, and while he’s a point-per-game player for the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit, the 5’9,” 181-pound right wing isn’t quite big enough or strong enough to replicate his Major Junior successes at the professional level. Not yet, anyway. He’s a native of Calumet, Michigan who is trying to turn heads as a 20-year-old in his final year of junior eligibility.
#63 Alexandre Doucet: I’ve been hot and cold regarding the Red Wings’ free agent signing from the Halifax Mooseheads. There’s no doubt that the 21-year-old right wing can score, as he posted 58 goals and 115 points split between Halifax and Val-d’Or last season, but the QMJHL product has looked one-dimensional at times, and the 6,’ 199-pound forward does need some pro seasoning in Grand Rapids and/or Toledo to round out his game. But he is a little bit “greasy” and dirty at times, and that draws the ire of his opponents just long enough to allow Doucet to sneak around or through them.
#64 Emmitt Finnie: Finnie, a 6’1,” 178-pound center, was drafted from the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers this past summer, and there are definitely moments when he looks like he was worth the late-round (201st overall pick) flyer in the 2023 NHL Draft. He’s been inconsistent, but the little center from Lethbridge has speed, a decent skill set and a physical bite, when applied evenly.
#72 Trenton Bliss**: The 25-year-old Bliss hopes to graduate from the Toledo Walleye to the Grand Rapids Griffins this upcoming season. The 6,’ 191-pound utility left wing posted 40 points in 38 ECHL games this past season, and he stayed with the Griffins despite the lure of more monetary compensation elsewhere. He was born in Dallas, but attended Michigan Tech, and perhaps those local ties helped keep him in the Wings’ developmental organizations.
#73 Cam Hillis*: Hillis is a 23-year-old free agent try-out who stands at all of 5’9″ and 175 pounds, and the right-shooting right wing posted 36 assists and 50 points in 46 games for the ECHL’s Indy Fuel this past season, so he’s likely trying out for a job with Pat Mikesch’s Toledo Walleye.
#75 Orrin Centazzo*: Centazzo is another small player at 5’8″ and 165 pounds, but the Toledo Walleye chose to sign the free agent try-out because the 23-year-old has posted 51 and 46-point ECHL seasons with the Newfoundland Growlers. Scorers come in any size in minor pro hockey, and Centazzo hopes to keep lighting the lamp as a member of the Walleye.
#76 Tyler Spezia**: Grand Rapids Griffins-contracted, the 30-year-old Spezia isn’t big, either, at 5’10” and 170 pounds, but he’s been good for anywhere between 15 and 35 points for the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins, and I know the Griffins value him as a leader as well as a speedy bottom-six forward. He’s definitely got “wheels,” and he’s got an offensive bent to him, but he applies those skills somewhat unevenly, thus the minor league status.
#82 Israel Mianscum*: Mianscum still puzzles me to some extent. The 20-year-old Sherbrooke Phoenix left wing is heavy at 6′ and 200 pounds, and he’s a point-per-game player in the QMJHL, but he’s really struggled to put his game together here in Traverse City. Whether it’s the prospect tournament or training camp, the power forward just hasn’t looked like a power forward, and he’s struggled with his confidence. He’s got tools to succeed with, but they’re just not coming together here.
#83 Nic Sima*: Sima, a Saginaw Spirit forward, is only 18, and he stands at 6’4″ and 197 pounds. He was passed over in the draft because he posted 16 points in his first draft-eligible campaign, and he’s shown flashes and flourishes of big-man goal-scoring abilities.
#85 Jake Uberti*: Similarly, another free agent try-out, 6’1,” 205-pound center Jake Uberti from the Mississauga Ice Dogs, heading to Saint Mary’s University to try his hand at Canadian USports hockey, has been OK in terms of displaying overall skill. The 21-year-old forward has displayed moments of great skill, and moments where he has been in over his head.
