Some quick thoughts from Traverse City

I want to drive home, but before I do here are some notes.

The Detroit Red Wings swept both games of the Traverse City Prospect showcase against the Dallas Stars this weekend, winning 5-1 on Saturday night and 3-2 on Sunday afternoon.

I’ve got a bunch coming from the showcase, including stories at three different publications. But I also want to get home and see my family this evening — it’s just under a four-hour drive.

So in the short term, here’s a quick scatter shooting of notes and observations from 48 hours in Traverse City.

• This was kind of a weird showcase, because the Red Wings brought largely a CHL roster and players that have just recently turned pro. Detroit also had a defense consisting almost entirely of free agent invitees, while the Stars brought a roster filled with AHL experience. Detroit also had by far the best player in the tournament in Nate Danielson.

• Danielson had a slow start to the first period of Game 1, but effectively took over the two-game set after that. He was by far the best player on either team, and honestly he looks like he could compete for NHL playing time this season. I’ll have a larger piece on just Danielson tomorrow.

• Amadeus Lombardi, Emitt Finnie, and Jakub Rychlovský were also key difference makers for Detroit, all three looked solid in both games.

• Michael Brandsegg-Nygård only played in one game and was nursing a slight groin injury in Game 2. I thought he was pretty good in Game 1 and personally I think it would behoove the Red Wings for him to play in the AHL this season.

• This was my first time watching Arttu Hyry in person and he’s going to be in the mix for an NHL roster spot according to Stars GM Jim Nill. He’s smart player, really doesn’t take any bad routes and feels very much like a larger, more physical Joel Kiviranta to me. Nill compared him to Mattias Janmark, which indicates how much Hyry has impressed the Stars GM. I’ll have more on Hyry at this site tomorrow.

• I watched Emil Hemming back in July playing for the Under-20 Finnish national team, so this was a good opportunity to see him in a different environment. He had a nice combination with Hyry, scored a nice goal on a tip in Game 2 and his line was the only one really effective at generating offense.

• After the Stars top line of Chase Wheatcroft, Hyry, and Hemming the rest was largely three groups of players cutting down space but having no idea of how to create chances once they actually got the puck.

• Lian Bichsel didn’t show out the way I would have liked. This was a showcase where he could have been an imposing force, instead he turned the puck over too often and forced plays.

• Benjamin Kraws impressed me in goal in Game 1 for Dallas. He wasn’t high on my list of prospects before, probably still isn’t, but I have more time for his future prospects after how he handled the workload Saturday.

• Red Wings goalie prospects Carter Gylander played back-to-back games, going the full 60 in Game 1 and splitting Game 2 with Landon Miller. I’m not sold on his rebound control or tracking, but he has a good sense for the game and I’m intrigued to see what he does at the pro level this season.

I’ll have more thoughts from Traverse City fleshed out tomorrow, for now, it’s time to drive home. You can leave comments/questions on specific players in the comments of this story and I’ll try to address them in the morning.

Have a great Sunday, talk to you tomorrow.