Nate Danielson has put himself on the radar for an NHL roster spot
That and more observations from the Red Wings prospects at Traverse City.
Daniel Cleary said the quiet part out loud.
While meeting with media members on Sunday in Traverse City, the Detroit Red Wings director of player development mused about where top prospects Nate Danielson will play this season.
“I have inner thoughts that I don’t want to say out loud,” Cleary said. “But not a lot would surprise me.”
Reading between the lines on that statement, my conversations with others at Traverse City, and watching Danielson play myself, it feels like a decent bet the 19-year-old is actually part of the NHL plans this season.
A member of the Dallas Stars brass, who closely watched the games, told me Danielson was the best player in the Traverse City prospect games and that the first-round pick, “looked NHL ready to me.”
It makes sense, in the long-term the Red Wings need Danielson to become the No. 2 center that unlocks their lineup. Why not start that process this season?
If we assume Lucas Raymond is signed before the season starts, which I think will happen, the Red Wings will essentially have one NHL forward spot open in camp, which could go to someone from the mix of Carter Mazur, Marco Kasper, Amadeus Lombardi, and Danielson.
With Danielson the edge will come in the details. Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde wants to build a team identity of players that are smart in their routes, and work to build defense into offense on the forecheck. Danielson did that and more against Stars prospects and in the WHL, now it’s just a question of whether he’s ready to do it in NHL preseason.
With that in mind, here are some other notes/observations I had on Red Wings prospects from the two-game series vs. Dallas.
Jakub Rychlovsky — Rychlovsky led the Czech league in goals before signing with Detroit as a free agent. I really liked how he read off others, he finds pockets of space to create shots. He also has more of a physical impact than I expected.
Michael Brandsegg-Nygård — Brandsegg-Nygård tweaked his groin in the first game and watched the second one from the scout’s perch, talking to a couple scouts in Swedish. Brandsegg-Nygård was dynamic with Danielson and Rychlovsky when he played, and he really maximized space for others. I like the way he moves before his shot to change the angle on the goalie.
Amadeus Lombardi — Lombardi was the only Red Wings with a full year of AHL experience entering this event and he looked the part. Lombardi controlled the play, cut to the middle frequently, and changed the point of attack for his line mates.
Alexandre Doucet — Doucet scored three goals, he’s got a nice shot. I also felt he was decent on the cycle and found space that Lombardi created. He’s got a finisher’s mentality.
Emmitt Finnie — Finnie centered his own line in Game 1 and then was elevated to the first line with Brandsegg-Nygård injured. I like how he creates for others, he does a nice job taking the middle of the ice and then reading off the gaps after that.
Shai Buium — Buium had to do all the heavy lifting on defense with Detroit icing a lineup that featured five free agent invitees. He also left Game 2 early after blocking a shot with his right foot. Buium had a slow start, but I liked how he started to impact the game more and be more assertive after the first period of Game 1.
Carter Gylander — The goalie started both games, splitting the second with Landon Miller. He’s a bit scrambly and I’m super sold on his tracking, but he’s big and athletic and with the right goalie coach could carve out at least a nice AHL career.