The Free Press’s Helene St. James spoke with Red Wings prospect Nate Danielson after yesterday’s prospect tournament victory. Danielson told St. James that he’s recovering from a stress fracture injury which ended his season last February:
“I think [the prospect tournament will] definitely give me a little bit more leg up and and just kind of get back in that game shape a little quicker,” Danielson said after picking up an assist in the Wings’ 3-2 overtime victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets at Belfor training center inside Little Caesars Arena on Tuesday, Sept. 15. “I’m confident in myself and just want to go out there and play my game and not really worry about all that other stuff.”
Danielson assisted on Noah Dower Nilsson’s game-tying goal with a minute to go in regulation.
Grand Rapids Griffins coach Dan Watson understood that Danielson wasn’t at 100% during the tournament:
Danielson’s limited action prompted the team to include him in the prospects tournament. “It’s just to feel the bumps out there, the physical play, the intensity,” Griffins coach Dan Watson, the bench boss for the three-game tournament, said. “It’s been seven months since he last played a game. So for him to get those types of reps, get experience with some pressure on him, all that benefits him.
“I think where he’s grown is his mental toughness. Going through an injury like that, missing the better part of the last half of the season – to get through that, to come out stronger, I think that’s to feel healthy, to feel like he’s ready to go. I think that’s going to help him. Don’t worry about his play. That’s going to take care of itself. He knew what he needed to work on come the summertime, which he did, but I just think the mental toughness side of it, which is a big part of the game right now, he’s going to be on the better side of that.”
Continued with a brief recap of the prospects’ 3-2 overtime victory over Pittsburgh.
