Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen profiles Red Wings prospect Max Plante today, reporting that the Wings had hoped to sign Plante to an entry-level contract last spring. Plante wanted to play at least one season with his brothers, Victor and Zam, at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, so he declined the offer:
Three Reasons Why Max Plante Will Play in the NHL
- Slick passer, especially in traffic. Can thread a needle in a congested offensive zone. He’s not timid about going to the net.
- His shot is underrated. Can pick the corner. Consistently finds the net with his shots. Highly competitive
- High hockey IQ, smart player who understands his responsibilities whenever he’s on the ice.
What May Hold Him Back
If you watched Plante play for USA against NHL talent at the World Championships, it seemed like he will need adjustment time dealing with the size, strength and pace of the pro game.
Like his dad Derek Plante who played 450 NHL games, Max is below average size for NHL players. But Derek figured out how to cope, scoring 20 or more goals in three of his first four seasons for the Buffalo Sabres. Max will adapt as well.
