Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen has posted a subscriber-only article about Red Wings 2024 draft pick and University of Minnesota-Duluth forward Max Plante, a 5’11,” 176-pound center who’s an elite passer and play-maker.
As Allen notes, Plante suffered from a wrist injury which required him to wear a brace and miss time over the course of last season. Nonetheless, he posted 19 assists and 28 points for UMD over the course of only 23 games last season, and the Wings believe that, with time, Plante should rise among the prospect ranks:
Minnesota-Duluth forward Max Plante (47th, 2024) was among the Detroit Red Wings who couldn’t skate at their development camp recently and yet Dan Cleary still talked about him like he did.
“I love Max,” the Red Wing director of player development said. “Max’s energy. Hockey sense. Max’s competitiveness his first year.”
It’s clear the Red Wing have plenty of time for Plante, the son of former NHLer Derek Plante. Detroit Hockey Now didn’t have him in our Top 10 prospects, but we see him right outside that group. He’s a smallish winger, known more for his playmaking than scoring. He scored nine goals and finished with 28 points in 23 games as a Bulldogs freshman. The Minnesota native was undermined by injury early in the season.
“He got off to slow start. I think he only played like five games before world juniors in the season,” Cleary said.
Continued (paywall); Plante is playing on a line with his brother, Zam, and as Allen discusses, his family is legendary in the Duluth suburb of Hermantown, Minnesota, so the 2nd round pick (47th overall) is hoping to stay healthy and display his passing acumen as a sophomore playing for his hometown team.
It should be noted that 6’5″ defenseman and Wings draft pick Brady Cleveland will join Plante in Duluth after transferring schools this past spring, so two Detroit prospects will be trying to find their stride at UMD this upcoming season.