Defense:
#26 Andrew Gibson: Gibson, a 2023 draft pick (42nd overall) from the OHL’s Soo Greyhounds, has at times looked like a tremendously skilled 6’3,” 202-pound right-shooting defenseman, and at times, he’s looked like an 18-year-old kid, superb moustache included. Gibson is very mobile, he’s got good puck skills, and he’s got an edge to him, but he doesn’t necessarily have a toolbox with which to utilize those individual skills yet, and it will take time for him to develop into a middle-six defenseman.
#61 Connor Punnett*: Punnett was brought in from the OHL’s Barrie Colts to scrap, and scrap, he did during the prospect tournament. The 20-year-old is 6’2″ and 201 pounds, and he may not possess scintillating skills, but he sure can fight, and he’s a strong stay-at-home defenseman with snarl and bite.
#70 Finn Harding*: The 18-year-old free agent invite has struggled to find his form. At 6’2″ and 192 pounds, the Mississauga Steelheads defenseman is a strong right shot, but he’s just not comfortable in his own skin here, and that happens from time to time.
#79 Jackson DeSouza*: I’ve enjoyed watching DeSouza play. At 20, the 6’6,” 197-pound right shot from the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets hasn’t put his game together in terms of a high-production WHL season as of yet, but he’s big, strong, skates superbly well in all three directions (forward, backward and laterally) and he has good puck skills. He was in a little over his head at times during the prospect tournament, but his self-confidence is evident and his skill set is real. He just needs to put himself together for a good WHL campaign as an “over-ager.”
#95 Tnias Mathurin: It’s difficult to figure out where the 19-year-old defenseman fits. 6’4″ and 195 pounds, he can look like the Kids in the Hall character “Mr. Heavyfoot” in terms of his mobility at times, and he can make some not-so-smart decisions with the puck, but when he’s on, Mathurin is mobile, smart and spare in good ways with and without the puck. He’s probably a 4/5/6 defenseman in the making.
Goaltenders:
#60 Jan Bednar**: Griffins-contracted, at 21 years of age, the Griffins are hoping that the 6’5,” 200-pound Bednar will establish himself as a solid ECHL back-up to John Lethemon this upcoming season in Toledo. He’s revamped his game considerably since establishing himself as an amazing-save-then-soft-goal-surrendering netminder two years ago, and he’s really engaged in an “extreme makeover” of his game in order to build a fundamentally sound butterfly game. Here’s hoping that he finds his confidence in Toledo.
#68 Lukas Matecha*: Matecha is not the world’s greatest goaltender, but the 18-year-old who will play for the WHL’s Tri-City Americans this upcoming season has come to work with his work boots on. 6’3″ and 195 pounds, the Czech Under-20-league grad has solid fundamentals, he’s a hard worker and he’s soaked up the advice of the Wings and Griffins’ goaltending coaches. His good size and reflexes allow him the ability to get in front of the puck, but he has to work on his rebound control.
TEAM DELVECCHIO:
Forwards:
#14 Robby Fabbri: At 27 years of age, the 6’1,” 185-pound Fabbri finds himself at another crossroads. The center/wing is coming off a season in which he returned from major knee surgery as well as a surgical procedure to stabilize his knee joint, a good idea given that he’s suffered 3 ACL tears. Fabbri looks more confident in his new Warrior equipment, and the Red Wings need Fabbri to be that ace depth scorer in the fold, whose skating, puck-handling and goal-scoring abilities are all “underrated.” It’s going to be up to Fabbri to play well and contribute regardless of where he ends up in the lineup.
#21Austin Czarnik: 30 until December 12th, Czarnik is 5’9″ and 167 pounds, but the mostly Grand Rapids Griffins-playing center posted 37 points in 43 AHL games this past season, and at the AHL level, his speed and all-round scoring abilities are useful and nececessary. He can play for an NHL team in a pinch, and acquit himself well while doing so.
#22 Matt Luff: The 26-year-old depth forward does a fine job of becoming indispensable at times. At 6’3″ and 223 pounds, the massive right-shooting right wing has speed, physicality and some goal-scoring abilities, at least at the AHL level, and he will play whatever role is necessary at both the NHL and AHL levels. It’s always important to have support players who will embrace their role as support players.
