It didn’t take Carter Mazur long to adapt his game from the collegiate level to the professional level.
The Detroit Red Wings selected Mazur with the no. 70 pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Level Draft. The Jackson, Michigan native plays with an edge, something the Detroit Red Wings tend to lack at times, especially with Michael Rasmussen missing from the lineup due to injury and since the organization traded away Tyler Bertuzzi ahead of the deadline.
Mazur joins the Red Wings, electing to forgo his final two years of college eligibility. Earlier this year, Mazur finished a stellar career at the University of Denver, which followed a National Championship-winning season in 2021-22. During that season, Mazur, a freshman, recorded 14 goals and 38 points over 41 games. He’d also produce a reliable plus-23 rating while accumulating 44 penalty minutes.
The third-round pick of the Detroit Red Wings would follow that tremendous season with another one this past year, with Denver scoring 22 goals totaling 37 points over 40 games. Unfortunately, Denver didn’t make much postseason noise. Their downfall benefitted the Red Wings organization and, more importantly, the Grand Rapids Griffins.
Detroit Red Wings prospect Carter Mazur has quickly adapted to the professional level.
THE KID'S ON FIRE 🔥🔥@Carter_Mazur #GoGRG pic.twitter.com/X6dmRYWyeK
— Grand Rapids Griffins (@griffinshockey) April 8, 2023
Since joining the Grand Rapids Griffins, Mazur has done nothing but produce offense. Mazur has totaled three goals and five points through his first five American Hockey League (AHL) games. With how quickly Mazur has acclimated himself at the professional level, I selfishly would love to see the gritty winger play in Detroit’s final three games of the regular season, but he is unable to because he joined the Griffins on a personal tryout to finish out this season. Mazur’s three-year entry-level deal with the Detroit Red Wings officially begins next season. Mazur is a prime candidate to win a job with the Red Wings out of camp in 2023-24.
Like Mazur, the Detroit Red Wings recently signed a slew of prospects to an entry-level contract, including William Wallinder and Mazur’s college teammate Antti Tuomisto. Detroit also recalled top prospect Marco Kasper following his season in Europe. Kasper’s hype was quickly curbed due to a broken knee cap he miraculously played through during his NHL debut in Toronto. Kasper is expected to make a full recovery and be ready for training camp.