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Detroit Red Wings: Taro Hirose’s future looks bright

By Bob Heyrman

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 19: Taro Hirose #53 of the Detroit Red Wings skates in his first NHL game against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on March 19, 2019 in New York City. The Red Wings defeated the Rangers 3-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 19: Taro Hirose #53 of the Detroit Red Wings skates in his first NHL game against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on March 19, 2019 in New York City. The Red Wings defeated the Rangers 3-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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The future looks bright for Taro Hirose whose made an excellent first impression with the Detroit Red Wings. The 22-year-old forward signed with the team after completing his college season with the Michigan State Spartans.

When I think of a Michigan State Spartan joining the Detroit Red Wings, my mind automatically goes to Justin Abdelkader. Taro Hirose isn’t Abdelkader; he’s a much different player yet he will continue to showcase his talents for the remainder of this season in hopes of solidifying a spot on next years opening night roster.

Justin Abdelkader entered the league as a power forward and had a few tremendous seasons playing on Pavel Datsyuk‘s wing. He’s more of fourth line penalty killing, grinder these days and it seems like his offensive skills are starting to diminish. Hirose, on the other hand, looks like he may have a bright future but they’ve taken a very similar path while achieving the ultimate goal.

He’s been able to record an assist in each of his first two games with the big club. Sometimes young players join NHL teams out of college and the lights become just a little too bright, the stomach churns twice as much as it did in College; I mean it’s the process of recognizing you’ve accomplished your dreams to play in the NHL–now you’ve gotta do whatever it takes to stay.

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What has impressed me the most about Hirose has been his poise with the puck. At one point during his second game, he entered the offensive zone, and the defenders collapsed to him, a lot of young players would become impatient and immediately turn the puck over or chip it down low, and it becomes a 50/50 puck battle on the end boards. Hirose calmly stayed with it while displaying silky smooth hands navigated his way through traffic and created a scoring opportunity for Frans Nielsen.

He seems like he is comfortable being a playmaker rather than a shooter, although he’s played the majority of his games with Frans Nielsen and Thomas Vanek I see him fitting in well with Andreas Athanasiou and Tyler Bertuzzi. The Detroit Red Wings should consider taking Luke Glendening off of that line and allow Hirose to play a few shifts with Athanasiou.

Another option would be swapping out Darren Helm with Hirose on the top line. Helm and Nielsen work well together, they seem like they trust one another and perhaps playing together on the third line and potentially adding Glendening to the mix would provide a very established yet overpaid checking line the Wings could trust against their opponents’ top group.

That being said Vanek, Nielsen, and Hirose have worked well together, and it is excellent for the youngster to play with a couple of reliable veteran players to assist him, teach him and hopefully leave a good impression on him leading into next season.

Reading between the lines of a Jeff Blashill extension. dark. Next

He led the NCAA in points this past season with 50 (15 G, 35 A) and edged out Wolverines defender Quinn Hughes winning the Big Ten player of the year award. He is also amongst the ten finalists for the Hobey Baker Award which is awarded to the best college player.

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