The Detroit Red Wings' annual development camp began yesterday from Little Caesars Arena and will run through the 5th
The Detroit Red Wings' annual development camp opened yesterday at Little Caesars Arena and will run through the 5th on Wednesday.
The Red Wings announced the roster yesterday, which features 25 forwards, 15 defensemen, and 6 goaltenders. It includes all 11 players Detroit selected last week in Nashville at the 2023 Draft.
Beyond the latest crop of prospects, headliners include center Marco Kasper (the Wings' 2022 first), goaltender Sebastian Cossa (a 2021 first), defenseman Shai Buium (36th overall in 2021), defenseman William Wallinder (32nd overall in 2020), and Carter Mazur (70th overall in 2021).
Kasper's inclusion is perhaps the most significant of all those, since his spring cameo in Detroit (which came at the conclusion of a full season with Rogle in the SHL) ended after just one game because of a broken kneecap. Kasper's ailment (fortunately) didn't require surgery, and when he took to the ice yesterday, you could hardly tell that he'd suffered at all. The Red Wings posted a short clip of him working his way through a skating drill, which didn't show any signs of tentativeness or lingering pain:
The Red Wings social media team also provided fans with a first glimpse of 2023 first rounders Nate Danielson and Axel Sandin Pellikka in a Detroit (practice) uniform.
At the draft, GM Steve Yzerman emphasized that the five-day development camp is for prospects to learn more than it is a crucible in which they will be tested, saying "For us to get to know them a bit further, get them set up for their off-season, where they're gonna train. Spend a little time with them and talk about some of the areas—whether it's on-ice or off-ice—we'd like them to focus on. Our development camp is more about education than it is conditioning. Mostly just want to spend a few days with them, make sure they're set up...for a good off-season."