Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen posted a column which discusses the Red Wings’ imminent prospect tournament this afternoon. In the subscriber-only article, Allen highlights Nate Danielson, Theo Rochette, Carter Bear, Anton Johansson and Trey Augustine as five players who will serve as focal points as the Wings’ prospects play 3 games in 4 nights next weekend:
Who is Theo Rochette?
This is the 24-year-free agent forward the Red Wings signed out of the Swiss National League. The Red Wings don’t have an impressive history of hitting the lottery with European free agent signings. The organization took some criticism from Eduards Tralmaks because he didn’t believe he received a true chance to earn an NHL uniform.
But it will be new regime making decisions about Rochette. What we know about Rochette: he is a sformer QMJHL player who went undrafted. But scouts were impressed this past season when he put up 22 goals and 21 assists for 43 points in 46 games for Lausanne. He was a 106-point scorer in his final season in the QMJHL.
This was his third season in the Swiss League, and he has improved each season. The issue on Rochette is his smallish physique. He’s 5-10, and not much more than 170 pounds.
Continued (paywall); all four players could really improve their stock over the course of the prospect tournament, which is Allen’s point of emphasis.
