The Hockey News’s Jake Tye discusses three Red Wings prospects who may play in their first NHL games this upcoming season in Amadeus Lombardi, Nate Danielson and Shai Buium. We haven’t talked all that much about “Ammo” Lombardi, so let’s give him a fair shrift:
EliteProspects has Lombardi listed at 5’10” and 165 pounds, but no one who’s watched him play in Grand Rapids or with the Red Wings’ prospects (be it through development camps or during the Prospect Games) doubts that Lombardi can make the NHL in a checking role. The 22-year-old is extraordinarily tenacious, and he posted 19 goals and 21 assists for 40 points over the course of 44 AHL games this past season…
And he’s just got the kind of wheels and the kinds of hands necessary to complement his tremendous competitive advantage.
Here’s Tye’s take:
Amadeus Lombardi, C
Detroit‘s fourth-round pick back in 2022 has found his game this past season with a near point-per-game average with the Grand Rapids Griffins. The 22-year-old Newmarket native recorded 40 points, tying for fourth on the team in points with winger Sheldon Dries. His 19 goals was also tied for third on the team with former NHLer Austin Watson. This is all with Lombardi having played just 44 games compared to the others around him that played closer to the full 72-game AHL season. If an opportunity becomes available with an injury that would require the team to call up a center for the fourth line, we can count on Lombardi getting a chance to make his debut.
Continued; Lombardi’s NHL ceiling may be as a checking forward, but he’s going to be a real pain in the ass for opponents to deal with. If he shows up to training camp with even 5 to 10 more pounds of muscle, opponents better look out.
Great nut ‘n bolts commentary, as always.