#23 Lucas Raymond: Raymond grew up a bit over the course of the offseason. 5’11” and 188 pounds (5 pounds heavier than last year), the 3rd-year NHL’er had a bumpy sophomore campaign, but he’s still got really near-elite goal-scoring abilities, he’s seemed to have gained half a step as a skater, and his enthusiasm and work ethic are superb. Using a new stick and gloves (a CCM Ribcor and Warrior gloves) this season, Raymond seems to have more confidence in himself, and with an array of shots available, there’s no reason for Steve Yzerman to not at least attempt to bridge a deal with the looming restricted free agent. Put bluntly, I think that Raymond’s got 25-goal potential on the right line.
#25 Taro Hirose: At 27, the 5’10,” 172-pound left wing is not necessarily a prospect any more, but he posted 41 assists and 57 points in 71 AHL games played this past season, and at the AHL level, he is an elite set-up man with passing skills to spare. Hirose may never be serving pancakes at the NHL level, but he’s chosen to stay with the Wings’ organization, and that’s probably a smart thing to do.
#37 J.T. Compher: Compher may not be able to replicate his 17-goal, 52-point campaign in Detroit, but the Red Wings chose to sign the 6,’ 195-pound center because the 28-year-old is a superb all-round right-handed center. Compher made hay while playing on a line with Mikko Rantanen last season, but Detroit seems to see him as a 2A/2B center who can be moved to the wing as necessary. He’s a fast skater, he’s generally mobile, he’s got good shooting and fine passing skills, he works hard and his defensive awareness is superb. I think he’ll impress us this upcoming season in subtle but evident ways.
#44 Artem Anisimov*: Anisimov is a 34-year-old free agent try-out who stands at a big 6’4″ and 205 pounds, and he posted 36 points in 55 AHL games last season, with Leigh Valley, the Philadelphia Flyers’ AHL affiliate. A bit removed from his days as a 45-point-scorer at the NHL level, he might still provide size, skating ability and depth if he impresses enough to earn a two-way contract.
#71 Dylan Larkin: Listed at 6’1″ and 199 pounds (a whole pound heavier this year!), the Red Wings’ 27-year-old captain is plain and simple a heart-and-soul captain who drives play and generates offense through a combination of near-elite skill and totally elite work ethic. Larkin can skate blazingly fast, he’s got a heavy shot, sneaky passing skills and an edge to him, and he just busts his butt working hard on details and attempting to out-compete his opponents, no matter what the situation might entail. Larkin is in the prime of his career, just signed to a long-term extension, and he wants to bring the Red Wings back into playoff contention, ASAP.
#74 Cross Hanas: At 21, the second-year pro is coming off a rookie AHL campaign marred by a shoulder injury which required surgical repair, and the 6’1,” 181-pound right wing hasn’t quite been able to replicate his point-per-game WHL performances with point-per-game, assist-heavy totals in the AHL, but the shoulder was an issue that got rectified. Going forward, Hanas plays a heavy game for a medium-sized forward, and he does a great job of battling for pucks, passing to set up teammates, sending slithery shots in on goal and out-skating his opponents to the puck. He’s an under-the-radar prospect worth watching.
#78 Amadeus Lombardi: Lombardi is sort of like a gritty version of Jonatan Berggren. Listed at 5’11” and 180 pounds, the former 5’10,” 165-pound player is ready to turn pro at 20 years of age, having posted 102 points in 67 OHL games with the Flint Firebirds this past season. Lombardi is pesky, gritty and a little mean at times, but he would rather attempt to deke and dangle the puck through opposing defenses using his excellent skating skills, and set up teammates for fine scoring chances. He’ll head to Grand Rapids looking to not back down from anyone while playing a strong self-contained game.
