NCAA tournament, junior playoffs begin this week

The post Where to Watch Red Wings Prospects in Playoffs (+) appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

There were some eyebrows raised when the Detroit Red Wings were opting last summer to sign veteran minor-league defenseman Jared McIsaac to a new contract. The 2018 second-round draft pick (36th overall) had never been able to crack the NHL lineup in four seasons as a pro with the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins.

With an influx of young drafted rearguards to the Grand Rapids roster this season, it was seeming unlikely that there’d be a spot for McIsaac. As things have unfolded, that’s proven to be the case.

He’s been surpassed on the depth chart in GR by the likes of prospects Simon Edvinsson, Albert Johansson, William Wallinder and Antti Tuomisto. Tuesday, McIsaac’s time with the Griffins came to an end. The Red Wings are loaning the 23-year-old rearguard to Ambri-Piotta of the Swiss League.

UPDATE: The Red Wings on Tuesday reassigned defenseman Jared McIsaac from the Griffins to HC Ambri-Piotta of the Swiss National League #GoGRG

DETAILS >> https://t.co/IiGeQe980n pic.twitter.com/uA64n8xgaO

— Grand Rapids Griffins (@griffinshockey) February 13, 2024

McIsaac has four points (1-3-4), four penalty minutes and a minus-three rating in 15 games with Grand Rapids this season.

Curiously, there is a Red Wings flavor to Ambri-Piotta’s history. For six seasons from 1985-92, their star player was none other than Dale McCourt. The center was the first overall selection of the 1977 NHL amateur draft by the Red Wings. He would play for Detroit from 1977-82, connecting for a trio of 30-goal seasons.

In fact, you can currently purchase a limited edition Dale McCourt watch. It’s been issued in celebration of the club’s 85th season. Norqain is the watch maker responsible for this timepiece. The company is co-owned by ex-NHL defenseman Mark Streit and current Nashville Predators rearguard Roman Josi.

Buchelnikov Lighting Lamps

Going on loan from SKA St. Petersburg to KHL bottom feeder Admiral Vladivostok hasn’t enabled Dmitri Buchelnikov to partake in much winning. However, it’s given him ample opportunity to be gaining ice time and the Red Wings draftee is making the most of his chance.

Dmitry Buchelnikov rips his 13th goal of the season (leads the team). pic.twitter.com/MfVhde6PQI

— KHL (@khl_eng) February 13, 2024

Tuesday action saw Buchelnikov (52nd overall, 2022) opening the scoring and later adding an assist in Admiral’s 4-2 win over Barys. It would mark the first time since November that Admiral won successive games.

With 13 goals, left-winger Buchelnikov is leading the club in tallies.

James Finding His Game

It’s no secret that college hockey is proving to be a struggle for Red Wings draftee Dylan James (40th overall, 2022). His freshman year at North Dakota last season was underwhelming and his sophomore campaign wasn’t looking to be much more productive.

However, it would appear that the 20-year-old left-winger his getting his legs underneath him and settling into his role in NCAA hockey. Over his past 14 games, James is showing five goals and nine points on his ledger.

“He always has his feet moving, but his hands and making plays and different things – he’s feeling confident,” North Dakota coach Brad Berry told grandforksherald.com.

Over 28 games this season, James has accounted for 6-7-13 numbers with the No. 2-ranked Fighting Hawks. All of his goals have come in conference play.

James is skating on North Dakota’s third line with Louis Jamernik V and Jake Schmaltz.

“The guy can fly like the wind,” Jamernik said. “He’s got National (Hockey) League speed already. He’s just going to continue to grow and develop into an even better player.”

Stevens Locates Home

It didn’t take long for Nolan Stevens to find a home. Let go Monday from the Griffins and out of his contract with the Red Wings, Stevens will remain in the AHL. He’s signing with the Utica Comets.

Stevens also was with the Comets last season on an AHL deal.

The post Red Wings Prospect Notebook: McIsaac Loaned to Swiss Club appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

All of the first three players chosen by the Detroit Red Wings during the 2023 NHL entry draft figure to be playing in this year’s IIHF World Junior Championship.

