Red Wings of Tomorrow: Cross Hanas

Red Wings of Tomorrow is assessing every prospect in the Detroit Red Wings system and what they are projecting to be in the future. We’ll be looking at the strengths and weaknesses of their game, as well as what the future holds for them as they advance through the Detroit organization. Today, we feature right wing Cross Hanas

Cross Hanas

Position: Right Wing

How Acquired: Selected 55th overall, 2020 NHL entry draft

2021-22 Stats: (GP-G-A-P) 63-26-60-86 (with Portland Winterhawks WHL)

Contract Status: Signed at $859,167 per season for three years.

Anticipated 2022-23 Team: Grand Rapids Griffins

Prospect Synopsis

Cross Hanas has the slick hands and creativity to be a pro player. He showed that again this season by averaging better than a point per game in the Western Hockey League. Hanas has some magic in his game. He can conjure up entertaining plays. He added nine points in 11 playoff games.

The next step for Hanas will be to prove his game translates well to pro level. He will likely need a full season in the American Hockey League, maybe part of another.

The Red Wings probably signed him with the hope he will be a middle six forward. Earlier this season, Hanas made a Trevor Zegras-lacrosse-style pass from behind the net to set-up a goal.

RED WINGS PROSPECT CROSS HANAS PULLS OFF THE ZEGRAS ASSIST! 😱

🎥: @TheWHL pic.twitter.com/fRyYOYpYJd

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 19, 2021

The Red Wings signed Hanas in March. This will be a good time to go to Grand Rapids because they are looking to do a reset after missing the playoffs last season. They are looking to freshen up the roster.

From the October 23, 1990 edition of the Regina Leader-Post@robvanstone profiles future WHLer Trevor Hanas

You may have heard of Trevor's son Cross pic.twitter.com/cv0InjVCF3

— Lucas Punkari (@lpunkari) June 22, 2022

Estimated Time of Arrival in Detroit

This will be an important summer for Hanas as he prepares himself to become a pro. He will need to live in the weight room. He will also need to think about expanding his game.

‘He’s a creative playmaker with the puck and plays with a bit of jam,” said Kyle Woodlief, chief scout for Red Line Report. “But he’s not the most instinctive player.”

Woodlief would like to see him refine his overall game, especially when he doesn’t have the puck.

“His effort level is good,” Woodlief said, “…but he will need that AHL time to understand positioning and play through the neutral zone.”

Hanas has hockey in his DNA. His father Trevor, a Saskatchewan native, was a minor league-player and has coached recently in the Dallas junior program. Cross was born in Texas.

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Trevor Hanas scored some goals and piled up penalty minutes in the WHL, ECHL and the Central Hockey League. He netted 20 goals with 167 penalty minutes for the ECHL’s Peoria Rivermen in 1996-97. Cross has inherited some of his father’s spunk and tenacity.

The Red Wings are hoping Cross will make a smooth transition to the AHL in 2022-23. He would probably be hoping to get a shot to play in the NHL in 2024-25.