#85 Elmer Soderblom: Gigantic at 6’8″ and 255 pounds, Soderblom has gained some muscle mass this past offseason, and he’s gained more confidence with the puck, too. I’m always impressed by Soderblom’s sublime hand-skate-and-eye coordination, as he really can make some magical plays with the puck despite his gigantic size, and if Soderblom were to be a little more selfish and shoot the puck some more, go to the front of the net and stay there more, and be a little harder to play against in the corners, along the wall and behind the net…You’d have a real power forward of unique abilities on your hands. Only 22, Elmer’s still got time to grow into his game.
#88 Daniel Sprong: 26-year-old right wing Daniel Sprong is fairly large at 6′ and 195 pounds, he’s fairly fast, and he’s pretty tenacious in terms of his desire to generate scoring chances. Sprong is a journeyman of sorts, who’s bounced around the NHL before posting 21 goals and 45 points in 66 games this past season with Seattle. So he signed a 1-year, $2 million contract with the Red Wings, looking to provide middle-six scoring, speed and physicality. Sprong could very well be an ace in the hole.
#98 Alex DeBrincat: Not big at 5’8″ and 180 pounds, DeBrincat is also a bit “ripped,” so strength is not an issue for the mighty mite from Farmington Hills, MI. 25 until December 18th, DeBrincat is coming off a “disappointing” 27-goal campaign with Ottawa, and he’s hoping to break the 30-goal mark, if not the 40-goal mark, with the Red Wings this upcoming season. He’s got the arsenal of shots, passing and playmaking skills, skating ability and deceptive nature to achieve those things, should he earn some luck in terms of linemates and injuries. DeBrincat provides the Red Wings with a genuine, real-live “natural goal-scorer,” and that’s exciting.
Defense:
#2 Olli Maatta: 29-year-old Olli Maatta earned a 2-year, $6 million contract extension because Maatta is a rock-solid two-way defenseman. 6’2″ and 207 pounds, Maatta can pretty much play with anybody, and while he was brought into the world of NHL hockey as an offensive defenseman, he earns his money being a meat-and-potatoes-style, steady-as-can-be defender who can lay out to block shots and send elegant outlet passes to teammates with equal aplomb. A lot of folks have Maatta looking from the outside in with the Red Wing’s new defensive depth, but as far as I’m concerned, he’s invaluable.
#3 Justin Holl: Upon first blush, I like him. Holl is a right-shooting 31-year-old defenseman who stands at 6’4″ and 194 pounds, Holl was mercilessly Larry Murphy’d by Maple Leafs fans, but he puts up about 20 points a season, his analytics are good, and he’s big and mobile and smart. There’s nothing fancy about what Holl does, but, like Maatta, he gets the job done with little fanfare, and you need a complementary defenseman or two to have a really good blueline.
#8 Ben Chiarot: Absent due to a family matter, the 32-year-old Chiarot has lost some weight–he’s still 6’3,” but down from 232 to 224, and if he’s paired with the right partner, and if he’s used in a bottom-six role, Chiarot can be very useful as a physical defenseman with a nasty edge. If he’s utilized as an offensive defenseman’s partner, he tends to wander all over the ice to chase down checks, not keeping to one side of the ice, and he makes just enough turnovers to panic the hell out of everyone. I hope that the Red Wings use Chiarot in a better role this upcoming season.
#15 Jared McIsaac: 23-year-old Jared McIsaac and 21-year-old Eemil Viro are arguably the two forgotten men on the Wings’ prospect blueline. McIsaac stands at 6’2″ and 192 pounds, and after having recovered from multiple shoulder surgeries, McIsaac posted a solid 22 points in 61 games last season, and he is not unlike Olli Maatta, except at the AHL level. He is physical, he is useful, and he is a meat-and-potatoes guy, someone who plays stay-at-home hockey and gets the job done. I don’t know if he has a long-term future with the Wings. This could be the season that determines whether the Wings find him to be useful enough to keep around.
#20 Albert Johansson: Further up the depth chart, 22-year-old Albert Johansson is now the Wings’ second-lightest defenseman at 6′ and 185 pounds. I haven’t seen much of him play as last season was about my aunt’s health problems instead of getting out to West Michigan to see the Grand Rapids Griffins…But Johansson is damn talented. The former Farjestads BK defenseman only posted 15 points in 52 North American Debut Year games, but he’s a slick skater, he’s headsy with the puck and heads-up in his playmaking abilities, Johansson makes smart passes, takes good shots, and is very positionally sound. Johansson just makes the right moves at the right times, and is arguably mistake-free. That’s rare.
