BACK TO THE FUTURE

Traverse City welcomed the return of NHL prospects for the first time in two years.

Photos by Mark Newman

Chase Pearson shows he can be an energetic sparkplug as well as a punishing penalty killer.

Jonatan Berggren is one of the top offensive talents in the Red Wings’ pipeline. A top-10 scorer last year in the Swedish Hockey League, he became only the 13th player in SHL history to compile over 40 points in a season at age 20 or younger. Kirill Tyutyayev is a small but savvy sniper who hopes to surprise people during his first season in North America. Lucas Raymond displays great offensive potential as the Wings’ highest draft pick since the team took Keith Primeau third overall in 1990.

Detroit Red Wings fans got a glimpse of their hockey team’s possible future when Traverse City hosted the NHL Prospect Tournament at Centre Ice Arena in September, after the 2020 event was cancelled by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Although no championship trophy was awarded this year, the five-team field included the Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars, St. Louis Blues, and Toronto Maple Leafs. The five-day event, which was held Sept. 16-20, featured round-robin action, with each team playing either three or four games.

The Red Wings beat the Stars 5-4 to open the tournament, before losing to the Blues and the Blue Jackets by scores of 5-2 and 7-3, respectively. The results were less important than the opportunity to see top NHL prospects for the first time.

Lucas Raymond, a Swedish winger who was selected fourth overall by the Wings in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, sparkled during his North American debut, tallying three goals in the first two games. Sebastian Cossa, the young Canadian goaltender drafted 15th

Joe Veleno hopes to build on the momentum that saw him play five games with the Red Wings at the end of the NHL season last year. Donovan Sebrango played all of last season with the Griffins after the Ontario Hockey League cancelled its season.

Jared McIsaac, who has endured shoulder surgeries in consecutive seasons, continues to battle through injuries. Sebastian Cossa posted a 171-1 record last season with the Edmonton Oil Kings, leading the WHL in goalsagainst average (1.57), save percentage (.941) and shutouts (4).

overall by the Wings this summer, donned a Detroit sweater for the first time at the tender age of 18.

Jonatan Berggren, another highly touted Swede who was selected in the second round of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, suffered an injury in the first period of the second game and sat out the third game along with Raymond for precautionary reasons.

Russian winger Kirill Tyutyayev, a 2019 seventhround pick who signed with Grand Rapids after playing in Belarus last season, scored twice in the tournament opener. Other tournament goal scorers included Joe Veleno and Chase Pearson, both of whom were expected to compete for NHL roster spots during the Red Wings’ training camp.

Jared McIsaac, one of Detroit’s top defensive prospects, lost consciousness after taking a hit from behind into the boards during the game against Columbus. He was taken to a hospital for evaluation and later released.