NHL Prospects Tournament: Game Notes – Detroit Standouts
The NHL Prospects Tournament has kicked off and the Detroit Red Wings found themselves on the winning side of the scoresheet in their first exhibition game. There are very high hopes surrounding the Red Wings’ selections this season. Several of the prospects are making their North American debuts which have exaggerated the expectation even further.
On the coattails of their first day, we dive into the standout players, plays, and some points of improvement early on.
Standout Players
All eyes were on Elmer Soderblom and Simon Edvinsson – largely because of their immense size. However, a couple of other prospects stole the show in terms of overall play. Eemil Viro and Cross Hanas both have some promising growth.
Related: Hanas, Tyutyayev, Soderblom – Top 3 Forwards to Watch
Eemil Viro, whom we just recently highlighted as a defenseman to watch, had an impressive game. He’s got excellent footwork and edges. Initially, his consistency and speed were something to keep an eye on, and that assessment stands firm. He can accelerate very well and his back staking is quick and precise. There were some obvious signs of Viro focusing on board play and physicality. He’s got spunk and should be someone to continue watching.
Cross Hanas as well, showed a lot of tenacity. His play style is opportunistic naturally, but his compete level has increased in the last season. He tracks the puck well. He played the first power play and penalty kill lines which is a good indication of what his role will be in Grand Rapids.
A Few Tweaks
The most noticeable adjustment that will have to be made as we enter the regular season is the big boys adjusting to a faster pace. Soderblom and Edvinsson both struggle with their reaction time. Their skating speed and precision aren’t an issue as much as stick reaction. Though they are able to successfully maneuver given the smaller space, they will need to speed up some movements if they’re to capitalize on chances when they hit the AHL.
Related: Edvinsson, Viro, Johansson – Top 3 Defensemen to Watch
Getting physical will be a must. We have a bigger team this season, so taking advantage of that will need to come in the form of throwing some of that weight around. Grand Rapids will be well stocked with skill and balancing that with strength will be key. They so far have shown a good foundation – it just needs a boost.
Team Preview
As a whole, the grouping of prospects is a good showing of Detroit’s ability to make quality selections. There will be some time for adaptation and adjusting to the team’s playing style once they get to Grand Rapids. There’s a lot of skill packed into the team this upcoming season. Each player does have a unique playing style that will fit well with his linemates as they get familiar.
They are a creative batch but there’s a small chance any will be making the Detroit lineup for the regular season out of training camp.
