Red Wings Top Prospects Gain Access to NHL

Steve Yzerman and his staff will meet within 48 hours and begin making roster cuts, potentially leaving several players who have contributed both well and badly to making roster decisions hard. Because Grand Rapids is two hours away, roster decisions could become very contentious indeed. By Christmas we will have played 33 players…. This may seem old-school; twenty-25 years ago it may have been more the norm where every newcomer would automatically make the team on day one; I imagine we may end up having 15 forwards and 10 D on our squad in reality though. So it will be fascinating to observe what unfolds over the coming days and weeks.” Lalonde makes an accurate point. Detroit was fortunate enough to remain injury free last season, yet still managed to see 28 different players skate in at least one game, including four goaltenders, eight defensemen and 16 forwards – four goalies were featured as starters amongst this total of 28 skaters.” No one should assume they will make an initial 23-man roster at the beginning of October; even if Kasper, Danielson or Mazur don’t make this weekend’s cut-downs to reach NHL, there will still be multiple chances later in 2018-2019 for them to do just that. That success stems from their skills demonstrated since training camp kicked off and their potential growth. But their versatility could prove crucial as well – ultimately playing different roles could become ever more crucial to team success. Danielson Proving NHL Debate Concerning When and Not If] Detroit learned first-hand last season the importance of role. Forward corps management attempted to cast scorers as bottom six roles; this proved costly due to some players trying to exceed what was asked of them and overdelivering in performance. At an elite athletic level, numerous players who have been contributing to their teams since they were children strive to demonstrate they can make an impactful contribution; yet what may prove even more impactful may be their ability to deliver in specific roles that have been assigned them. “Every player knows their role on an NHL team,” Christian Fischer stated. “Last season when we had four lines that all did their work for one another was proof enough of that fact.” And regardless of what this may entail on any given night, having even just one or two players out of sync or performing uncharacteristically makes a substantial impactful statement about them and the team.” “For prospects this role discussion becomes even more evident. Even rookies must quickly grasp their role and perform to expectation; but, when first entering the NHL or trying to prove themselves on a team for the first time, young players may overdo things and overcompensate by trying too hard. As is the case for many young players attempting to break into the NHL, many young players experience frustration as their dreams of reaching this league prove futile. Coaches tasked with placing young talent for success may express concern: is it safe to rely on rookie players from scratch to perform at certain standards? Can You Rely On Their Defense or Checks or Simple Plays?For Red Wings three closest prospects, Lalonde responded that for now the answer was yes. “Development and growing guys in the league is part of life.” “What I like most about many of our prospects – and this has been mentioned multiple times – is they already possess two-way DNA even as 1A players with high or mid first round draft picks. Marco, Danielson and Mazur — three players that I watch closely at camp winning battles with energy and determination is what has me most inspired about their development. I find the prospect of seeing these guys grow even more exciting every year! “Rather than asking whether these prospects can contribute in an NHL lineup, their versatility raises more important questions about whether it would benefit them to fulfill certain roles.” As they can defend and influence play at both ends of the rink, their play doesn’t limit itself to only one type of opportunity. From Lalonde’s perspective, having three young players demonstrate such maturity is invaluable – not only because it will get them into the NHL more easily but also so they can contribute directly. At first, Kasper, Danielson and Mazur’s presence may make opponents nervous; but over time they have proven they can handle checking roles effectively in the bottom six. So if a check role becomes vacant due to injury or another opening, those three can easily be considered among available applicants for consideration. Role versatility does not ensure they will top the call-up candidates list automatically; Consider Lalonde’s scenario when discussing call-ups: “One of the more challenging decisions when considering call-ups will be whether to include Player A on an extended three game road trip even though his role could potentially decrease?” “This can be an extremely tough choice: whether to bring Player A from Grand Rapids and give him power play/PK time without compensation; or bring Player B who would miss out on over 20 minutes per night both there and back home? It is difficult to answer. ” Red Wings past treatment of rookies — such as defenseman Simon Edvinsson’s lengthy stint in Grand Rapids last season — suggests they favor this latter path; yet, that three forward prospects raised these issues is an encouraging sign. Kasper has made such an impressionful two-way performance during preseason that Detroit must respond by selecting him when making its initial roster this weekend, just as Danielson and Mazur could do if needed during an in-season call-up. Kasper Makes Persuasive Case for NHL Spot]But even if any of Kasper, Danielson or Mazur don’t immediately find themselves among NHL roster, don’t be shocked if they do eventually make it up there. Your players have many roles they can fill and this should only increase their chance of getting to the NHL faster. Other stories from THN Detroit: Red Wings-Maple Leafs Lineups & Where to Watch Three Takeaways From Red Wings’ Loss To OttawaRed Wings’ Jack Campbell Enters Player Assistance ProgramWhat The Red Wings Can Learn From Detroit Tigers Playoff RunPre-Season Check-In Episode 41