Detroit Red Wings: Is Jared McIsaac going to fight for a roster spot?

The Detroit Red Wings are going to have some battles during this year’s training camp at hand. They are going to have some players who are fighting for those last few roster spots. But competition is good and brings out good aspects of some of these players.

For the Detroit Red Wings defense core, things could get interesting with some of the team’s younger players who will try and vie for time in the NHL. Jared McIsaac is one of those players that will be in the hunt for a roster spot.

This off-season, McIsaac was at a crossroads. He either was going to be re-signed, or things could have taken a turn if Detroit had opted to give up on the defender. Instead, the Red Wings extended McIsaac, keeping him around Hockeytown.

McIsaac earned a one-year extension, keeping him around. He is a former second-round pick of the Red Wings from the 2018 NHL Entry Draft who has had his fair share of diversity to encounter along the way.

Detroit Red Wings defender Jared McIsaac is fighting for a spot.

After undergoing a bunch of injuries and fighting his way through the minors, it seems like McIsaac might actually be scratching at the surface. He’s hoping that he can get his chance to suit up for the Red Wings, but he’s going to have to fight for his roster spot, that is for sure.

In 2022-23, McIsaac played in 61 games for the Grand Rapids Griffins at the AHL level. He scored three goals and added 19 assists for 22 total points. The year before that, McIsaac played in 70 games with the Griffins, scoring five goals and adding 19 assists for 24 total points in his time with the Griffins.

The point is McIsaac has come a long way after having to struggle to get into the AHL level of the organization after dealing with some struggles and injuries along the way. He has not had the easiest road whatsoever, but it feels like the Red Wings might be able to see him fight for a spot.

The thing standing in his way is Simon Edvinsson, who is a roadblock for McIsaac in his own right. But Edvinsson is not a lock to make the roster, either. He’s the closest to being a “lock,” but even Edvinsson is not being promised a roster spot for 2023-24.

McIsaac will have to try and beat him out if he wants to play in the NHL. Edvinsson’s ahead of McIsaac, but there’s undoubtedly intrigue in seeing how McIsaac fights to try and earn a role.