Detroit Red Wings: A pair of prospects struggling in Grand Rapids

The Detroit Red Wings have a couple of prospects struggling to find their way with the Grand Rapids Griffins. We will explore the future of prospects Givani Smith and David Pope.

The transition from junior hockey or collegiate hockey to the professional level isn’t always a smooth one. This is precisely the case with a pair of Detroit Red Wings prospects who continue to falter at the American Hockey League Level.

David Pope was a 4th round draft pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Level Draft. He played college hockey for four years at Nebraska-Omaha. He thrived in his fourth season scoring 20 goals and added 21 helpers. His 41 points in 35 games was a personal best at the collegiate level.

Pope was expected to make a roster push this summer; he is 24 years old. At 6 foot 3, 200 plus pounds he has the making to be a power forward. He didn’t fare nearly as well as expected through training camp and the preseason.

More from Octopus Thrower

He was a guy I thought would be playing much better than he is for the Grand Rapids Griffins. His game has yet to transition to the professional level, and at 24 it becomes worrisome. I mean yes, he could be a late bloomer, but I expected a respectable season maybe 30/35 points in his first year in Grand Rapids.

He’s played 21 games for the Griffins only recording 2 goals and 1 assist on the season. As Niklas Kronwall has said much too often this year at the conclusion of Detroit Red Wings games “not good enough.”

I spoke with our friends at @GrGriffinsNest who gets a first-hand look at these guys. They had this to say;

"Smith and Pope have both seen limited playing time early this season. They’ve both been healthy scratches. Smith had a rough transition to the pros which led to a very slow start to the season. He is slowly starting to find his game. Pope’s transition was a bit smoother and he’s created chemistry on a line with Turgeon and Campbell. He has a wicked shot and is very strong on the forecheck."

Givani Smith is only 20 years old. He’s already a power forward at 6 foot 2, 220 pounds. He was a second-round pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Level Draft. The Toronto native has also struggled in his first season as a pro.

Through 28 games this year with the Grand Rapid Griffins he’s recorded 1 goal and added 2 helpers. Six points between the two players at the halfway mark of the season is the definition of underachieving. Now, Smith was never a big-time scorer in the Ontario Hockey League playing with Barrie, the Guelph Storm and a short stint with the Kitchener Rangers. He scored 26 goals in 2016/17 and added 139 PIM.

At 20 years old you just can’t give up on the kid, but he’s been slow to adjust to the level of play in the AHL. Let’s hope he finds a way to rebound the second half of the season as he should be getting comfortable with what is expected at this level of hockey.

Next. Top 5 Coaches In Wings’ History. dark

I expect Smith to be a solid third/fourth line grinding type NHL winger that can chip in once and a while on the goal sheet. I understand that isn’t the most exciting expectations for a second-round draft pick, but at this point, I don’t see him being a top-six type forward.

Home/Prospects