Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff posted an early-morning column which discusses Red Wings prospect Nate Danielson, who is well aware of his opportunity to “stick” with the Wings in his third training camp and exhibition season:
“Yeah, I feel a lot more comfortable around everyone this year,” Danielson said. “Compared to last year, I have a bit different mentality. Kind of going in with whatever happens, happens. And I’m happy with that.
“Just go out there and compete and show what I can do. And obviously, the goal is to make Detroit. If not, then go play in Grand Rapids and just hustle my butt off and try to respond up there.”
The same things the Red Wings liked about Danielson to make him the ninth overall selection in 2023 remain true. He’s still a 200-foot player whose game is mature beyond his age.
“It is unusual,” Grand Rapids Griffins coach Dan Watson admitted of Danielson’s defensive acumen and high hockey IQ. “You don’t see many junior players come out with that defensive mindset that he has and the reads that he has.
“I think a lot of these guys that come out of junior, they’re high end, their top scorers, as he was, and maybe they lack a little bit of that defensive structure. But obviously, he’s had good coaching along the way. He’s a smart kid.
“He makes the right reads, and he’s there for support, and he understands the game extremely well. Nate always wants to learn about the game. He loves to watch hockey, loves to watch his shifts. So, that’s just him growing.”
