In the second of two prospect games against Dallas, the Red Wings saw a number of contributors. Here’s a look at six takeaways from the game including Nate Danielson’s leadership, Alexandre Doucet’s big weekend and an injury to a top defense prospect.
In the second of two prospect games against Dallas, the Red Wings saw a number of contributors. Here’s a look at six takeaways from the game including Nate Danielson’s leadership, Alexandre Doucet’s big weekend and an injury to a top defense prospect.
It might be six weeks until Halloween, but the Red Wings broke out their brooms Sunday afternoon with a 3-2 win over the Dallas Stars in the final of two prospect games in Traverse City. Much like Saturday night’s win, there were a number of contributors who made big impressions in their performances.
Here are six takeaways from the Red Wings’ second game, including a look at an NHL hopeful’s leadership, a forward’s case for an AHL spot and an unfortunate injury to a top defense prospect.
Alexandre Doucet Making Case for AHL Roster Spot
Usually, hockey players don’t like to speak out of line when it comes to their pro opportunities. But to Alexandre Doucet, he has no problem saying that his sights are aimed higher than his time in the ECHL last season.
“I don't want to go back to the (ECHL),” Doucet said Sunday. “So I've tried to work hard this summer to prove that I belong in Grand Rapids.”
The winger certainly stated his case on the ice this weekend. Of Detroit’s eight goals, Doucet scored three including a nice rebound finish in the first period. He was a strong contributor on Detroit’s best line of the weekend on the wing of Hunter Johannes and Amadeus Lombardi. The trio performed so well that even Lombardi was advocating to unite them under greater stakes.
“No one knows what's going to happen with Detroit, Grand Rapids, all that stuff — I'm not going to try and make predictions or anything, but I think he's a hell of a player,” Lombardi said of Doucet. “I would love to continue playing with him. I think we got something going.”
What Doucet does at training camp against pros will probably mean more for his AHL or ECHL status, but he got off to a good start at the prospect games.
Hunter Johannes Flashes Skating, Shot to Complement Size
The Grand Rapids Griffins had a type this offseason. They signed Hunter Johannes (formerly an amateur tryout with the team), Gabriel Seger and Carson Bantle this offseason, all towering above 6-foot-3. Out of the trio, Johannes showed a lot of skill this weekend with a big role on that dominant second line with Lombardi and Doucet.
Johannes showed up on the stat sheet, scoring a goal Sunday after notching an assist Saturday. What was more impressive was the way Johannes constantly put himself in the play. He played with a hunter’s mentality, scrapping for the puck with speed and hands not often found with a guy of his size. His goal came off a nice rotation to the top left circle, getting open as an option for his linemates. There’s a certain advantage found in being the oldest invitee to the camp, but Johannes made use of it.
“We got to see him a little bit last year. What I like about him is he put a lot of work in the offseason,” coach Dan Watson said Saturday. “I know that for a fact he was in Detroit most of the summer. His skating certainly improved, and he's able to get in on the forecheck, and he's not scared of the physicality. He gets in there, he's going to be aggressive along the walls, he's going to be able to get pucks out. He's got more skill than people probably give him credit for.”
As a Griffins signee, Johannes won’t be cracking Detroit’s roster, but his blend of size and skill is a promising combination. If he can continue dominating play, he could be a really intriguing UDFA option for an NHL club.
Buium Hurt by Blocked Blast
Shai Buium didn’t have a spectacular weekend. As the only drafted defenseman on Detroit’s blue line, he chipped in with a few nice offensive plays but also struggled to assert himself as a power play QB as well as break out of his own zone at times. But the real kicker was the injury that forced him out of Sunday’s game.
In the third period, Buium blocked a heavy point blast that ricocheted off his ankle, immediately dropping him to the ice. He struggled to skate off but made it to the bench on his own. He did not return.
“We’ll see,” Watson said of Buium’s status. “Obviously (he’s) getting evaluated right now, but our hope is he’ll be ready for main camp.”
This season will mark Buium’s first pro campaign after getting into just one contest late last season with Grand Rapids. It would be unfortunate for him to miss time due to an injury, especially one from a prospect scrimmage that doesn’t really mean a whole lot in the grand scheme of things.