Tuesday, center Nate Danielson (ninth overall) was given an invitation to Canada’s training camp. Goaltender Trey Augustine (41st overall) was also extended an invitation to the US Hockey camp. Defenseman Axel Sandin Pellikka (17th overall) was previously getting picked to the pool under consideration for the Swedish squad.

Danielson shows 8-12-20 totals in 21 games this season with the WHL’s Brandon Wheat Kings. Meanwhile, Augustine is 9-3-2 with a .911 save percentage and 3.17 GAA for Michigan State of the Big Ten. He was part of the USA squad that won a bronze medal at last year’s tournament.

USA Hockey will be holding its world junior selection camp Dec. 14-16 at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan.

Red Wings Pick Sandin Pellikka Scores Again

Leading all SHL defensemen with eight goals, Sandin Pellikka was lighting the red lamp for the third time in Champions League competition on Tuesday. His goal wasn’t enough to get Skelleftea a win, however. They lost the first game of their quarterfinal to Farjestad by a 4-3 count.

Sandin Pellikka with his 3rd goal (8GP) in Champions Hockey League play #LGRW pic.twitter.com/iL18mvlbSG

— IcehockeyGifs (@IcehockeyG) December 5, 2023

Both Sandin Pellikka and 2022 Red Wings draftee Anton Johansson (105th overall) will be seeking spots on the Swedish defense for the world juniors.

James, Buium Go Head To Head

Two of the top NCAA hockey programs, each with a Red Wings prospect in their lineup, were clashing on the weekend. The 2022 NCAA champion Denver Pioneers and the North Dakota Fighting Hawks.

In Friday’s series opener, both North Dakota’s Dylan James (40th overall, 2022) and Denver defenseman Shai Buium (36th overall, 2021) were playing starring roles. Buium scored Denver’s first goal and assisted on two others as the Pioneers were racing to a 5-3 lead. The three-point performance would tie a career high for Buium.

Shai Buium picks up his 1st career NCHC Defenseman of the Week award and the 2nd weekly honor of his career.

Read More: https://t.co/n8tTiB0mBs#GoPios pic.twitter.com/5VpUdyDYxz

— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) December 5, 2023

However, left-winger James would be having the last laugh. His first-period goal opened the scoring. In the third period, he would dish out the primary assist on the goal that knotted the count at 5-5. North Dakota eventually would claim a 7-5 win.

For his efforts, though, Buium would gain recognition as the NCHC Defenseman of the Week. He’s garnered 3-8-11 totals over his past 11 games.

North Dakota currently sits No. 1 in the NCAA rankings, while Denver slots in at No. 5.

Swedes Lean On Old Red Wings

Sweden’s senior national team will be playing in the upcoming Swiss Hockey Games Dec. 14-17 against Switzerland, Finland and the Czech Republic. For this tourney, head coach Sam Hallam is opting to lean heavily into the ghosts of Red Wings past.

Former Red Wings showing up on the Swedish roster include forwards Christoffer Ehn and Jacob De La Rose and defenseman Patrik Nemeth. As well, forward Pontus Andreasson, who spent last season with the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins, is getting his first look with Sweden’s national team.

The post Red Wings Prospect Notebook: Danielson, Augustine to World Junior Camps appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

(Editor’s Note: This is another installment of Detroit Hockey Now updates on some of the Detroit Red Wings’ top prospects)

Detroit Red Wings draft pick Dylan James and the team’s director of player development Dan Cleary have differing views on how his freshman season at North Dakota played out.

James said the season went “pretty well.”  He wished he could have had a better start. James acknowledges it was difficult to get accustomed to a higher level, new coach and different system.

“I thought he had a good season,” Cleary said, “the opposite of what he thinks.”

This is what Cleary saw from James: “He came in and had to find his way.  He made some freshman mistakes and had to sit but that’s all part of it. At the end of the day I always look at where you are at the end of the season. At the end of the season, he was trending upwards. Out there in the last minute. I was in Omaha watching and he scored a great goal shorthanded. He’s playing in the regionals as an important player. That’s what I look at. ”

The fact that James wished he could have done more this past season may highlight how badly he wants to keep improving.

