The Detroit Crimson Wings’ annual Traverse Metropolis Prospects Event is simply across the nook. However this 12 months, solely the Crimson Wings and Dallas Stars are collaborating. The 2 groups will play towards one another twice on the weekend of Sept. 14. With that being mentioned, the Crimson Wings roster has formally been introduced, with a few high-level prospects making their method to the event, however for probably the most half, it’s full of gamers who’re both invitees or headed to Grand Rapids or Toledo for the 2024-25 season. So, who’s there to keep watch over within the two video games?
Michael Brandsegg-Nygård
A little bit of an apparent one is the Crimson Wings’ 2024 first-round choose, Michael Brandsegg-Nygård. The 18-year-old Norwegian ahead can be getting his first motion in a Winged Wheel uniform and Traverse Metropolis and can be a participant everybody can be retaining tabs on. After being touted for his all-around two-way sport, will probably be attention-grabbing to see how his sport begins to translate into the North American sport proper off the bat.
Associated: Crimson Wings High 25 Prospects: Put up-2024 NHL Draft
Brandsegg-Nygård has already discovered himself in sport motion as he performed in Olympic qualifying video games for his dwelling nation of Norway and stood out in these video games, totaling two targets in three video games whereas additionally exhibiting his willingness to become involved within the bodily side of the sport. He must be among the best gamers in “sport form,” due to having some enjoying time beneath his belt. A robust exhibiting within the two video games towards the Stars would convey added pleasure from Crimson Wing followers for this 12 months’s fifteenth total choose.
Ondrej Becher
One other draft choose from this 12 months’s draft (third spherical), Ondrej Becher, is an attention-grabbing participant to observe. He appears to be a late bloomer in comparison with different prospects, having a breakout season with the Prince George Cougars of the Western Hockey League (WHL) when he racked up 96 complete factors within the common season. He was additionally one of many prime contributors for the Czechia U20 World Junior Championship workforce within the 2024 event, with 10 factors in seven video games.
Being an older choose from this 12 months’s draft (20 years previous) and heading into his over-age junior hockey season, Becher might find yourself incomes an entry-level contract (ELC) from the Crimson Wings if he can put up a robust sufficient exhibiting within the two video games and presumably even preseason if given the possibility. The joy he brings along with his offensive prowess, primarily his playmaking talents, might combine effectively with somebody like Brandsegg-Nygård or Nate Danielson in a few weeks.
Shai Buium
The one defenseman that Crimson Wings followers ought to watch within the two video games towards the Stars can be 2021 second-round choose Shai Buium. Whereas he doesn’t include the hype and first-round standing of his brother Zeev (2024 first-round choose by the Minnesota Wild), Shai does include a number of upside in his sport. After a profitable three-season faculty profession on the College of Denver, he made his method to Grand Rapids on the finish of the season. He’s anticipated to play with the Griffins this season.
Buium is a defenseman who can deal with himself at each ends of the ice. He noticed his manufacturing enhance offensively all through faculty whereas enjoying a strong defensive sport. There are hopes that he can proceed growing his sport in Grand Rapids and turn into a staple for the Crimson Wings’ defensive core in some unspecified time in the future. A robust exhibiting from him in Traverse Metropolis would certainly be a welcome signal and an indication of issues to come back in Grand Rapids this season. It will give much more hope for the younger defensemen the group has in its system (together with Axel Sandin Pellikka, Albert Johansson, and many others.).
Jakub Rychlovský
The primary participant listed who isn’t a draft choose of the Crimson Wings, however slightly an offseason free agent signing by basic supervisor (GM) Steve Yzerman this offseason. Jakub Rycholvský involves North America for the primary time in his profession, having spent all his enjoying days in Czechia. He can be one other participant like Brandsegg-Nygård, who can be attention-grabbing to observe as he will get accustomed to the enjoying fashion of the North American sport. However with that being mentioned, he does convey some sturdy playmaking talents with him after having a breakout season in 2023-24 with the Bílí Tygři Liberec group (46 factors in 51 video games performed).
He is probably not a participant who makes the NHL roster this season, however on the age of 23 and coming into his first skilled season with Grand Rapids, he might very effectively find yourself being a strong free agent signing for the group’s depth not just for the Griffins however hopefully in some unspecified time in the future within the NHL lineup as effectively.
Josh Van Mulligen
An invitee to this 12 months’s occasion, Josh Van Mulligen, will stand out nearly instantly when he steps on the ice due to his giant body of 6-foot-3, 205 kilos. This final season, he had a little bit of a breakout season from the backend of the ice for the Drugs Hat Tigers of the WHL and tallied 22 factors after solely recording 9 within the 2022-23 season. Final season, he bought extra concerned within the offensive sport and confirmed extra willingness to leap into the push from his defenseman place.
As you possibly can think about, Van Mulligen makes use of his dimension to his benefit, particularly defensively. He can shut down rushes along with his size, and if want be, he throws his weight round and has no situation doing so. He is probably not a participant who finally ends up with the Crimson Wings group on the finish of the weekend. Nonetheless, a robust exhibiting might assist him land with one other NHL group or assist construct off of it heading into his season with Drugs Hat after getting handed over within the 2023 Draft.
Thrilling Begin to the Season
Whereas this 12 months’s event has turn into only a two-team matchup, it nonetheless marks the start of the 2024-25 season and brings the joy of seeing some younger gamers make their first appearances for an NHL group. It additionally marks the second time that 2023 first-round choose Nate Danielson seems within the occasion.
