Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff filed an article which discusses both the Red Wings’ competition for this weekend’s Prospect Games, the Dallas Stars, and offers a few cogent Wings prospect observations. Among them:
There’s been a buzz about [Michael] Brandsegg-Nygard because he was just drafted three months ago, and the Red Wings wanted him to come to training camp. More often than not, the Red Wings let European players stay in Europe because their leagues start earlier.
Axel Sandin Pellikka and Brandsegg-Nygard both play for Skelleftea in the Swedish Hockey League, and Sandin Pellikka is not coming for training camp. Of course, Sandin Pellikka is a smallish, dynamic puck-moving defenseman, and Brandsegg-Nygard is a strong winger.
My understanding is that Brandsegg-Nygard wants to play for Skelleftea AIK this upcoming season, with Sandin Pellikka, but I will admit that the Red Wings’ management have changed prospects’ minds before.
Rychlovsky is another intriguing player because he led the Czech league with 26 goals last season.
Danielson projects to play this season in Grand Rapids, but he is one of the prospects who could make the team with a memorable preseason. It seems likely coach Derek Lalonde will play Danielson and Marco Kasper often when the Red Wings start playing preseason game. Kasper will not be at the NHL prospect tournament.
The Red Wings’ rule for prospect participation usually works like this: if the player’s skated in a full season at the AHL level, they’re prohibited from participating in whatever tournament the Wings are holding. As such, Jakub Rychlovsky, who played pro hockey in the Czech Extraliga last season, is eligible, but Kasper isn’t.
Sebastian Cossa will not be at this tournament, but Carter Gylander will be. He’s probably third in line behind Cossa and Augustine among Detroit goalie prospects.
One goalie to watch: Gage Alexander. The Red Wings picked him up from the Anaheim Ducks in the Robby Fabbri trade. He’s 6-foot-6, and he’s only 22 years old. This will give the coaching staff to see what they have in this young prospect.
It is entirely possible that the Wings will go with a three-goalie system at the NHL level, a three-goalie system at the AHL level (with Jack Campbell, Sebastian Cossa and one of Gage Alexander or Carter Gylander), and a two-goalie system at the ECHL level, with one of Alexander or Gylander working with the Griffins-contracted Jan Bednar.
