Mark Spizzirri: Red Wings roster for the Traverse City prospect tourney released

Can't wait for it to start and I hope i'll be able to find a feed or something online to watch some of it. Curious to see how some of them look.


At least Bertuzzi will only injure players from other teams instead of players on his own team like at the Wings prospect camp this summer.

A bit more on the tryout guys from Sarah Lindenau (Lindy) at The Left Wing Lock


◾Barclay Goodrow - The 6-foot-2, 214 pound forward played four seasons with Brampton of the OHL. The Toronto Ontario native was eligible for the last three drafts but went unselected. Despite that, the big forward has drawn plenty of interest from pro teams attending three development camps the last two years (Carolina / 2011, Los Angelos / 2012, New York Rangers / 2012). Goodrow, who plays a power forward style, has decent numbers – posting 52 points in the last two season with Brampton - but scouts have knocked his skating and lack of foot speed. The former captain of the Battalion signed an amateur try-out contract with the Connecticut Whale last season but did not see any action. Goodrow participated in the Wings July development camp and he will also take part in the 2013 prospect tournament for the Red Wings.


◾Cam Lanigan – The 6-foot-3, 202 pound goalie spent the bulk of last season with the Medicine Hat tigers of the WHL where he posted a 3.00 goals against and .910 save percentage in 46 appearances. Lanigan has also spent time with Edmonton, Kamloops, and Portland over the past five WHL seasons. The well traveled goalie had a good chance of being drafted in 2010 after his final central scouting ranking jumped from 23rd best goalie to 9th, but he went undrafted. The 21 year-old netminder covers a lot of net with his big frame, bu has battled with consistency in his career and never posted below a 3.00 goals against.


◾Jordan Maletta – The 6-foot-3, 215 pound right wing is a physical forward who was passed over in the June draft. Maletta played just 26 games last season for Niagara of the OHL scoring 3 goals and 8 points. The 18 year-old, whose season was cut short by a knee injury, plays an all around game and has good mobility for his large frame. Maletta has plenty of potential as a power forward but hasn’t been consistent enough to convince NHL scouts of his potential.


◾Michal Plutnar – The 6-foot-2, 175 pound defensemen spent the last two seasons with the Tri-City Americans of the WHL. In 69 games last season, he scored 7 goals and 28 points in 69 games. Despite being rated the 182nd skater by central scouting in 2012, Plutnar was not selected in either of the past two drafts. The 19 year-old is an average skater who has some offensive upside, but is a long-term project. The Chotebor, Czech Republic native is a good passer and has a solid defensive game but lacks the strength to play a consistent physical game.

Barclay Goodrow sounds more like a golfer's name, doesn't it?

I was gonna link Sarah's work but thanks dcz for adding in the extra information regarding the tryouts.

I saw Maletta quite a bit in Windsor prior to him getting dealt to Niagara. He was a frustrating player to watch as he appears to have all the tools but just hasn't put it together. Worth taking a look at him and perhaps keeping tabs on his progress this season in Niagara to see if he can finally take that step forward offensively. He was a 1st round pick in the OHL draft so he was highly regarded at one point.

I was gonna link Sarah's work but thanks dcz for adding in the extra information regarding the tryouts.

I saw Maletta quite a bit in Windsor prior to him getting dealt to Niagara. He was a frustrating player to watch as he appears to have all the tools but just hasn't put it together. Worth taking a look at him and perhaps keeping tabs on his progress this season in Niagara to see if he can finally take that step forward offensively. He was a 1st round pick in the OHL draft so he was highly regarded at one point.
- spity1

No problem Mark

Seems like the Wings are looking for a power forward type without having to spend a draft pick on one which is fine since you never know how those guys will turn out most of the time and the good ones usually go higher in the draft. Doesn't cost the Wings much to take a look at them and see if there is something there.

Hey guys if you are interested in prospects check out NHL Young Guns Daily on twitter @YoungGunsDaily. Really good stuff about prospects from all 30 teams. From the Wings they wrote about Ouellet, Paterson, Jurco, Mantha and Nedomlel.

excuse me if this is a dumb ? but is petr mrazek not considered a prospect? I thought anything past our 2 goalies would be assigned to the AHL?

personally i would rather have him pulled up and send Gus down or try and trade him (not that anyone wants him)

between gus and sam and tootoo, that was one of the worst UFA years detroit has had.

excuse me if this is a dumb ? but is petr mrazek not considered a prospect? I thought anything past our 2 goalies would be assigned to the AHL?

personally i would rather have him pulled up and send Gus down or try and trade him (not that anyone wants him)

between gus and sam and tootoo, that was one of the worst UFA years detroit has had.
- digitalbath

They know what he has..plus he carried the load late into the spring for the Calder.

Wings need to see where the other goalies are at. Petr would just take away ice from them.

excuse me if this is a dumb ? but is petr mrazek not considered a prospect? I thought anything past our 2 goalies would be assigned to the AHL?

personally i would rather have him pulled up and send Gus down or try and trade him (not that anyone wants him)

between gus and sam and tootoo, that was one of the worst UFA years detroit has had.
- digitalbath

Typically players who've established themselves as professional players in North America are not included in the prospect tournament, with usually one or two "veteran" exceptions to fill out the roster. Sheahan and Jurco are those exceptions; they were also the two youngest forwards to get regular playing time in GR last year. Max Nicastro is the only other player on the roster with more than a token few games of North American pro experience.