James finished with eight goals and 16 points in 32 games as a freshman at North Dakota. He looked strong at the Red Wings Development camp, particularly visible in the 3 v 3 tournament.

“He’s a legit rink rat,” Cleary said. “He doesn’t leave. Everybody might have been gone by 1 or 2. He was here until 4:30. Asked him: “What are you doing here? He said looking at sticks, messing around. He just doesn’t like to leave. I liked him a lot.”

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Analysis

There’s plenty James needs to work on to improve his overall game. But the Red Wings view him as being on a professional track. He has the skating and instincts to be an NHL scorer.  His skating is a plus, but the Red Wings are asking him to take it to another level.

“Skating coaches keep telling me things,” James said. ” Keeping my upper body upright is something I have to work on.  Doing that makes me see the ice better.”

Forecast

This is an important sophomore season for James. His role should be expanded at North Dakota. He will kill penalties, log more minutes, be on the ice when the game is on the line.

“Near the end of the year, I was on the (penalty) kill, and on at the end, I think coach started to trust me at the end,” James said.

Cleary keeps in regular contact with James. “It’s good to hear what he has to say. Obviously he had a good career in the NHL. I take what he says to heart.”

Ideally, James would have an exceptional season and turn professional next spring. But players all develop at their own rate. If you ask the Red Wings what they want from James this season, they would say continual improvement.

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When the Red Wings drafted James, director of amateur scouting Kris Draper joked that he was glad James was going to North Dakota because there was not much to do there. He would have plenty of time to concentrate on hockey. James said Draper was correct. But he recently bought a guitar because he wants to learn how to play.

More importantly, James loving being in such a passionate hockey environment.

“Even before warm-ups there are 5,000 students across the ice, waiting for your to come out,” James said. “It’s crazy, every game I looked up and looked at the students, so passionate, It’s so cool.”

The post Tomorrow’s Red Wings: Dylan James Making Progress in ND appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

The transition to college hockey did not go seamlessly for Detroit Red Wings prospect Dylan James. It seemed to start out along the right path. James was collecting eight points through his first 13 games with the North Dakota Fighting Hawks.

Following that promising and productive start, there’d be just two points – both of them goals – over the next 17 games.

However, as the regular season was winding down and the playoffs were ramping up in the NCHC, so was James and his game.

The freshman forward from Calgary, selected 40th overall by the Red Wings in the 2022 NHL entry draft, was earning honors as NCHC Rookie of the Week for the final weekend of regular-season play. In two games against Omaha, James, 19, was good for a pair of goals and an assist.

Shorty callin'#UNDproud | #LGH pic.twitter.com/3IbkTySarL

— North Dakota MHockey (@UNDmhockey) March 13, 2023

In a 5-4 overtime victory, he was scoring twice, the first multi-goal game of his NCAA career. The next night, James drew an assist on the game-winning goal with 3:02 remaining in regulation to break a 1-1 tie as UND went on to a 2-1 victory.

James is keeping it going in the NCHC postseason. He scored a pair of goals, one of the a shorthanded marker, as the Fighting Hawks were eliminating Omaha. This week, the Fighting Hawks are playing St. Cloud State in the semifinals.

“More confidence at the end of the season,” James explained to the Grand Forks Herald. “You’re playing to win.

“I usually do play better in the second half, and I guess I am this year, too.”

Last season with Sioux City of the USHL, he was counting 24 points over his final 16 games as the Musketeers won the Clark Cup title.

Berry Seeing A Different Player In James

From his perch behind the Fighting Hawks bench, North Dakota coach Brad Berry is enjoying his birds’ eye view of the evolution in James’ game.

“He’s playing with confidence,” former NHL defenseman Berry told writer Brad Elliott Schlossman. “We all know he has NHL elite speed, right? At the end of the day, as a freshman coming in here, sometimes, it’s a little overwhelming just getting acclimated to the game, knowing how much time you have when you have the puck on your tape. Sometimes, the game overwhelms a young guy a little bit, because it’s so tight-checking in our league.

“But now he knows when to chip a puck. He knows when to hang onto a puck. Man, he’s a threat off the rush going around defenders. Now he’s starting to play with confidence.”

