Red Wings 2024 Third-Round Pick Gets Griffins Tryout

The Detroit Red Wings like Czechia forward Ondrej Becher well enough to draft him in the third round (80th overall) out of the Western Hockey League at the 2024 NHL draft.

But they weren’t quite sure what to do with him.

He’s already 20, and will turn 21 in February. The decision of where he should play was made more complicated because Becher was injured (ankle) and couldn’t participate in the Red Wings’ training camp. The Red Wings didn’t have an opportunity to evaluate Becher before this season started.

The decision was announced Saturday with the Grand Rapids Griffins signing Becher to a tryout contract.

The Griffins, who play in Cleveland tonight, also called up goalie Gage Alexander from the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye. He came to Detroit in the Robby Fabbri-to-Anaheim cdeal. The Griffins also recalled Carter Gylander from Toledo on Sunday.

This will give the Red Wings a chance to see how he does in coach Dan Watson’s practices and presumably in AHL games.

Ondrej Becher finally healthy!! The dude lit up up the W with 96 points in 58 games for Prince George. Excited to see how his offensive skill translates to protect hockey.#lgrw   #lggr https://t.co/yxYkHgjCuR pic.twitter.com/vrGbShSkhy

— David Cuddlehoff (@snotrocketeer) November 2, 2024

NHL teams generally stay away from players passed over in the draft. But Becher had an exceptional 2023-24 season with the Prince George Cougars in terms of goals (32), assists (64), points (96), and plus-minus rating (+38) in 58 games.

Over two seasons with the Cougars, Becher posted 134 points and owned a plus-69 rating in 121 games.

He also played for his home country of Czechia at the 2024 World Junior Championship, showing 10 points (3-7—10) in seven outings en route to claiming a bronze medal. In 2022, Becher played for Czechia at the 2022 U18 World Junior Championship and registered two goals in six games. Prior to arriving in North America in 2022, Becher spent parts of two seasons in the Czechia2 league.