The Red Wings signed free agents William Lagesson, Joe Snively and Sheldon Dries to bolster the Grand Rapids Griffins over the course of the first day of free agency, and Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen has posted a subscriber-only article which discusses the reasons why Dries, a 30-year-old forward, is the “right fit” for the organization:
Proper Attitude: When he played at Western Michigan, he was seen as a quiet leader. Teammates took note of how he prepared himself for a game and how hard he played. He’s not a complainer. Dries is always humble about his contributions. Coaches love having dedicated players like Dries.
When he played for the Canucks, he was a viewed as a true professional.
“I really appreciate these kind of guys because I’ve been through it myself as a player,” former Canucks coach Bruce Boudreau told the Providence newspaper in 2023. “Every time we sent him down, he said: ‘Don’t worry. I’ll have a great attitude and I’ll work my butt off to be back’. And he has. When you put him in any situation, all he’s doing is giving it his best. There’s no pouting.”
He’s a 5-foot-9, 180 pounder. Dreis doesn’t offer a beastly presence. But he pushes himself to get to the net. He is always where he needs to be.
Continued (paywall)