#41 Shayne Gostisbehere: Listed by the Wings at 5’11” and 183 pounds, Gostisbehere doesn’t look big, but he plays a heavy man’s game. Stout and sound with the puck, and speedy on the ice, Gostisbehere plays a poised, fast game which involves making quick decisions as to whether he’s going to move the puck via passing or move the puck via his speedy skating skills. He’s also got a bomb of a shot, and while I don’t see him posting another 65-point or 51-point season, in the right environment, he’s a point-per-every-other-game defenseman.
#52 Brogan Rafferty: Griffins-bound but Red Wings-contracted, the 28-year-old Rafferty was brought in after a 51-point season with the AHL’s Coachella Valley Firebirds. On a good year, the 6,’ 197-pound right-shot defenseman is good for 40-50 points at the AHL level, so the fleet-footed defenseman will be utilized as an offensive catalyst in Grand Rapids.
#62 Wyatt Newpower: At the other end of the spectrum production-wise, Newpower isn’t likely to post more than 10 to 15 points at the AHL level, but the 25-year-old stands at 6’4″ and 205 pounds, and he “keeps the flies off.” Not quite as tough as Dylan McIlrath, Newpower still does a fine job of playing hard, physical minutes, and he’s capable enough in terms of moving the puck that he is not a liability playing alongside an offensive defenseman.
Goaltenders:
#34 Alex Lyon: 30 going on 31 this December, Lyon isn’t overly big at 6’1″ and 196 pounds, but he uses very stiff pads to boot out big rebounds into the corners of the rink, and he’s bounced around the AHL and NHL like a yo-yo over the past couple of seasons, so perhaps he is more suited to being the Grand Rapids Griffins’ starter than we might have thought. Lyon is a good butterfly goaltender who uses positioning and anticipation rather than out-and-out size to stop pucks, and he’s got a very good, upright glove and blocker. My first impressions of him were good ones.
#47 James Reimer: 35-year-old James Reimer is just a plain old stocky dude at 6’2″ and 200 pounds, and, unlike Lyon, Reimer uses very flexible pads and a softer blocker to pump out gentler rebounds that he can control better with his strong butterfly game. He’s got an odd catching style, but it seems to work, and he’s very good with his stick hand, at least at first glance. There is a sense of a bit of a bulldog mentality to him, too, as he will fight the puck to keep it out of the net.
#80 Michael Hutchinson*: The 33-year-old right-glove goaltender is looking for a job, period. 6’3″ and 201 pounds, Hutchinson is some what vulnerable high at times, because he’s a bit of a flop-to-stop style goaltender. He was very interesting to watch as I’ve not seen the Wings offer a try-out to a “full right” goaltender ever, and I did see some veteran savvy in there. Whether that’s enough to earn the goalie with the Columbus Blue Jackets mask and the Vegas Golden Knights pads an AHL deal, we shall see.
TEAM HOWE:
Forwards:
#18 Andrew Copp: The 29-year-old Copp has lost two pounds, standing at 6’1″ and 203, and it is my sincere hope that he’s finally comfortable with his body after having to come back from core muscle surgery this time a year ago. Coppy never really got to train properly during last summer, and he never had a preseason to use to adjust to the Wings’ systems or teammates, and his point totals suffered as a result. He still had 33 assists and 42 points, but the strong two-way forward couldn’t score much at all, and I’m assuming we’ll see more like 15 goals instead of 9 this upcoming season. He’s responsible, reliable, and not flashy, but he never was flashy. Speedy, too.
#24 Klim Kostin: Mr. Kostin is just a large human being. The 24-year-old Russian grinder is 6’4″ and 232 pounds, and the Red Wings’ acquisition/free agent signing looks like somebody who is going to bang bodies and make space for his teammates. He skates better than I thought he would, and he’s got a low skating stride that helps him gain leverage on his opponents. Interesting, very interesting.
