Prospects and baseball

The Detroit Red Wings’ 2023 Summer Development Campers enjoyed last night’s Detroit Tigers game from the owner’s suite, and DetroitRedWings.com’s Jonathan Mills discussed the players’ experiences at Comerica Park with several top prospects:

On the Fourth of July, after completing Day 4 of on-ice instruction at Little Caesars Arena’s BELFOR Training Center, 46 Red Wings prospects settled in at Comerica Park to cheer on the Detroit Tigers against the visiting Oakland Athletics.

“It’s pretty cool,” Nate Danielson, Detroit’s ninth overall pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, told DetroitRedWings.com. “Coming to see a Tigers game is fun. It’s nice to be able to do it with all the guys and get to know them more.”

After arriving at Comerica Park, the players headed to their designated suite and enjoyed a pre-game buffet featuring plenty of ballpark-themed food.

“It’s different showing up in a team environment like this,” said Carter Mazur, the Red Wings’ 70th overall pick in 2021. “I’m coming with my family most of the time, but it’s been a fun time so far at this camp. All these guys are just unbelievable human beings and were all drafted for a reason.”

Mazur, a Jackson, Mich., native, said that his favorite Tigers player growing up was center fielder Austin Jackson. But for Trey Augustine, a South Lyon, Mich., native, his childhood Tigers fandom revolved around two all-time Tigers greats.

“I grew up watching Tigers games,” said Augustine, Detroit’s 41st overall selection on June 29. “I’ve been here a good number of times. I grew up watching (Miguel) Cabrera play when he was a little bit younger, even (Justin) Verlander.”

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Kris Draper is now the assistant GM and director of amateur scouting for the Detroit Red Wings

It’s official:

Update: Here’s the press release:

KRIS DRAPER NAMED RED WINGS ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER AND DIRECTOR OF AMATEUR SCOUTING

  â€¦ Four-Time Stanley Cup Champion Spent Last Four Seasons as Red Wings Director of Amateur Scouting â€¦

DETROIT – Detroit Red Wings executive vice president and general manager Steve Yzerman today announced that Kris Draper has been named assistant general manager and director of amateur scouting.

Draper, 52, will work alongside Yzerman and Red Wings assistant general manager Shawn Horcoff on all hockey operations matters for the organization, in addition to continuing in his role as director of amateur scouting.

Draper spent the last four seasons as Red Wings director of amateur scouting, overseeing the franchise’s amateur scouting department, running the NHL Entry Draft and assisting the Red Wings’ management team in various hockey operations decisions. As director of amateur scouting, Draper presided over the selection of six first-round picks in the NHL Entry Draft, choosing Lucas Raymond (fourth overall in 2020), Simon Edvinsson (sixth overall in 2021), Sebastian Cossa (15th overall in 2021), Marco Kasper (eighth overall in 2022), Nate Danielson (ninth overall in 2023) and Axel Sandin Pellikka (17th overall in 2023). Draper was named Detroit’s director of amateur scouting prior to the 2019-20 campaign after working the previous eight seasons as assistant to the general manager, providing player evaluations at both the professional and amateur levels and input regarding potential trades and free agent signings.

Draper’s on-ice accomplishments are highlighted by four Stanley Cup titles in 1997, 1998, 2002 and 2008, joining Nicklas Lidstrom, Tomas Holmstrom, Kirk Maltby and Darren McCarty as the only players to hoist the Stanley Cup in each of Detroit’s last four championship seasons. Originally selected by the Winnipeg Jets in the third round (62nd overall) of the 1989 NHL Entry Draft,  Draper played 20 games over three seasons in Winnipeg before the Jets dealt him to Detroit in exchange for future considerations on June 30, 1993. Draper spent the next 17 seasons in the Motor City, becoming a fixture in Detroit’s lineup during the 1993-94 season and playing center on what became known as the ‘Grind Line’ with Maltby, and at different times, McCarty and Joe Kocur. They formed one of the most revered lines in Red Wings history and played an integral role in helping Detroit end a 42-year drought by capturing the 1997 Stanley Cup.

