Preparing for the 2021 National Hockey League (NHL) Draft, many names graced my draft board. Of course, the name Red Savage jumps off of the screen whenever I read it.
Not knowing much about the player, I was no different than many Detroit Red Wings fans who demanded to see Savage wear the Winged Wheel. Although his name is neat, and the story behind it even cooler, it’s not what I remember about Savage most.
Picture it, July 2021, I’m sitting at home in my jammies. Excited to see the newly announced draft pick greet the media. This is who showed up on my screen:
His signature bucket hat, borrowed from a neighbor, was a stark contrast to the player I was expecting. I had read about him, watched some scouting reports, but hadn’t the faintest idea of the personality Savage has–a breath of fresh air in my book.
It may not be something he’s proud of after the razzing he received from his friends about it (but what are friends for if not for a good roast?). I thought it was a nice touch and a welcome sight.
Savage has grown in every facet since his 2021 draft year.
The pinnacle of Red Savage’s professional career thus far is being named captain of the Michigan State Spartans
Congrats, @redsavage_19! 👏 https://t.co/4jgBYBw3Gd
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) August 27, 2024
It wasn’t always easy for Savage. His freshman and sophomore years saw him play for Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.
In his freshman year, I watched the championship winning Denver Pioneer games most Saturday nights. Unfortunately for Savage, his team wasn’t…successful to put it lightly.
The systems weren’t great, the players weren’t on the same page, and they couldn’t seem to put anything together.
Yet, Savage stood out in those games. A tenacious forechecker with a desire to drag his team to a win by any means necessary. Seemingly, he took every other faceoff, if not more often, played in all three zones, and on the number one penalty kill unit.
However, he could only do so much.
While it was great he could play with his older brother, Ryan, I feared that it might hinder his development playing in an environment where he faced so many challenges.
Once his brother graduated from Miami University, the younger Savage transferred to Michigan State University. It was a nice surprise given the change of coaching staff and a promise of a better environment for development.
This promise was delivered, and Savage played like the same Savage I remembered watching back in the Mile High City. Even on nights where it seemed dark, Savage was always there with a flashlight.
He fits the Detroit Red Wings favorite player model: competitive, hard to play against, with a respectable two-way game. Although he might not have elite qualities to his game, he makes up for it with his tenacity.
Put him on a line with someone like Michael Rasmussen and Andrew Copp or even a Jonatan Berggren, there could be something fun there with surprising offense.
I must admit that after following his successul junior year, I expected Savage to turn pro. Partly, I thought he could continue to develop and build strength with the Grand Rapids Griffins, make some money, and there were (and still kind of are) vacancies for the center position within the organization. It seemed like a nice time to make the transition.
Imagine my surprise (yes surprises happen all the time in my world) when it was announced that Savage was returning to Michigan State University. Since the team came so close to winning it all last season, I figured he wanted another crack at a championship run.
Recently, it was announced that Savage was also named the captain of the Michigan State Spartans. This transition reflects the hardwork and dedication Savage brings to each game.
It’s quite a contrast to the player who started the organization in a neighbor’s bucket hat.