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James’ teammates, who deal with his blazing speed all week during pratice sessions, can testify to what a weapon his wheels are when they’re engaged.

“It’s hard to keep up with him when he gets a full head of steam going, when he takes you wide,” North Dakota defenseman Ethan Frisch said. “It’s not easy for a defenseman, so I feel bad for other teams’ defensemen when he gets rolling there.”

The post Red Wings Prospect James Finding His Game appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Byron Bader is a big fan of the deep pool of talent within the Detroit Red Wings organization.

“Their big strength is just the depth of the system,” said NHL Draft consultant Bader, founder of HockeyProspecting.com. “They have a ton of players in the system that have sort of NHLer potential, you could call it. And some star potential as well.”

Bader isn’t as certain about the depth of prospects who were Detroit’s selections in the 2022 NHL entry draft.

“In terms of their picks, their first three picks were okay, pretty decent value,” Bader assesses. “Then after that, it seemed like they got just a lot of low probability guys.

Day 1 of development camp. Marco Kasper (Red Wings 1st pick in 2022 draft) takes a timed twirl! pic.twitter.com/yT0ZvVBn1o

— Ken Kal (@KenKalDRW) July 10, 2022

“Even a guy like (Marco) Kasper, who they took eighth overall. There were a lot of players at that point that show a lot better in my analytical models. When they take Kasper, there was so many players still there. There was (Matthew) Savoie, (Denton) Mateychuk, (Danila) Yurov, all these guys with super high NHLer probability and also star potential that were sitting there.”

Bader isn’t completely against the players selected by Detroit. In fact, he sees significant positives in forward Dylan James, the first player chosen in the second round by the Red Wings.

“He was good value in terms of the second round,” Bader said. “He’s got pretty decent production. That one I didn’t mind as much and I think he kind of adds to their forwards they have.

“He was a decent pick there for sure.”

Did Red Wings Reach Too Often?

It’s beyond James when Bader begins to start questioning the selection process of the Red Wings.

“Every pick after that, they just kind of took guys that weren’t the highest value I would say,” Bader said. “Especially after the second round, it really dropped off in terms of how I look at the data and how it comes out to me.

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“At each pick, by my work there was a lot more value on the table. It seems like they probably could’ve taken some higher value there and maybe missed out.”

Should Yzerman Get Benefit Of The Doubt?

Of course, the one caveat that must be noted here is that Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman displays a knack for going away from the form charts. And it can’t be debated that following this formula has proven to be working out for him more often than not.

Mo Seider's Draft Day…

2020 #DRWDraft = FIVE days.#TBT x @stjoes_health pic.twitter.com/QOqpVVThyG

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) October 1, 2020

“Yzerman has been really successful at that, especially with (Moritz) Seider going way off the board (at sixth overall in 2019),” Bader readily acknowledges. “The gasp in the crowd when he went and that one turned into a Calder winner, so he does tend to win out on some of these picks, especially when he goes to Europe, that maybe don’t look quite as promising.”

Red Wings Reaching For The Stars

Forward Dmitri Buchelnikov (52nd overall) was rated 47th among European skaters by NHL Central Scouting at midseason, but had dropped right out of the final rankings. Defenseman Anton Johansson (105th) and forward Owen Mehlenbacher (201st) were also unranked.

Among North American skaters, forward Amadeus Lombardi (113th) was slotted into the 94th ranking, while defenseman Tnius Mathurin (137th) was at 126th. Interestingly, Detroit’s final pick, forward Brennan Ali (212th), slid down the list. He was rated 83rd entering the draft.

As for the other European selections, forward Maximilian Kilpinen (129th) was ranked 61st overall.

A refresher on the hit rates by draft position for skaters (2005 to 2013). Odds of hitting on an NHLer fall off dramatically as you get into the 20s. pic.twitter.com/MShDmqj2Lp

— Byron Bader (@ByronMBader) December 16, 2021

Based on his track record on draft day, should Yzerman be given a mulligan for not following the crowd and going his own way with his team’s selections? One thing’s for certain – Stevie Y isn’t looking for anyone’s approval of his choices.

