DobberProspects’ JP Gambatese offers a slate of observations regarding NCAA prospects who’ve impressed over the course of the college hockey season thus far, and he includes Red Wings prospect Trey Augustine on his list…
With an honorable mention to fellow Wings prospect Max Plante:
Detroit Red Wings – Trey Augustine (G)
The Red Wings have a two-headed monster between Augustine and Sebastian Cossa in their goalie pipeline. He’s undersized for a current NHL goaltender at 6-1, but he is as composed as any goalie you will ever watch. He rarely gets frazzled and is more content sitting back in his crease and letting the play come to him than becoming aggressive and having to recover. Augustine is particularly strong when seeing pucks through screens and hugging the posts when called upon. He isn’t as athletic as perhaps you’d like to see from a smaller goalie, but he is more controlled than most and can keep play to the outside rather than allowing rebounds to hit the center of the ice for another grade-A chance against.
23 Games Played: 15-5-3 | .926 SV% | 2.07 GAA | 2 SO
Honorable Mention: Max Plante (LW) – Plante is an excellent playmaker and a hard worker, but some concerns may limit his ceiling as an NHLer, predominantly his skating. His top speed is below average, his acceleration is subpar, and his edgework is ordinary for a player under six feet tall. His shot, while not a detriment to his game, isn’t a huge threat, but his passing work and hockey sense make up for it. Plante often finds himself in the right place at the right time and has an outstanding balance of understanding of the game and the ability to get into open space. I could see him becoming an offensively oriented third-line complementary winger in the big leagues, but I don’t think his skating ability allows for much more growth than that.
13 Games Played: 6 G / 10 A / 16 TP / 4 PIM / 46 SOG / 13.0 SH%
Continued; players can always learn to skate better, if they really work on it…
