Detroit Red Wings
No Red Wings Rookie Tourney in Traverse City This Fall
Detroit rookies will travel to play in Dallas
Unwittingly, perhaps even unknowingly, Detroit Red Wings director of player development Dan Cleary was letting the cat out of the bag during the club’s development camp last week.
Answering a question about Detroit prospect Nate Danielson, Cleary was dropping this little nugget of information.
“When we go to Dallas for prospects tournament . . .” Cleary said.
Wait, what?
The Red Wings have held prospect tournaments in the fall at Center ICE in Traverse City, Michigan for over two decades. It’s a sure sign that summer is over and hockey season is upon us. Traverse City is where Detroit icons like Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk first pulled on the Red Wings jersey and took to the ice for game action.
Jonatan Berggren sets up Lucas Raymond for a goal at Traverse City Prospect Tournament. How swede it is.. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/VjK15ltp56
— IcehockeyGifs (@IcehockeyG) September 16, 2021
This fall, that won’t be happening. A tournament that dates back to 1998 isn’t taking place this fall. The Red Wings are heading to Frisco, Texas to partake in a pair of games against the Dallas Stars rookies.
Last year, you will recall that the Stars were the only team other than the Wings in Traverse City for rookie games.
According to a source familiar with the situation, the plan is for the two teams to continue to alternate hosting rookie games. That would mean the Stars will be again visiting Traverse City in the fall of 2026.
Red Wings Tourney Was Once Pinnacle Of NHL Rookie Events
The first tournament in Traverse City featured rookie teams from four different clubs. In its heyday, growth saw the event contesting rookie games among eight teams. Each team would play four games over five days.
BRINKSSSSSSSYYYYYYYYY
The #HawksProspects are the champs of the Traverse City Prospect Tournament! pic.twitter.com/h3m7yWtcfe
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) September 13, 2017
By 2023, the tournament was back down to four teams and then last year, just the two clubs.
“Things are changing, evolving in the offseason, development camps, rookie tournaments,” Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman said. “Teams are doing different things.”
Typical Draperman respone, no explanation, no accountability for what he did or he was responsible for. Just take it or leave it, no just take it. What a great communication skills he has, such a. Asset for an organization 10 years out of the playoffs. Fire these boosts Chris.
The popularity of Traverse City pushed the other teams out of town really. Maybe the Wings could look at another Northern Michigan town for the tournament. Alpena, Cheboygen or Gaylord, maybe down state options like Chelsea, Brighton.
Cleary is the head of player development. That can’t be serious come on man. How’s that working out? Once again other than first round layups that every other team had on their draft board Draper hias come up with nobody. Having Cleary responsible for player development is a joke. Both need to be fired. What is Cleary going to teach them., How to make a handshake agreement with a dinosaur like Holland and then disappear for an entire year?
Playing the game is the most important part of development, all teams should be participating in something like this. Scrimmaging against each other doesn’t equate.