“We’ll see down the road if Yzerman hit big with some sort of unknown guys that maybe he took higher than other people would’ve estimated,” Bader said. “I guess you can only go to the well so many times. Maybe one or two of them will work out.

“The data suggests that not a lot of those players do work out.”

The post NHL Draft Guru Likes Red Wings Prospect Pool; Uncertain About 2022 Picks appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

When it comes to the Detroit Red Wings drafts of the past two years, many hockey prospect pundits are viewing their second-round picks almost as though they are bonus first-round picks.

Last season, defenseman Shai Buium (36th overall) was thought of in this manner. Likewise, left-winger Dylan James (40th overall) of this year’s draft crop, is also being identified as a fast-rising potential star.

Shai BOOOYAH!!!#DRWDraft x #LGRW @shai_buium pic.twitter.com/KtTGwj7K7Q

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) July 24, 2021

“I think he’s a pretty good all-around player the little bit I’ve seen him,” Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman said of James. “Excellent athlete. He plays hard.”

Red Line Report Chief Scout Kyle Woodlief listed James as the “fastest riser on our list in the season’s second half.”

“Came on like gangbusters down the stretch,” Woodlief noted. “One of the keys to the Sioux’s shocking run to the championship…Second half offensive production was off the chart.”

James Has Reputation For Being Clutch Scorer

In the USHL, where he helped the Sioux City Musketeers win the Clark Cup titles, James gained a reputation for netting big goals at key moments. He scored five times in 10 playoff games.

Alumni – 03’ Dylan James played his minor hockey with us ( Blackfoot) #2022NHLDraft https://t.co/aDxGWFzerl

— Wolverines Hockey Club (@WolverinesHC) July 4, 2022

“I don’t know really know why I score in those times,” James admitted. “Honestly, I feel like I don’t know. I seem to score in those moments. I couldn’t tell you why. It just works out.”

Buium A Slick Puck Mover

Interestingly, Buium also played at Sioux City. Last season, he won an NCAA title with the Denver Pioneers.

“It was incredible. We had a special group and we did a special thing,” Buium said. “Probably one of the best times of my life.”

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Draft expert Russ Cohen, a regular on NHL Network Radio, thinks Buium should be viewed as a first rounder.

“Buium moved up the charts and he has late first round talent,” said Cohen, owner of the Sportsology website and a contributor to EP Rinkside. “Buium’s offense has been emerging. His passing is a strength. He has a knack for seeing plays develop. Finding those spaces is very important, especially if you have creative forwards to work with. ”

The post Are Dylan James, Buium Bonus First Round Picks For Red Wings? appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Red Wings of Tomorrow is assessing every prospect in the Detroit Red Wings system and what they are projecting to be in the future. We’ll be looking at the strengths and weaknesses of their game, as well as what the future holds for them as they advance through the Detroit organization. Today, we look at left wing Dylan James

Dylan James

Position: Left Wing

How Acquired: 40th overall pick (second round) in the 2022 NHL Draft

2021-22 Stats: (GP-G-A-Pts) 62-28-33-61 (for Sioux City Musketeers, USHL)

Contract Status: Unsigned

Anticipated 2022-23 Team: North Dakota (NCHC)

Prospect Synopsis

United States Hockey Rookie of Year. Picked in the second round by the Detroit Red Wings. Named as a late addition to the Canadian National Junior Team.

Red Line Report Chief Scout Kyle Woodlief said James was the “fastest riser on our list in the season’s second half.”

Calgary native James will take plenty of momentum into North Dakota next season.

This is what Red Line Report’s assessment of Dylan James’ season: “Came on like gangbusters down the stretch. One of the keys to the Sioux’s shocking run to the championship…Second half offensive production was off the chart.”

Red Wings Draft USHL 2022 Rookie of the Year Dylan James https://t.co/mAre02RzmC

— Kevin Allen (@ByKevinAllen) July 8, 2022

Red Line Report is into its third decade of evaluating players and the independent scouting review sees James as a “big-game” performer, similar in style to Ondrej Palat.” It’s interesting to note that Yzerman was Tampa Bay’s GM when the team drafted Palat.

