Highlighted by five first- or second-round draft picks, the Detroit Red Wings Wednesday unveiled their roster for their Sept, 16-20, 2016 NHL Prospect Tournament in Traverse City. Mich.
The list includes right-winger Evgeni Svechnikov, the club’s 2015 first-round pick who won a silver medal with Russia at the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship and racked up 79 points in 50 games with the QMJHL’s Cape Breton Screaming Eagles in 2015-16.
The second-round choices are headed by left-winger Tyler Bertuzzi, a 2013 second-round pick who notched 30 points as a first-year pro with AHL Grand Rapids and who has 14 goals in 23 career AHL playoff games. There’s center Zach Nastasiuk, also a 2013 second-round draftee who skated in 27 games for Grand Rapids and produced 20 points in 25 games with the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye.
As well, a pair of 2016 second-round picks will be on hand in in left-winger Givani Smith and defenseman Filip Hronek, two of the three participating players from the Red Wings’ most-recent draft class along with fifth-round pick defenseman Jordan Sambrook.
Defenseman Robbie Russo, who led the AHL with a plus-40 rating in 2015-16 and earned a spot on the AHL All-Rookie Team and Second All-Star Team will be suiting up for the Detroit prospects squad, as will a few players to watch who will ultimately be turning pro and likely fighting for roster spots in Grand Rapids, including defenseman Joe Hicketts, a undrafted try out who earned a contract after his performance at the 2014 NHL Prospect Tournament and went on to represent Canada at back-to-back IIHF World Junior Championships, winning gold in 2015; left wing Dylan Sadowy, a 45-goal scorer with Barrie and Saginaw in the Ontario Hockey League acquired in a May trade by Detroit from San Jose; and goaltender Jake Paterson, who spent most of his rookie professional season with Toledo and helped the Walleye to the best record in the Eastern Conference at 47-20-2-3.
Twenty-four players who skated for the Red Wings during the 2015-16 campaign participated in the tournament during its 18-year history, while 522 total players have played in the tournament and moved on to skate in at least one NHL game.
Prospects from the Carolina Hurricanes, Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild, New York Rangers and St. Louis Blues will also be competing in this year’s tournament.
For more information and a complete tournament schedule, visit www.centreice.org.
2016 Detroit Red Wings NHL Prospect Tournament Roster Goal - Stephen Dhillon-x; Connor Hicks-x; Jake Paterson. Defense - Matthew Caito; Dylan Coghlan-x; Joe Hicketts; Filip Hronek; Dan Renouf; Robbie Russo; Jordan Sambrook. Center – Mike Borkowski; Jeff De Wit-x; Zach Nastasiuk; Dominic Turgeon Left Wing – Tyler Bertuzzi; Luke Coleman-x; Luke Kirwan-x; Adam Marsh; Dylan Sadowy; Mathew Santos; Givani Smith Right Wing - Justin Brazeau-x; Kyle Criscuolo; Evgeny Svechnikov
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