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Red Wings of Tomorrow: Kyle Aucoin

Like father, like son? The Red Wings hope so in the case of Kyle Aucoin

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Kyle Aucoin, Detroit Red Wings prospect
Red Wings prospect Kyle Aucoin is the son of longtime NHL defenseman Adrian Aucoin.

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 defenseman Kyle Aucoin

Kyle Aucoin

Position: Defense

How Acquired: Selected 156th overall, 2020 NHL entry draft

2021-22 Stats: (GP-G-A-P) 30-0-2-2 (with Harvard)

Contract Status: Unsigned

Anticipated 2022-23 Team: Harvard (ECAC)

Prospect Synopsis

Kyle Aucoin is definitely his father’s son. He only wishes he possessed his father’s shot.

“Yeah, he had a really hard shot,” Kyle Aucoin said of his dad, 15-season NHL defenseman Adrian Aucoin. The elder Aucoin scored 121 goals in 1,108 NHL games. In six seasons, he hit double digits, including a 23-goal campaign with the Vancouver Canucks in 1998-99.

“I’m working to get there,” Kyle said.

He has some work still to do.

In four years of USHL action, Aucoin never scored more than two goals in a season. He failed to dent the twine in 30 games as a freshman last season with the Harvard Crimson.

Similar to Wisconsin’s Sam Stange, another 2020 Red Wings pick, Aucoin’s IQ is off the charts both on and off the ice. He was named the USHL’s scholar athlete of the year in 2019-20.

“I think the game well,” Aucoin said. “I’m pretty smart on the ice.”

He gets high marks from scouts for his puck-moving skillset and his mobility on his skates.

“I’m a two-way defenseman,” Aucoin said. “My biggest strength is probably my skating. I’m a pretty elite skater I’d say.

“I think I play on both sides. I defend quick, which will let me join the rush offensively and create things from there.”

Estimated Time of Arrival in Detroit

Aucoin is only entering his sophomore season at Harvard, so he’s unlikely to be rushing to turn pro. He’ll be turning 20 next month and at 5-foot-11, 164 pounds still has some filling out to do.

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“I think the biggest thing for me is my overall strength on the ice,” Aucoin said. “I’m lucky enough to have a great setup in Chicago with a great gym. I train with a guy named Barry Brennan, who’s out of Ottawa. That’s where I was born. I’ve definitely been working on my strength and my shooting a lot.”

Red Wings director of amateur scouting Kris Draper coached against Aucoin in youth hockey.

“I’ve watched Kyle over the years and he’s a smart, competitive kid,” Draper said. “Just a terrific skater, a real competitive kid.”