He’s a high energy player who can help a team in a variety of ways. He is first and foremost a creative player. In the playoffs, James scored five goals and put up eight points in 10 games.

Estimated Time of Arrival in Detroit

Dylan James already brings a professional approach to his game. He views himself as a two-way forward.

“I like to take pride in my defense,” James said. “My offense comes from that. I’m usually on the defensive side of the puck, whenever I can be. My speed is my best asset. I use it to forecheck and limit the D’s time and space. I love doing that.”

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He already understands the complexity of making an NHL roster.

“Obviously,” he said, “when you get drafted it’s pretty exciting moment but you also gotta realize there’s a lot of people who got drafted three years before you and they’re also trying to make the team, too,” he said.

That level of maturity plays well with NHL decision makers. Half of the battle is understanding what needs to be accomplished to get there. James seems to know where he needs to go.

The Red Wings will know more after his first season at North Dakota. That’s a quality program. He will have earn his ice time and will compete against good teams. Presumably, he will play multiple seasons there.

But in the back of your mind, you have to wonder whether it’s possible his game will grow exponentially like it did this season.

The post Red Wings of Tomorrow: Dylan James appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

It’s been six long seasons without playoff action for the Detroit Red Wings. However, several top prospects in the Detroit organization are sensing that championship feeling.

Numerous players climbing the ladder of the Red Wings chain won titles in their respective leagues last season. It might not be the Stanley Cup playoffs but it’s a title, and that’s a big deal at any level of the game. Making a long playoff run in whatever the league in which they are playing is an important step in the development of a player.

“I just think it’s great for their confidence, great for development, playing in playoff series, or college hockey winner go home sudden-death games,” Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman said. “I think they’re tremendous experiences. You build up your nerve, you build up your resolve.”

Three Future Red Wings Won With Denver

A trio of Detroit draft picks – forward Carter Mazur and defensemen Shai Buium and Antti Tuomisto – helped the Denver Pioneers win the NCAA title.

“Learning how hard it is to win,” Buium felt was a vital element in the development curve for him. “You just kind of build this respect for the game and you just want to win. You really want to win.”

Thanks @DetroitRedWings for a great week! #LGRW pic.twitter.com/nx7NUXc6Fe

— Carter Mazur (@Carter_Mazur) July 16, 2022

Both Buium and Mazur claimed the national championship during their first season of college hockey.

“You don’t expect to come in and make such a big difference on a team,” Mazur said. “I felt like it went pretty well and was excited about how the team finished the year by winning.”

Kasper, Wallinder Were European Champions

Detroit’s 2021 first round pick Marco Kasper and defenseman William Wallinder were teammates with Rogle as that club won the European Champions League title. Defenseman Albert Johansson won the Swedish League crown with Farjestad.

In the junior ranks, goaltender Sebastian Cossa, a 2021 first round pick, backstopped the Edmonton Oilers to the Western Hockey League title. While winning was certainly an important element in the equation, Cossa also went to school as he was learning about the physical and emotional demands required to remain on top of his game over the two-month playoff grind.

“I think just recovery, learning to kind of take care of my body,” Cossa listed as an added benefit from playoff success. “Luckily, we got lucky with the first couple of rounds being sweeps but other than that, the past couple of rounds and going into the Memorial Cup your body’s beat up.

“It’s been a long season, so just kind of taking care of it and still playing at your top game.”

UPDATE | Dylan James and Fraser Minten have been added to ’s National Junior Team summer development camp.

ROSTER https://t.co/C0zzE2GguC pic.twitter.com/kLa3Sx427b

— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) July 12, 2022

In the USHL, 2022 second round selection Dylan James was helping the Sioux City Muskateers capture the Clark Cup title.

“That was an unreal experience,” James said. “We made a couple of trades before playoffs and that really helped us.

“In the second round we played Tri City. They were number one going into the playoffs. We beat them in three games. That was huge for our team and our confidence, everyone’s confidence really.

“Obviously winning the ‘ship’s not bad. It obviously feels good. It builds your confidence.”

