Top Red Wings prospect won't make the team according to head coach
Photo credit: NHL.com
A coach in the Detroit Red Wings organization crushed a prospect's hopes of making the NHL this season with an intriguing statement.
The Detroit Red Wings prospects were in action over the weekend, with two games against the prospects of the Dallas Stars in Texas.
Detroit won the first one 6-2 but lost 6-5 in the second one.
Although one of their star prospects contributed in the two games, he's unlikely to make the NHL this season, according to the Grand Rapids Griffins head coach Dan Watson.
Griffins Head Coach Dan Watson Crushes Shai Buium's NHL Hopes For The Next Season
The Red Wings drafted Shai Buium 36th overall in 2021.
The 22-year-old defenseman showed a lot of promise during the two games against the Stars but did make a few mistakes that didn't go unnoticed by the Wings coaching staff.
He did score two goals in the two games, including this spectacular one:
Although he showed great things, he also committed massive defensive mistakes, including one that directly led to a Stars goal.
Grand Rapids Griffins coach Dan Watson, who was behind the bench during both games, shared a few insights on his opinion of the player.
He started by saying that he likes his style and that he did make some good defensive plays but must still be better in his own zone.
He added that Buium must still be better defensively, listed things he needs to work on, and discussed his offensive ceiling.
In his own words:
"Well, I like his game. I think there are some moments where he made some good defensive plays.
Defensively, he was better last year, so we expect just a more complete player. He was in our lineup virtually every single game, and then we expect that again.
Something that we worked on with a stick detail, moving his feet, protecting around the net. And then obviously, I think everyone knows he does have an offensive mind too.
But the biggest thing is play without the puck and understanding the reads on the rush. When to pinch, when not to pinch. And we're looking forward to working with him and hopefully continuing to develop him into an NHL defenseman.
Can he take his offensive numbers to another level? You know, that's going to be a question that we'll have for him and see if he can do that."
Defensively, he was better last year, so we expect just a more complete player. He was in our lineup virtually every single game, and then we expect that again.
Something that we worked on with a stick detail, moving his feet, protecting around the net. And then obviously, I think everyone knows he does have an offensive mind too.
But the biggest thing is play without the puck and understanding the reads on the rush. When to pinch, when not to pinch. And we're looking forward to working with him and hopefully continuing to develop him into an NHL defenseman.
Can he take his offensive numbers to another level? You know, that's going to be a question that we'll have for him and see if he can do that."
In 67 AHL games last season, he scored 25 points, including two goals, with a +2 plus/minus.
Previously on Red Wings Insider
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 16 | 391 ANSWERS Top Red Wings prospect won't make the team according to head coach Do you think Shai Buium will play a game in the NHL this season? | ||
| Yes | 205 | 52.4 % |
| No | 186 | 47.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
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