In short, it's a chance for the youngest and greenest to show what they can do. Prospects who are further along in their development (Mrazek, Adam Almqvist, Mitch Callahan, Landon Ferraro) and have more pro experience usually don't get invited.

With regard to Mrazek, I agree with you that I'd really like to see him get a shot at being the back-up in Detroit this year. I'm not sure that he's really ready for it, but I also know he can't possibly be worse than Gustavsson, who I think is very much in the conversation for being the worst goalie currently under contract and projected to be a full-time NHL roster player in 2013-14.

I am very worried about the goalie situation in Detroit, because I really do believe that if Howard goes down for any extended period, the Wings are sunk -- unless Mrazek is ready NOW.

Typically players who've established themselves as professional players in North America are not included in the prospect tournament, with usually one or two "veteran" exceptions to fill out the roster. Sheahan and Jurco are those exceptions; they were also the two youngest forwards to get regular playing time in GR last year. Max Nicastro is the only other player on the roster with more than a token few games of North American pro experience.

In short, it's a chance for the youngest and greenest to show what they can do. Prospects who are further along in their development (Mrazek, Adam Almqvist, Mitch Callahan, Landon Ferraro) and have more pro experience usually don't get invited.

With regard to Mrazek, I agree with you that I'd really like to see him get a shot at being the back-up in Detroit this year. I'm not sure that he's really ready for it, but I also know he can't possibly be worse than Gustavsson, who I think is very much in the conversation for being the worst goalie currently under contract and projected to be a full-time NHL roster player in 2013-14.

I am very worried about the goalie situation in Detroit, because I really do believe that if Howard goes down for any extended period, the Wings are sunk -- unless Mrazek is ready NOW.
- Sven22

Nice explanation of the tourney.

Marzek has had a meteoric rice to where he is at now. Past results doesn't predict future results, but I believe the Wings would be O.K.

Hey Mark - why do you think DeKeyser isn't part of this as well?? The Wings have never been a team to rush prospects as we all know ....so what makes this kid so special?

Granted, I think he is solid and I am looking forward to see him play next year, but why did we stray the normal Red Wing coarse with this guy? Makes me nervous.

Hey Mark - why do you think DeKeyser isn't part of this as well?? The Wings have never been a team to rush prospects as we all know ....so what makes this kid so special?

Granted, I think he is solid and I am looking forward to see him play next year, but why did we stray the normal Red Wing coarse with this guy? Makes me nervous.
- KillerBert44

I'm not Mark, but my take:

1) Necessity. There's no question the Wings had a gaping void on the back end last season, the likes of which they hadn't seen in decades. With Lidstrom and Stuart gone, Colaiacovo injured, Quincey and White underperforming, etc., DeKeyser became as good an option as any once he signed, and when he played well he earned a continued spot in the lineup. Any other year he'd have been relegated to the minors, but last year he was needed in the NHL.

2) Age. DeKeyser was already 23 when he signed with Detroit. He's a few months older than Lashoff (signed 2008), a year older than Almqvist (drafted 2009), three years older than Sproul or Ouellet (drafted 2011). He's not being rushed; he's already older and further ahead in his development than guys who were drafted several years ago. DeKeyser really has been a "prospect" for 5 years now; it only seems like he's being rushed because he wasn't drafted and wasn't officially in an NHL system until last spring.

I'm not Mark, but my take:

1) Necessity. There's no question the Wings had a gaping void on the back end last season, the likes of which they hadn't seen in decades. With Lidstrom and Stuart gone, Colaiacovo injured, Quincey and White underperforming, etc., DeKeyser became as good an option as any once he signed, and when he played well he earned a continued spot in the lineup. Any other year he'd have been relegated to the minors, but last year he was needed in the NHL.

2) Age. DeKeyser was already 23 when he signed with Detroit. He's a few months older than Lashoff (signed 2008), a year older than Almqvist (drafted 2009), three years older than Sproul or Ouellet (drafted 2011). He's not being rushed; he's already older and further ahead in his development than guys who were drafted several years ago. DeKeyser really has been a "prospect" for 5 years now; it only seems like he's being rushed because he wasn't drafted and wasn't officially in an NHL system until last spring.
- Sven22

Excellent response sven and I'm in agreement. Age is probably the biggest component. But as sven mentioned, timing was also perfect to give DeKeyser an opportunity right away....I expected him to join GR immediately but he performed well in his 11 game stint.

JUST IN

Cleary is signing a 3-year deal with the Philadelphia Flyers. Has a NTC. Looks like he will get 2.75 mil per year.

Thanks for all you did for Detroit. Been a fun ride, but it's time to move on with all our young guns earning ice time.

Glad he's moving on... Flyers fans think he will be on the third or 4th line. Which is where he belongs. NOT on the our second line where Babcock had him. Still wish the Wings had been able to bring Brunner back at a reasonable price. Last I heard he's still unsigned.