As the preseason winds down and final roster moves reverberate across the NHL, the Detroit Red Wings made a decision that stunned much of the hockey world.
On Friday, the club announced that forward Carter Mazur, defenseman William Wallinder, and goaltender Michael Postava had been assigned to the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins.
The most surprising of the group is undoubtedly Mazur, who has been exceptional throughout the preseason. While he wasn’t among my projected selections for the opening night roster, his reassignment to the AHL was unexpected. That said, additional games at the minor-league level could prove valuable for a player at his stage of development.
Erasing the pain
It’s undoubtedly a disappointing chapter for Mazur, who will likely carry the dubious distinction of enduring one of the most unfortunate NHL debuts in history—through no fault of his own. The Michigan-born forward’s first appearance lasted a mere 70 seconds before an awkward collision with the boards resulted in a dislocated elbow, abruptly ending his season.
Earlier that year, the 23-year-old had also sustained a concussion, sidelining him for a significant stretch with the Griffins. It ultimately mounted to a campaign that was both impressively productive and painfully derailed. In 20 AHL games, Mazur registered 15 points (8 goals, 7 assists) before his ill-fated Red Wings debut brought his season to a premature close.
Motivation
When healthy, however, Mazur proves to be a dependable contributor. Over the course of 60 games with the Griffins during the 2023–24 campaign, the 2021 70th overall selection tallied 17 goals and 20 assists, amassing 37 points. While not quite a point-per-game pace, his output represents steady and commendable production.
In addition, Mazur dedicated this past offseason to becoming stronger. And when he first took the ice for training camp, insiders noted that he looked far more muscular and possessed more energy than ever before, lending credence to his workout regimen and his dedication to the game of hockey.
An additional season with the Griffins is unlikely to hinder Mazur’s development; if anything, it serves as motivation to elevate his game further, much as he did when refining his physique during the offseason. Returning to the fundamentals will be key.
By netting the very first goal of the preseason, Mazur made it abundantly clear that he possesses the tools to become a future cornerstone of the Red Wings. With some fine-tuning and targeted adjustments, there is little doubt he will return to the NHL soon—and this time, ideally, for far longer than 70 seconds.
What's Next?
The Red Wings take on the Toronto Maple Leafs in the preseason finale on Saturday at 7 p.m. local time at Little Caesars Arena.