Though the elephant in the room hasn't been addressed, it's great to see the Detroit Red Wings take to the ice again.
This offseason has been what some might call a circus. From front office mishaps to a complete lack of transparency by the organization, it's become less about the team and more about management this offseason.
Fortunately, all that can change very soon as the team gets back to what it's all about: hockey.
Yesterday, prospects from the Red Wings and Dallas Stars faced off on the first day of the annual prospect tournament. The lineup, comprised of everyone from Nate Danielson to Carter Bear, featured plenty of roster hopefuls and would-be long-shots hoping to stand apart from the crowd.
Some in particular really managed to impress. Here's a closer look at a few players that separated themselves from the pack:
Carter Bear was everywhere on the ice
Perhaps no other player dominated the ice last night quite like Carter Bear. While he wasn't able to score a goal, he finished the night with ten (yes, ten) shots on net. That kind of offensive awareness doesn't grow on trees. Sure, it didn't result in a goal, but taking over a game offensively like that can shift the momentum for your team. The Red Wings went on to win the game in the shootout, but, thanks to Bear, they were able to maintain consistent pressure against the Stars.
The good news for Bear is that he'll have every opportunity possible to fight his way onto the roster this season. Should he play his cards right, he'll have an opportunity on make an impact on the team's top-six.
Trey Augustine looks better than ever
After watching Trey Augustine stop eight rounds in a shootout, it's no wonder the Red Wings decided to trade Sebastian Cossa. With each passing game, Augustine inches ever closer to NHL readiness, taking on larger and larger workloads with every consecutive season. This time around, he'll have the opportunity to show his stuff at the AHL level with the Grand Rapids Griffins. Should things go according to plan, he could be a Red Wing as early as the trade deadline -- though it's likely the team waits until 2027-28 to give him his shot.
The more Augustine develops confidence, the better his prospects for the NHL become. Augustine is one of the top names to watch moving forward.
Nate Danielson's revenge tour starts now
If Carter Bear was the lightning, Nate Danielson was the thunder. Danielson and Bear played on the same line, with the former setting up the latter for a multitude of his shot attempts. They appear to be developing a bit of chemistry together, playing to each others' strengths to open up passing lanes. Danielson is coming off a season ending injury, so it might take him a bit of time to get up to speed, but this is as good an opportunity as any for him to get back on track.
This is the most pivotal season of Danielson's career so far. He'll have plenty of opportunity to show his stuff for the NHL throughout this tournament, training camp and preseason.
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