Red Wings Development Camp in Review

Highlights, standouts, and assorted observations from Red Wings Development Camp

The Red Wings wrapped up their five-day development camp at Little Caesars Arena Wednesday morning with a three-on-three tournament.  

Team Osaer (drafted by head of goaltending scouting and development Phil Osaer) claimed the tournament's top prize on the strength of an overtime goal from Liam McLinskey, an undrafted camp invitee who plays collegiately at Holy Cross.  Team Osaer's headliners included Amadeus Lombardi and Axel Sandin Pellikka.

When push comes to shove, the tournament itself is of almost no consequence.  Wings brass stressed that the week's sessions are meant to be educational rather than evaluative, with off-ice sessions on nutrition, fitness, or financial literacy a greater priority than on-ice development.  An early July 3-on-3 session or skating progression are little indicator of the trajectory of a player's career.

Nonetheless, the five days afforded a chance to get an update on players up and down the Detroit system, regardless of where they spent the 2022-23 season or where they will play next year.  Here are a few notes and observations from the week that was:

There were two Red Wings present at development camp with a legitimate shot to start the 2023-24 season at the NHL level: Marco Kasper and Carter Mazur.

Kasper, Detroit's first round selection in 2022, is coming off a nasty injury at the tail end of last season, and while there were hints of rust during his week of camp, he was still able to turn heads with his skating.

In particular during the 3-on-3 tournament, Kasper was a monster on zone entries.  He could wind up into his own end, traverse the neutral zone, and get the puck safely into the offensive third of the ice with ease.  He scored off one such play.

Kasper also flashed the kind of forechecking pressure that helped make him such an effective player back in Sweden.  Kasper's puck protection put him at another level from many of his prospect peers.  The 19-year-old Austrian looked at ease with a defender draped across his back, whether in drills early in the week or the 3-on-3 games at its conclusion.  That will be an invaluable tool for Kasper when he does get to the NHL.

Still, Steve Yzerman emphasized that for Kasper (or for Simon Edvinsson, who did not skate at development camp) the Wings will default to starting the player in Grand Rapids but remain open to the possibility that they will play well enough to bypass that step.  Especially considering Kasper's injury, I would be surprised if he makes the Detroit roster out of training camp, but he will almost certainly play himself into a steady diet of NHL minutes by season's end.

Though his NHL ceiling might not be as high as Kasper's, I suspect Mazur may have a quicker path to the NHL level in the short term.  Mazur told the media that he would be in a good spot with the Griffins, but he'd like to earn more, adding that his goal isn't to make the NHL but star in it.  His puck protection skill is excellent, he uses his stick well and incessantly to make opposing puck carriers uncomfortable, and he showed a remarkable ability to control play throughout Wednesday's 3-on-3 games.  

Mazur struck the crossbar twice Wednesday, but what really stood out was his ability to play the game at his pace and on his terms.  Over the course of the week, Mazur made clear that he is farther down his development path almost every player at camp with his physical domination.  Mazur ruled the camp along the boards, and he did a nice job of controlling tempo on his shifts, even though he was far from the best skater on the ice.  Even without top end speed, he's a deceptive skater, and, like Kasper, he has no problem making a play with a defender all over him.

Mazur has a great shot, he can be deceptive if not delicate as a stick-handler, and the work he does along the walls puts him well ahead of a lot of young players looking for their first bite at the NHL apple.  He might not make the Wings roster out of camp, but he will play in Detroit this season before too long, and I suspect he will win Red Wing fans' favor quickly. 

Three players I'll have an eye on heading into the coming season who are all but assured not to play NHL games are Trey Augustine, Shai Buium, and Red Savage.

Augustine, the Wings' first choice in the second round in Nashville, will play for Michigan State in the coming season after two tremendous seasons with the US NTDP.  The 18-year-old from South Lyon made a number of impressive stops in the 3-on-3 sessions, including a 2-on-0 denial on Sam Stange and Riley Sawchuk.  Augustine also made an excellent save from point blank range on Stange before keeping out a rebound opportunity from Michael Horth.

At State next season, Augustine projects to be the rare true freshman to wind up a regular starter in net, a testament to his quality and his resume.  Goaltenders always take time to develop, so Augustine is likely multiple years away from playing at the NHL level.  Still, as his performances for Team USA at U-18 Worlds and World Juniors suggest, Augustine is no ordinary 18-year-old goalie.

Buium, heading into his junior year at the University of Denver next fall, is an intriguing prospect.  At 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, he has NHL size already, and his hands are excellent as well.  Buium had no problem pulling pucks through his legs or making plays in the offensive zone during the 3-on-3 periods.  His limitation at the moment is skating (and by extension transition defense), which is a tool he will need to improve on to crack an NHL lineup.

"Shai's made good strides, said Dan Cleary, the Wings' assistant director of player development.  "You have to give these kids time to figure it out...sometimes their own experience is what's going to change it."  Clearly added that the forthcoming season will be an "important" one for Buium, who will be expecting a big role.  Clearly was up front about the fact that Buium has to grow to make an NHL roster in the coming seasons, but he also commended the San Diegan blue liner's work ethic and the strides he's already taken.

