Detroit Red Wings: 4 forwards on the bubble heading into camp
By Bob Heyrman
Detroit Red Wings forward Taro Hirose remains on the bubble heading into training camp.
Taro Hirose, 26, started his career with the Detroit Red Wings with a boom, but he’s struggled to maintain any stability at the NHL level since.
Hirose burst onto the scene with the Red Wings in 2018-19, following a stellar career at Michigan State.
Hirose began his NHL career recording one goal and seven points over ten games. Initially, he proved to be a valuable set-up man with an above-average vision and playmaking abilities. However, he has failed to duplicate that same skill-set at the NHL level in three separate stints since.
Hirose has appeared in 47 games since 18-19, recording just 13 points. Last season Hirose performed very well, with Grand Rapids recording 15 goals and 53 points in 59 games. The 26-year-old helped pace the Griffins’ offense finishing second in scoring to Berggren.
The fact of the matter is, Hirose will find himself hard pressed to make Detroit’s roster to begin the season because year after year, he finds himself falling further and further down the depth chart with the influx of youth within the organization.
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This past May, the Detroit Red Wings rewarded Hirose’s tremendous play in Grand Rapids by giving him a two-year contract extension to remain with the organization.
I expect to see Hirose on the outside looking in with the addition of winger Dominik Kubalik, but with a strong camp can put his name up near the top of the list of first call-ups if injuries occur. Let’s not forget that Robby Fabbri, who will begin the year on the injured reserve list, will be expected to return sometime around midseason and will be looking to unseat someone. Fabbri will skip to the top of the line, which pushes everyone on this list down another slot.