#27 Michael Rasmussen: My hope is that, at 24 years of age, the 6’6,” 220-pound Rasmussen really comes into his own, whether that’s on the wing or at center. Rasmussen was hitting his stride when he suffered what I have heard was a Marco Kasper-style broken kneecap, and that was the end of his 29-points-in-56-games season. The Wings fell off the map without “Moose,” perhaps illustrating how important the big man is to their physical game and overall swagger. He’s never going to be a massive scorer, but Rasmussen skates well, he plays a heavy man’s game, and he’s a useful power play participant as a net-front screen, with room to improve in that department. Quite useful!
#29 Nate Danielson: You expect some of the younger rookies to “fall off the face of the earth” during training camp. They just seize up and freak out when the NHL’ers come, and it’s expected. Not so for Mr. Danielson. The Red Wings’ 9th overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft was zipping wrist shots into the top shelf of the net, skating up and down the ice with aplomb, and the 6’2,” 188-pound center who is all of 18 just plain old looked like he belonged out there. His self-confidence is massive, and it’s neat to see a prospect with that much self-belief.
#36 Christian Fischer: The 26-year-old free agent signing stands at 6′ and 208 pounds, but he plays like he’s Rasmussen’s size. A penalty-killer with speed, size and a right shot, Fischer is plain old tenacious on the puck, tenacious in terms of his checking, and hungry to win battles and out-work his opponents. Put simply, he looks like a fine fourth-line pick-up who can play on the penalty-kill and maybe win some faceoffs, despite his status as a right winger.
#39 Tim Gettinger: The 25-year-old native of Cleveland is massive at 6’6″ and 217 pounds, but he’s also a 30-point-scorer at the AHL level, and it’s hard to find a combination of massive size and strength with middle-six scoring potential. Gettinger won’t “wow” anyone with his game, but he’s good depth to have for the Griffins, who have been undersized over the past couple of seasons.
#42 Nolan Stevens: 27-year-old Stevens is on a two-way contract, and the 6’2,” 194-pound center is coming off of a 33-points-in-46-games season with the Utica Comets. He’s going to be counted upon to be a scorer in Grand Rapids, and, like Matt Luff, someone who can come up and be steady if necessary.
#48 Jonatan Berggren: I remember when 23-year-old Jonatan Berggren was drafted. He was 5’9″ and 150 pounds soaking wet. He now stands at 5’11” and 194 pounds, and the stocky Berggren is developing into one of those under-the-radar players that you absolutely have to have in your lineup to succeed. Slick with the puck and smart in terms of his decision-making, “Johnny Burgers” posted a very solid 28 points in 67 rookie year games with Detroit, and I believe that he can be at least a point-per-every-other-game kind of player and play-maker. He’s also a really good example of what can happen to a player like Amadeus Lombardi over time–those “undersized” guys don’t get so “undersized” over time.
#50 Dominik Shine**: Griffins-contracted, Shine is listed liberally at 5’11” and 175 pounds, and the 30-year-old is a speedster who’s good for about 30 AHL points and a fair number of penalty minutes for someone of his size. He’s a speedster and hard worker who overcomes his “lack of size” with hard work and grit, and the Griffins have really enjoyed having the Pinckney, MI native on their roster for the past 8 seasons.
#57 David Perron: At 35, Perron is no spring chicken, but the Red Wings speak effusively of their teammate’s willingness to be a “talker” and a leader in the locker room. The 6,’ 195-pound Perron can still score, too, having posted 24 goals and 56 points last season. A sniper to be sure, Perron is sometimes a mean and nasty player, and that competitive edge drives his teammates on, but from a pure skill standpoint, he maximizes his size, strength, and OK skating ability by getting into the right position to score, and going after rebounds and sneaking into dead zones to one-time pucks into the back of the net. He’s very important to this team.
