The Red Wings’ next wave gets its first real stage this weekend.
Detroit is set to host a prospects tournament Saturday through Tuesday at the Belfor Training Center inside Little Caesars Arena, bringing together young players from the Wings, Columbus Blue Jackets, Pittsburgh Penguins and Dallas Stars for a short slate that should give the fan base its first look at a handful of intriguing names.
Each team will play three games. Detroit opens against Dallas on Saturday, Sept. 12 at 6:30 p.m., meets Pittsburgh on Sunday at 7 p.m., and closes the tournament against Columbus on Tuesday at 2 p.m.
The other games on the schedule are Columbus vs. Pittsburgh on Saturday at 3 p.m., Dallas vs.
Columbus on Sunday at 3:30 p.m., and Dallas vs. Pittsburgh on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m.
The Wings’ roster is loaded with familiar draft capital. Thirteen of the 24 players are former Detroit draft picks, including first-rounders Nate Danielson and Carter Bear, plus second-round selections Trey Augustine and Dylan James.
That trio, along with Danielson, is among the most interesting storylines heading into training camp Thursday.
Danielson already got a taste of the NHL last season, appearing in 28 games for Detroit and posting two goals and five assists before reduced ice time sent him back to Grand Rapids. With Dylan Larkin’s trade request still hanging over the organization and the center spot unsettled, Danielson has a chance to push for a spot on the opening night roster if he turns in a strong camp.
Bear also arrives with momentum. He stood out in his first training camp a year ago and followed that with a huge final junior season in Everett of the WHL, finishing with 77 points, including 36 goals and 41 assists, while posting a plus-45 rating in 53 games.
Augustine brings his own buzz. The South Lyon native and former Michigan State standout was one of the NCAA’s top goaltenders over the last two seasons. He went 24-9-1 with a 2.11 goals-against average and a .929 save percentage last year at MSU before appearing in two games for Grand Rapids at the end of the regular season.
All Red Wings games in the tournament will be streamed live on DetroitRedWings.com.
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