Free Agent Defensemen Make Most of Opportunity
If Buium was the only draft pick patrolling the blue line, then who were the other five defensemen? Matthew Virgilio, Blake Smith, Bauer Dumanski, Josh Van Mulligan and Marcus Kearsey all attended camp as free agent invites. They put together a lot of good tape during a weekend where they made life pretty easy for their goaltenders.
“It was pretty impressive,” goaltender Carter Gylander said. “I felt like we were on the same page for the most part. It was easy to communicate with them, and they trusted me and I trusted them. So it was actually really enjoyable to play behind those guys.”
Added Watson, “They competed, and they battled hard, and when we needed stops, they got stops.” Watson praised their ability to win puck races, clear traffic in front and move the puck out of the zone.
Of the group, Virgilio really impressed, blending physicality with some pronounced offensive play in short bursts. When Buium went out with an injury, Virgilio took over his power play and manned the point on what turned into Emmitt Finnie’s game-winning 3-2 goal. It was some of the more crisp passing from that power play unit, more impressive considering he took over the responsibility on the fly.
Smith also showed some snarl at his own net, not-so-kindly escorting screeners out of the way with his stick. Off the ice, he also impressed with his juggling skills, linked below.
Danielson Judged by Leadership, Consistency
Nate Danielson had a quiet weekend, but he remained one of Detroit’s best players. His seam pass to Finnie led to the game-winning power play goal Sunday. Danielson nearly had a goal on a nifty steal in the offensive zone. He nearly had an empty-netter if it weren’t for an offsides teammate. Green check marks across the board.
As an NHL hopeful, Danielson was graded by a different rubric this weekend. Coaches looked for his leadership of the group, as well as his consistency.
On leadership, Watson believes Danielson’s experience helped him guide younger players through the process of playing the prospect games. “He did everything we needed him to be. Even in Detroit, showing the guys around — where to go, what to do. So those are the types of things he's going to be able to grow into. And we needed him for this group. We need him to be one of those leaders, and he was.”
On consistency, Watson wanted Danielson to duplicate his performance Saturday, a 200-foot impact that saw him take over the game at times. Danielson did a fair job of replicating his success, but there were also moments that he faded into the background. Danielson wasn't a force, even if he was really good.
“It's hard,” Watson said of Danielson’s consistency. “It's a mental challenge more than it is a physical challenge. For these kids right now, they're in great shape, but that's what we want to see — When you turn pro, that’s how you’re measured. Can you do this game in, game out? And there were spurts that we did it, spurts that we didn't. But overall, I think it was a good measure for two games.”
Gylander Impresses Yet Again
Looking at how Carter Gylander performed in this two-game series, the stock of his potential rose sharply. He stopped 29 of the 30 shots he faced through 90 minutes of ice time. He made a number of clutch, desperation saves that kept Detroit ahead. For a seventh round pick from 2019, Gylander had an outstanding weekend that he should hope to build on come training camp.
Gylander credits his offseason training for some of the breakthrough. In college at Colgate, he was a consistent starter who won games, but his physical abilities were limited by his size.
“I've been a skinny, lanky guy — like 6-foot-4, 165 pounds — as far as I can remember,” Gylander said. “So it’s just putting some size on, the strength, and just kind of working on some explosiveness. That's kind of where my focus has been for the past few years in the offseason, and I think it's finally started to come around and I feel a little bit faster out there.”
Now, having worked with strength and conditioning coaches up and down the Detroit pipeline, Gylander is checking in at about 6-foot-5 and 196 pounds. That added muscle helped him stretch out for quite a few saves this weekend, constantly putting himself in good positions.
As for what comes next, Gylander expressed his desire to play at the highest level possible.
“I want to make it difficult for management to send me down if I'm playing really well,” Gylander said. “It's my first year (as a) pro, so I understand you have to go through it a little bit, but it's a matter of just getting the games in — especially as a goalie. It's about seeing minutes and seeing pucks. So whatever happens in the next year or next two, it doesn't really change. It's just more so play at the highest level that I possibly can.”
With three goalies at the NHL level and the tandem of Sebastian Cossa and Jack Campbell penciled in for Grand Rapids, it looks like Gylander is destined for a spot in Toledo this season. But in his quest for time at higher levels, performances like this weekend are sure to make management think long and hard.
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