Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen posted a subscriber-only article about 22-year-old center Amadeus Lombardi, who’s bigger (5’11” and 178 pounds instead of 5’10” and 160 pounds), stronger and more seasoned as he makes a push for a roster spot on the Red Wings:
This summer, he has worked on his faceoffs and his defensive game. The work on his defensive game involved watching video of top NHL defensive forwards.
“Playoff hockey, watching the right guys,” Lombardi said, explaining what he studied.
Lombardi plans to show his improved strength to the coaches with his play.
“I can handle pressure,” Lombardi said. “I’m not going to be a guy that’s running around dropping guys left and right, but if I can be able to withstand some hits, protect the puck a little better, that’s gonna be a big thing. And then the other thing is just defensively, being more responsible, playing a 200-foot game and getting trust from the coach going into my third year with the same staff, getting comfortable with them, hopefully they trust me more .”
Lombardi believes that he can produce points at the NHL level as well as the AHL level, where he posted 19 goals and 21 assists for 40 points in 44 games played for the Grand Rapids Griffins last season…
“I think the (Red Wings) know that the offense is there,” Lombardi said. “Now it’s about building the defensive side of my game, which is something I’ve been really focused on. And I think that when you get your foot in the door.”
That’s all Lombardi wants, a foot in the door. He feels he can do the rest.
“You’re most likely going to start in the bottom six,” Lombardi said. “So it’s about being able to be trusted in that bottom six, being able to be effective in the bottom six and then slowly work your way up. Obviously, I have goals, everyone has goals.”
Continued (paywall); it’s hard to root against “Ammo,” isn’t it? He’s got an incredibly realistic and mature take on where he will start in the NHL, and where he wants to end up.