Winning Or Losing, It’s All Life Experience For Future Red Wings

As well, Simon Edvinsson, Theodor Niederbach and Elmer Soderblom (Frolunda, ECL), Pontus Andreasson (Lulea, SHL), Eemil Viro (TPS Turku, SM-liiga), Pasquale Vito (Windsor, OHL) and Oscar Plandowski (Charlotteton, QMJHL) wound up playing in the finals of major events, even though their teams were vanquished at the last stage.

Yzerman believes whether players win or lose in a championship round, just surviving the grind and getting there is a benefit in itself.

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“There’s a lot to be learned from winning and losing,” Yzerman said. “We’re very happy that some of these kids got a chance to go deep into their playoffs, or even win a national championship, or a championship in some cases.

“I think it’s great for their confidence as hockey players but also in their development, to be thrown into these situations and have to perform.

“Win or lose, you’re getting a lot out of it.”

The post Several Red Wings Prospects Have Championship Feeling appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Left wing Dylan James was named United States Hockey League 2022 Rookie of the Year after becoming the first rookie in six years to register 60 or points.

The big deal about that is that previous winners of that award have include Andrei Svechnikov, Joe Pavelski, Johnny Gaudreau, Max Pacioretty and Jake Guentzel to name a few.

The Detroit Red Wings were elated to draft the University of North Dakota recruit James 40th overall in day two of the NHL draft. The Calgary native finished with 28 goals and 61 points in 62 games for the Sioux City Musketeers.

“We’re excited about him,” said Kris Draper, the Red Wings’ Director of Amateur scouting. “He won a
championship in the USHL this year and had himself a big year.”

Red Wings See Complete Player

Draper called James a complete player. “We really like the 200-foot game that he plays, used in all situations,” Draper said.

Congratulations to @Musketeerhockey LW Dylan James on being selected by the Detroit Red Wings at #40 overall. Challenged himself leaving home for the USHL this season and it paid off with a Clark Cup & being drafted in the 2nd round of the NHL Draft. #Development https://t.co/dLSlAeDFyh

— Andy Johnson (@AndyJohnsonSCM) July 8, 2022

“DJ is one unreal human,” Sioux City coach Luke Strand tweeted this season. “He’s going to be a PRIZE for the lucky @nhl club! Instantly a better coach with this guy on your bench!!”

Red Line Report Chief Scout Kyle Woodlief compared James to Tampa Bay Lightning forward Ondej Palat. What makes that interesting is that Yzerman had Palat when he was in Tampa Bay.

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James rose in the draft rankings in the second half of the season. Woodlief said he’s a impressive playmaker who can play with tremendous pace.

“Second half offensive production was off the charts,” Woodlief wrote in his draft guide. “High energy, creative winger bring passion and a sense of urgency. Rugged, competes his bag off, and excels in in the heavy traffic areas. Wants the puck on his stick when the game is on the line.”

USHL insider Gabe with more info on Dylan James: https://t.co/mwLx9LcSfg

— Jake Rivard (@RivardNHL) July 8, 2022

USHL Rookie of the Year can be a predictor of NHL success.

Past USHL Rookies of the Year

022 — Dylan James, Sioux City
2021 — Cole Sillinger, Sioux Falls
2020 — Brendan Brisson, Chicago
2019 — Zac Jones, Tri-City
2018 — Matej Pekar, Muskegon
2017 — Andre Svechnikov, Muskegon
2016 — Cameron Morrison, Youngstown
2015 — Kieffer Bellows, Sioux Falls
2014 — Robby Jackson, Chicago
2013 — Jake Guentzel, Sioux City
2012 — Taylor Cammarata, Waterloo
2011 — Johnny Gaudreau, Dubuque
2010 — Anders Lee, Green Bay
2009 — Louis Leblanc, Omaha
2008 — Jack Connolly, Sioux Falls
2007 — Max Pacioretty, Sioux City
2006 — Kyle Okposo, Des Moines
2005 — Chad Rau, Des Moines
2004 — Matt Ford, Sioux Falls
2003 — Joe Pavelski, Waterloo

The Red Wings have several college prospects, including Shai Buium and Carter Mazur on the NCAA champion Denver team.

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