#67 Joel L’Esperance**: At the AHL level, 28-year-old Joel L’Esperance scores 25 goals and posts about 50 points a season. At 6’2″ and 212 pounds, he doesn’t shy away from anyone, either, and the Brighton native is able to withstand some rough and tumble stuff. He can snipe to be certain, and I’ve heard good thing about his leadership abilities.
#90 Joe Veleno: At 23 years of age, Joe Veleno is at a bit of a crossroads. The Red Wings love his work ethic and demeanor, but the 6’1,” 201-pound center is in need of a defined role on the Red Wings’ roster. Is he going to be a Kostin-style grinder? Can he tap into that scoring touch that he once displayed in the QMJHL? Will he meet somewhere in the middle? Who is Joe Veleno? He’s got the skating, passing and shooting skills to be pretty much whatever he wants to be, but the Wings’ roster and ice time limitations will help mold Veleno, who is on a one-year, prove-it contract, into some useful role.
#92 Marco Kasper: At all of 19 years of age, Marco Kasper is making his North American debut. The 6’1,” 193-pound center struggled to find his offensive game during the prospect tournament, but I believe that his offensive game will come with time. Right now, he’s a rock-solid two-way center with some snarl to him, and he skates superbly well, he’s got a smart shot, he makes plays and sees the ice well, and he’ll bump and grind and push and shove with the best of ’em if he’s aggravated or annoyed. He’s an all-round talent who needs a little time in GR to marinate.
Defense:
#38 Antti Tuomisto: The giant defenseman is going to have to find his way back to the North American game after a year spent in Finland. 6’5″ and 209 pounds, the right-shooting Tuomisto was OK during the prospect tournament, but there were moments that his gap control was off, where his angles were shaky, and where he was not rock-solid, which is the kind of player that the Red Wings hope he will become. He’s going to need to embrace the AHL grind and live with riding on the bus to Iowa for 3-game-in-3-night stints to find his place on North American ice.
#46 Jeff Petry: At 35 going on 36 this December, Petry is not necessarily what he was when he was 28, but he’s still pretty darn good. 6’3″ and 208 pounds of right-shooting offensive defenseman, the Ann Arbor native is still good for 30-40 points these days, and he’s a power play specialist who skates smoothly, controls the puck with poise, and possesses the savvy that only a veteran can. He seems to be concentrating pretty hard to have good practice outcomes, too.
#51 Eemil Viro: Only 21, Viro spent part of last season in the ECHL, and that was a step back for the 6,’ 184-pound defenseman. He doesn’t produce a whole lot of offense, and he doesn’t play particularly physically, but he is effective in a sort of Olli Maatta way, and he’s got to play outstandingly well to stand out from this deep crop of Red Wings AHL-playing, NHL-hopeful defensemen.
#53 Moritz Seider: Going into his third NHL season at only 22 years of age, the 6’3,” 205-pound defenseman is still skinny for his frame, and Seider is obviously the most talented dude on the Wings’ ranch. Exceedingly durable over the course of two seasons, having posted 50 and 42-point campaigns, Seider is an excellent offensive defenseman whose shot selection (slap, snap, wrist), passing and playmaking abilities, skating skills, vision, patience, poise and physicality are all elite. He’s a smart kid and a hard worker, too, and his competitive nature means that he isn’t willing to lose a battle for the puck easily. He does have a temper to control at times, but that will come with time.
#54 William Wallinder: Long and lean at 6’4″ and 201 pounds, Wallinder had a very good prospect tournament, and the graduate of Rogle BK of the SHL may not project to be a big point producer in the NHL, but he’s an elegant two-way defenseman who knows how to make hard defensive “stops” look easy thanks to his skating, stick, and big brain. Wallinder is already a really good defenseman who could earn an NHL call-up as a 21-year-old North American rookie, and if he has a good season in Grand Rapids, I really think that his developmental timeline might be very short and nearly vertical in its ascent.
