DetroitRedWings.com’s Jonathan Mills posted an article looking back at last week’s Summer Development Camp, emphasizing its importance to Detroit’s prospects, regardless of where they were drafted:
“We all know these kids are young and have to get stronger in different areas, but it’s also great for them,” Assistant Director of Player Development Dan Cleary said of the Red Wings’ annual Development Camp last Thursday. “I’ve noticed their personality has changed after their first [Development Camp]. Then they come back, they’re more comfortable…It’s great for these guys to get to know each other, see what it’s all about, be around LCA, this incredible facility. We have such great people here — trainers, therapists. It’s a good experience for them, but it’s not an evaluation…So many different aspects and people that makes this go smoothly.”
Each attendee arrives at Development Camp with different levels of comfortability and experience but ultimately leaves Detroit with more knowledge than they had at the start of the week.
Take goalie prospect Trey Augustine, for example. This year marked Augustine’s third Development Camp with the Red Wings since being selected No. 41 overall in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, and the 20-year-old feels he has grown as a player since his first.
“Obviously, you get more comfortable being around longer,” Augustine said last Thursday. “First year, it’s a lot more special because you don’t know what to expect. But obviously coming into this year, you kind of know your way around and know everyone. For me, it’s not the start of the season but it’s kind of getting there. This is a hard week of training and it kind of gets you in the mindset for the rest of the summer — that it’s time to really start picking it up, ramping up the skates and workouts.”
