DetroitRedWings.com’s Jonathan Mills spoke with Grand Rapids Griffins coach Dan Watson and Red Wings prospect Carter Bear as the Red Wings’ 2026 prospect tournament concluded on Tuesday afternoon:
Watson pointed out that the players took part in a learning experience, while Bear emphasized getting a head start on training camp:
“It’s hard because you feed them so much information,” Watson said. “You want to play with some structure. You can’t just let them go out there and run around. At times it’ll look like that, which it will for all teams, but it’s more about the details, the habits they play with, see how much information guys can handle. And I thought our guys, for the most part, looking back at the last two games of video, did a good job. Were there things to clean up? Absolutely. There’s going to be mistakes. That’s what this game is all about. So, for them it’s about moving forward.”
Forward Carter Bear was one of many who pointed to the intensity over the past few days as a driving force behind prospects working hard to show what they’re capable of.
“It’s good to finally go play hockey,” Bear said. “It’s been a little while. Obviously, it’s highly competitive out there. We all want to prove something. Everyone is here for a reason, so we’re trying to set a point for it. Everyone wants to battle hard and earn respect around here.”
There’s been a lot for the youngsters to unpack, but there’s even more to prove in the days ahead.
“Everyone that gets invited here has a chance,” Bear said. “I want to prove something on my side too. So, for me, I just want to keep my head down and work my ass off. That’s all we really can do as well as playing within the systems and all that.”
Watson told Mills that the abbreviated training camp and exhibition season means that prospects have a shorter period of time with which to make an impact:
“Everyone has got to show up,” Watson said. “You don’t have a day to kind of be casual and not show up. You have got to make sure you’re on top of your game right from day one of Training Camp … And then you have a short period of time to show yourself against NHL hockey players. So, for anybody that’s looking to make the team, they better be ready to go and have that intensity from the first meeting on.”