#77 Simon Edvinsson: The best pure skater on the Wings’ blueline, 6’6,” 212-pound Simon Edvinsson is only 20, but it feels like we’ve been talking about him almost as long as we’ve been talking about Seider and Wallinder. Savvy and silky smooth on his skates, Edvinsson can pretty much make any play that he wants to, and the struggle is that he’s only interested in playing defense some of the time, and he’s got to get his head around that. I believe he can and will, soon.
#84 Josiah Didier**: Griffins-contracted, Didier was the captain of the Providence Bruins last season, and the 30-year-old doesn’t post a lot of points, but he’s big and mobile at 6’3″ and 220 pounds, he’s got some grit to him, and I was impressed by his skill set despite the fact that he’s not a point producer. Utterly at ease with himself, I think he will wear a letter in GR.
#96 Jake Walman: Walman’s really come into his own at 27 years of age. The 6’1,” 218-pound blueliner is perhaps the perfect complement to Moritz Seider, which is why the pair was kept together for the first day of training camp. Walman can skate superbly well forward, backward and laterally, he’s got a rocket of a shot, he’s a good passer, he’s physical, and, in general, the stocky defenseman signed a three-year contract extension with the Red Wings because he’s got swagger, self-belief…And the understanding that, if he can continue to grow and meld his game with Seider’s, he’s going to be worth far more than the $3.4 million that the Red Wings are paying him. There’s a cockiness to his game that’s positively contagious, and that’s a good thing.
Goaltenders:
#31 John Lethemon: The 27-year-old native of Northville, MI had a fine season for the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye last season, winning 18 games in 26 starts, with a 1.99 GAA and .930 save percentage. That made up for a so-so stint in GR for the 6’1,” 189-pound goaltender who plays a simple, effective modern butterfly style. He’s a very aggressive puck-mover and, to some extent, a reflex goalie, but it comes together for him in the ECHL, so the Walleye may lean upon him as their starter.
#33 Sebastian Cossa: Still 20 until late November, Cossa looked a whole lot more comfortable in front of NHL’ers than he did in front of prospects. He’s still got some holes in the top of the net, but the 6’6,” 215-pound Cossa is more poised than you would think, and he’s still confident in his abilities to be a strong butterfly goaltender with size, reach, and a bit of cocky confidence to him. Cossa is a project goalie, to be sure, and he’s going to have to work very hard with the Wings’ goaltending coaches (Alex Westlund, Phil Osaer, Roope Koistinen) to ensure that his “jump” to the AHL is successful, if only eventually.
#35 Ville Husso: It’s kind of weird for me to type the concept that Ville Husso has to reestablish himself as an NHL starter at 28 years of age, but player development is not a linear curve, and Husso had a fantastic first half of the season as the Red Wings’ #1 goalie…And then the bottom fell out. 6’3″ and 205 pounds, Husso plays an athletic butterfly style that is intriguingly on the edge of being uncontrolled and flop-and-flail-y, but (most of the time at least) he manages to hang onto that sliver of control of his body and pads and arms and legs. When Husso is at his best, he is simpler and more controlled, but when his concentration lapses, he can remind me of Petr Mrazek flapping around the crease. He’s only got one season as a starter under his belt, but it was a wild ride, and perhaps this season will be less of a roller coaster as a result.
*=Free Agent Try-out, **=Grand Rapids Griffins contract.
That’s it for today. I’ll try to be more succinct tomorrow.
In terms of fundraising, I’ve given everybody three days off, but we’re still in a quandary. Aunt Annie and I need to earn our way back home, and we need to raise a good chunk of change for bills. We’ve raised approximately $120 over the course of the Traverse City trip thus far, which is much, much less than we need to pay our bills when we get home (more like $500+). I hope that I can earn your support through my work here.
If you can lend a hand with our expenses, we have an old-fashioned GoFundMe here https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-george-annie-attend-prospect-tournament, you can use PayPal at https://paypal.me/TheMalikReport, Venmo at https://venmo.com/george-malik-2, Giftly by using my email, rtxg@yahoo.com, at https://www.giftly.com. And you can contact me via email if you want to send me a paper check. I’m also on Cash App under “georgeums.”