The Toronto, Ontario, native was recognized throughout his career as one of the top penalty killers and face-off men in the NHL and was rewarded with the 2004 Frank J. Selke Trophy as the NHL’s top defensive forward. He became the fifth player in team history to play 1,000 games in a Red Wings uniform, joining Gordie Howe, Alex Delvecchio, Yzerman and Lidstrom. Draper never missed the playoffs during his 17 seasons in Detroit and appeared in 220 postseason games with the Red Wings, ranking second in club history behind Lidstrom (263). In total, Draper recorded 361 points (158-203-361), a plus-78 rating and 781 penalty minutes in 1,137 games with the Red Wings from 1993-11, in addition to 46 points (24-22-46) and 160 penalty minutes in 220 postseason contests.

Tweet of note: Mile High Sports reports that Darren Helm is retiring

On Twitter, from Mile High Sports’ Aarif Deen:

Duff on ‘life lessons’ for the Wings’ prospects

Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff took note of the “life lessons” which the Red Wings’ top prospects are learning this week at the 2023 Summer Development Camp:

As they put their top prospects through the paces, the Detroit Red Wings were evaluating each player’s skill level. There was also intense physical testing to determine areas in need of addressing. But it wasn’t just hockey sense that was being taught.

Off the ice, the young players were getting schooling in what to eat, how to rest and recover and even how to invest their money.

To say it was an eye-opening experience to the young players would be a massive understatement.

“I’m starting to think about financial stuff, like if I sign a contract or something like that,” 2023 Detroit first-round pick Axel Sandin Pellikka said. “I’m learning about how I invest my money and use it in the future.”

For someone like 2021 first-round draftee Sebastian Cossa, he was able to put these lessons into practice as he made his pro debut thus season with the ECHL Toledo Walleye.

“Yeah, 100%,” Cossa said. “Sleep tracking. They talk a lot about diet and hydration here and that’s huge. It’s just making sure you’re eating right and sleeping right. It’s little things away from the rink that are big.”

Continued; the prospects also take seminars regarding social media and media relations, they learn how to work out properly, they learn how to cook well, etc.

And they took in last night’s Tigers game. It’s a busy week for them.

Trevor Thompson speaks with the Dower Nilsson brothers

Bally Sports Detroit’s Trevor Thompson spoke with Noah and Liam Dower Nilsson yesterday afternoon, and the interview aired during last night’s Tigers game:

Ken Kal: The Red Wings will stream this morning’s Summer Development Camp 3-on-3 tournament

Per Detroit Red Wings play-by-play announcer Ken Kal:

HSJ in the morning: Profiling Carter Mazur

The Free Press’s Helene St. James profiles Red Wings prospect Carter Mazur this morning:

Mazur sees a role for himself as a player: “I like pissing people off, that’s a big part of my game,” he said. “I love chirping, getting under other people’s skin, I don’t care who you are. It’s something I enjoy and it makes hockey a lot of fun.”

Carter put in something of an audition playing for the U.S. at the World Championship, where the coaching staff included Wings coach Derek Lalonde. Lalonde told the Free Press after the May tournament what he liked about Mazur’s performance: “There are still a lot of areas where he needs to grow his game, but I got a very good impression from him. He put his nose right into things. It was impressive to see.”

Mazur had a goal and three assists in 10 games, and came away with valuable experience.

“I feel like it helped me a lot,” he said. “The first game, Miko Rantanen was out there, players of that caliber. It was special to be on the same ice as them and share it with them. But I felt like I was out there doing what I do best and I was ready and was put in a situation where I succeeded. I look forward to a future of playing against men here on out.

“It’s my lifelong dream to be a Detroit Red Wings and I know I’m close to it, but it’s still far, far away,” Mazur said. “I want to be a really good player in the NHL, I don’t just want to be someone that just sticks around for a couple games and gets sent down. I want to be a player that has a reason and competes and does everything. That is my main focus.”

Continued (no paywall as of 6:16 AM)