According to CBS Sports, Red Wings prospect Carter Mazur has finally been removed from Detroit’s injured reserve list, and the 23-year-old forward spoke with DetroitRedWings.com’s Jonathan Mills regarding his recovery from his most recent injury in a dislocated elbow suffered during his first NHL game:
“I was called up for a reason,” Mazur recently told DetroitRedWings.com. “My game is still there. It’s not a career-ending injury, but the thought of that happening with all my family and friends there is still brutal. However, I have a great support system behind me. Every single one of them supports me no matter what. It was a tough thing to go through, but I have the right people behind me to get me in the right spot.”
It hasn’t been easy, but Mazur has grown to embrace the challenges that have come his way. That includes his 2024-25 season with the Grand Rapids Griffins, which saw the 23-year-old forward sidelined from Oct. 19 – Jan. 18 because of an upper-body injury before he returned to notch 15 points (eight goals, seven assists) in 20 American Hockey League contests.
“Already having a year in the American Hockey League under my belt, I felt more comfortable last year,” Mazur said. “That helped me a lot. I trust my ability, and I always go back to that. I feel like I have some skill and snarl to my game…And out of the 20 games I did play, I felt like my game added a lot to the group.”
Mazur believes his offseason work will help him stay healthy and effective in 2025-26. The Jackson, Mich., native confirmed he’s added 15 pounds of muscle this summer, thanks to a detailed nutrition and conditioning plan.
“Gaining strength was always a big part of probably why I’ve gotten hurt a lot,” Mazur said. “I’m on the smaller side, but [Griffins Strength and Conditioning Coordinator] Marcus [Kinney] and [Griffins Physical Therapist] Zack Harvey put me in a good spot heading into the summer. Just keeping that muscle on, figuring out more about my body and what I really need is huge.”
Continued; Mazur has a real chance to break into the Red Wings’ lineup this fall, and his physical, chippy style of play should benefit the Wings as they lack a physical edge. Mazur isn’t overly big at 6′ tall, but he’s reportedly put on quite a bit of weight from the 172 pounds that he’s listed on EliteProspects, and he’s retained his mobility along the way.
At 23 years of age, it’s just time for Mazur to compete for a spot on the Red Wings’ roster, even in a bottom-six role, and I believe that he’s up for the challenge.