Another player I'm intrigued by who certainly won't start next year anywhere near the NHL is Red Savage, a Scottsdale-born forward transferring to Michigan State next year after two seasons with Miami (Oh.).  Throughout the tournament Wednesday, Savage's work rate and movement away from the puck stood out, and he was eventually rewarded with a pair of goals.  He lacks elite skating and his handling leaves something to be desired, but his intelligence and finishing skill are obvious.  Pair those tools with his effort, and you have the makings of a useful player.

"I expect Red to be a good leader for [MSU], play in the power play [and] penalty kill," said Cleary.  "Going into his third season of college, Red's a high character, driven guy that you know you can count on as a coach.  I thought he had a great World Junior.  His skating is getting better."  He added that assuming a leadership role is "natural, not forced" for Savage.

Savage is a coach's dream from an effort and positioning perspective, but his road to the NHL won't be easy. Without elite size or speed, there are but so many slots in an NHL lineup for a "worker bee."  If Savage can show a bit more of a scoring touch in East Lansing this season, that would go a long way toward proving he has NHL potential.  As it stands, his floor looks like being a useful, long-time AHL pro.

Amadeus Lombardi (a 2022 fourth rounder) stole the show for Team Osaer.  His puck-handling put him on another level from anyone else on the ice, and he was the best forward for Team Osaer by a great distance.

“He’s drinking Red Bull before the first game at like 8:30,” Cleary said. “I’m like, ‘Amadeus…’ He’s competitive. He likes to do well. You see as the games went along, he got his legs, got more confident. He’s super pumped up for a good summer of training.”

Lombardi scored a pair of goals, but it was his ability to break down defenders one-on-one that stood out far more than his finishing touch.  Lombardi would twirl the offensive zone or go for a rambling stroll through the neutral zone at his leisure.  It was clear from his performance that there wasn't a player on the ice Lombardi feared attacking one-on-one.

If there was one growth area for Lombardi, it would be using his teammates.  There's nothing wrong with being an attack-first player who wants to win one-on-one; in fact, that's probably essential to being an elite forward in the NHL.  Still, the tricks Lombardi could pull in a 3-on-3 prospect tournament will be insufficient (on their own) in the show, so I'd like to see him add (or perhaps just take advantage of) a few more layers to his offensive game.

Of course, Nate Danielson and Sandin Pellikka were bound to be the week's main attractions as the club's 2023 first rounders.  Both flashed the skills that made them top-end prospects, but Danielson in particular was dominant.

The Brandon Wheat Kings product excelled as a play driver and, more importantly, in his ability to create offense down the center lane of the ice.  If development camp is any indicator, Danielson is the antithesis of a perimeter player.  All 3-on-3 tournament long, he made inside plays and created quality chances and chaos around the net.  He showed nice chemistry with Theodor Niederbach (a 2020 second rounder), including combining for a nice goal off the cycle.

Danielson's reputation entering the draft was primarily centered around his defense.  On Wednesday, he hardly had to play any defense, because he was too busy creating offense.  It's just one (infinitesimal) data point, but the early returns on Danielson were impressive.

Sandin-Pellikka was not quite as dominant as Danielson, but he still showed plenty of the offensive dynamism that made him a first rounder despite his small stature.  The 3-on-3 environment was perfect for the young Swede to show off his comfort jumping into the play.

His tremendous stick-handling lends him the fluency with the puck you'd expect of a forward, and he showed no reluctance to use it.  He also showed some strong chemistry with Lombardi at a few points, and he proved himself in possession of the speed, effort, and tactical intelligence to recover when he was caught up ice.  For a player who will earn his NHL keep (in part) on his ability to gamble and join the rush, those recovery skills will be a prerequisite to sustainability in the best hockey league in the world.

Emmitt Finnie, also a tournament champion with Team Osear, is another player who caught my eye during the day.  Finnie was Detroit's last pick in Nashville (seventh round, 201st overall), so he will of course be a long shot to play in the NHL.

Nonetheless, I loved his movement and skating throughout the day.  He constantly creates space for his teammate with the way he moves away from the puck, and he was always in the right spot defensively.  He scored a goal (that snuck through Jan Bednar, who didn't have a banner day between the pipes), but that was less impressive to me than the shift-by-shift habits he already shows at just 18.

Another prospect of some interest is Alexandre Doucet.  He signed an ELC last March after scoring 115 points in 70 QMJHL games, split between Val-d'-Or and Halifax.  In the postseason, he chipped in another 31 points in 21 games for the Mooseheads.

At the 3-on-3 tournament, Doucet impressed in his ability to read plays defensively, cut them off, then move quickly into creating his own offense.  He showed great vision and patience with the puck, and he moved well without it.

Now 21, Doucet is now too old for the Q, and he will compete for a Red Wing roster spot come training camp before (in all likelihood) playing for Grand Rapids to start the year.  There is something of a stigma against high scorers in the QMJHL, and offense alone won't earn Doucet a place with the Wings.  Still, Doucet has the undeniable instincts of a volume scorer.  Whether that scoring can make the jump from GR to Detroit remains to be seen.