The Detroit Red Wings’ prospects split their “Prospect Games” against the Dallas Stars, winning a 6-2 decision over Dallas on Saturday, and dropping a 6-5 decision on Sunday.
I shared my impressions regarding the second game a couple of hours ago, and while I was getting Aunt Annie dinner, Grand Rapids Griffins coach Dan Watson spoke with the Wings’ media corps regarding his take on the game.
Watson told the Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan that fatigue was an issue as the young team tried to grind out a pair of wins over the course of a pair of evenings:
“I knew they (Stars) were going to come out on fire, which they did,” said Dan Watson, the Grand Rapids Griffins coach, who coached the Wings’ prospects in these two games. “But I was proud of the way our guys settled in. Once we got some offensive zone time, we were able to wear them down and they took some penalties and then our power play took over, and that was a big momentum boost. (The Wings) probably got a little tired, especially our top six forwards there, we shuffled the lines around later in the game to try and generate some offense. But overall, we’re pleased with what we saw.”
Watson felt the Wings may have been looking for offense too much late in the game.
“When you do that, we didn’t have the numbers back and they capitalized on some wide rush chances and came away with the win,” Watson said.
[Center Nate] Danielson felt the Wings were more structured the night before in a convincing victory.
“We definitely played a lot better as a team (Saturday),” Danielson said. “The games were maybe kind of run around a little bit, and a little sloppy. I know there were a couple of play I’d like back, but that’s kind of the way these games go.”
As DetroitRedWings.com’s Jonathan Mills noted, there are very few negatives when you’re playing a two-game slate of what are essentially “get a jump on the NHL competition” events against 25-and-under opponents, but coach Watson did see some progression of the positive variety, too:
“I think it’s a great opportunity for the young guys to gel,” Grand Rapids Griffins head coach Dan Watson said. “They’re draft picks, again I mentioned that we hope to see them play together whether it’s in Grand Rapids or Detroit. It’s an opportunity to know each other, learn about each other. The guys I obviously had in Grand Rapids, it was an opportunity for us to see what kind of summer they had. I thought our guys competed really hard all the way through. They probably got a little bit tired, especially our top six forwards there. Shuffled some lines around later in the game to try to generate a little more offense, but overall pretty pleased with what I saw.”
Watson praised the players who ate into the Stars’ early 2-0 lead…
Shai Buium responded for Detroit, scoring wide-open at the back post on the power play to make it 2-1 with 5:19 left in the first period. The assists on Buium’s second goal of this year’s NHL Prospect Games went to Carson Bantle and Amadeus Lombardi.
“Shai has grown in his defensive game,” Watson said. “His skating has improved from the beginning of last year up until right now. Again, for him, it’s being consistent.”
Leveling the score, Bantle scored a power-play goal of his own after he collected a rebound off a shot from Lombardi to make it 2-2 at 17:35 of the first period. Justice Christensen had the secondary assist.
“We challenged our guys, and one of the hardest things to do is duplicate what you did the night before,” Watson said. “Especially with the intensity, I think our special teams helped us, in the first period, get that momentum back to head into the second.”
And again, Nate Danielson offered some wise remarks about the players who were trying to become a unit over the course of only three days’ worth of time together:
“We definitely played a lot better as a team last night,” Danielson said. “The games were, at times, kind of running around a little bit and getting a little sloppy. When you’re playing with a ton of new guys and everyone is trying to prove something or show something – myself included. I think I had a couple plays I’d like to take back, but I think that’s kind of just how these games go.”
As Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff noted, the Red Wings’ Grand Rapids Griffins-contracted duo of Jacob Truscott and Carson Bantle, as well as the free agent invites–Carl-Otto Magnusson, Liam Kilfoil, Vincent Collard, Florent Houle, Justice Christensen, Maxim Dirracolo and Wyatt Kennedy–are all trying to earn jobs, be it with Detroit, Grand Rapids, Toledo, or somewhere else. The stakes are a little higher for those particular players:
“Any of the free agent guys that are here, it’s a great opportunity to be seen not just by us, but by Dallas’s organization, as well as any other scouts in the building,” said Grand Rapids Griffins coach Dan Watson, who handled the Detroit rookies over the weekend. “You know, they can sign anywhere they want, so make sure that you put your best foot forward.”
Center Liam Kilfoil scored a sweet goal for Detroit in Sunday’s 6-5 loss to Dallas, breaking into the clear and roofing a backhand. He also took a penalty that led to a Dallas power-play goal. At only 18, he can return to play for the QMJHL Halifax Mooseheads this season.
Among the free agents, Watson cited Prince Albert Raiders defenseman Justice Christensen and Moncton Wildcats winger Vincent Collard among players who were leaving a positive impression.
“I also liked (defenseman Jacob) Truscott’s game,” Watson said. “He is on an American League deal, but I didn’t see him live until now. And also Collard up front, a big right winger. I thought he played heavy. I thought he was trying to do the right things.
“Those guys right there made a real good impression, and we could see their compete level. I think something we admire and hold heavily inside that coach’s room is how hard guys compete, and are willing to do some of the work. And then those three guys stepped up.”
For Carson Bantle in particular, Duff points out that the 6’5,” 215-pound 23-year-old spent 23 games with Grand Rapids, posting a lone goal, but he also played in 39 games with the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye, he posted 21 goals and 8 assists for 29 points, and Bantle would rather be earning an AHL salary this season:
“These last two games, you can see his physical presence,” Watson said. “He finishes his checks. He’s relentless on the forecheck. He does a really good job around the net. So we’ll see where he shakes out this year for where he fits in our lineup.”
That’s going to be the case for Truscott, Bantle and the vast majority of the prospects who skated in the two-game “Prospect Games” series, so their time to make a positive impression starts Thursday, and this past weekend was the springboard by which to make that happen.
Multimedia: Here are the Wings’ highlights from Sunday night’s game:
