The Detroit Pink Wings have a deep prospect pool made up of scorers, grinders, playmakers, offensive and defensive defensemen, and starting-caliber goaltenders. They actually don’t have an enormous weak spot relating to youth, so it’s all the time thrilling to observe the progress of the pipeline all through the season. So within the spirit of that, I believed it will be nice to shine a highlight on just a few of them as we proceed via the canine days of the summer season.
Throughout this ongoing collection, I’ll get you caught up on their hockey journey since being drafted/signed, what to anticipate throughout 2023-24, and their present place on the prospect depth chart. Lastly, I’ll endeavor to venture a ceiling and ground for them transferring ahead. So with out additional ado, let’s get began with 2021 fourth-round decide Pink Savage.
Highlight on Pink Savage
- How Acquired: Chosen 114th total by the Pink Wings in 2021
- 2022-23 Workforce: Miami College (Ohio) (NCAA)
- 2022-23 Stats: 32 GP – 7 G – 7 A – 14 PTS
- 2023-24 Contract Standing: Unsigned
- 2023-24 Workforce: Michigan State College (NCAA)
Savage’s Hockey Journey Since Being Drafted
After a stellar stint with the USA Nationwide Workforce Improvement Program (USNTDP) the place he put up 42 targets and 104 factors in 118 video games and acquired chosen 114th total by the Pink Wings, Savage transitioned to the NCAA with Miami College (Ohio). In his freshman season, he put up an honest six targets and 16 factors in 35 video games and was named to Workforce USA’s roster for the 2022 World Juniors the place he recorded two targets and 5 factors.
Associated: Pink Wings 2023-24 Participant Preview: Lucas Raymond
Newest Information & Spotlight
Final season, Savage hit a career-high in targets with seven and once more represented his nation on the 2023 World Juniors. This time round, he was one of many leaders as he donned an “A” and made a dent offensively with three targets and 6 factors in seven video games. On a crew filled with stars and first-rounders like Logan Cooley and Jimmy Snuggerud, the previous fourth-round decide not solely stood out for his defensive sport and faceoff prowess however his offense as effectively.
In the end resulting in a bronze medal round his neck, Savage returned to his crew within the NCAA and proceeded to attain three of his seven targets within the remaining 5 video games of the season, together with two in an eventual 5-4 extra time loss to Western Michigan College. Sadly, the Miami RedHawks weren’t an excellent crew final season and completed with an 8-24-4 file.
2023-24 Season Outlook
Savage won’t be returning to Miami for his junior season as he introduced a change in venue for the 2023-24 season via his Twitter account in March. He might be becoming a member of Michigan State and persevering with his hockey journey with the Spartans. He’ll crew up with the likes of Maxim Strbak (Buffalo Sabres), Isaac Howard (Tampa Bay Lightning), David Gucciardi (Washington Capitals), Jack Sparkes (Los Angeles Kings), and up to date Pink Wings second-round decide Trey Augustine as draft picks enjoying for the Spartans.
Will probably be attention-grabbing to see how Savage adjusts to enjoying for a brand new college after two years in Ohio. He may have expertise coming in having performed 67 video games within the NCAA, so he ought to be capable to tackle a number one function moderately shortly. One in all his main intangibles is management, as he’s worn an “A” with Workforce USA on the World Juniors and was the captain on the 2021 U18 World Championship. He can even be reuniting with former USNTDP coach Adam Nightingale, who coached him in the course of the 2020-21 season the place he had 26 factors in 31 video games.
In accordance with Elite Prospects, the projected roster for the Spartans doesn’t have a variety of pure facilities, so it’s affordable to imagine that Savage will get a variety of duty down the center this season. From penalty killing, shutdown obligation, and being on the market within the remaining minute, he must be considered one of Nightingale’s favourite gamers in 2023-24.
The place is Savage on the Pink Wings’ Prospect Depth Chart?
Nonetheless unsigned by the Pink Wings going into his junior yr of faculty, Savage is simply two years away from changing into an NCAA free agent. Whereas that’s a good distance off, it’s one thing to pay attention to going ahead. This yr might be large for him to persuade the brass that he’s worthy of an entry-level contract. Together with his faceoff capacity, management, and total bottom-six skillset, he ought to get one very quickly.
As of proper now, Savage is firmly entrenched behind Marco Kasper, Nate Danielson, and doubtless Noah Dower-Nilsson on the prospect depth chart relating to facilities.
Prospect Rankings
What’s Savage’s Ceiling & Flooring?
Since becoming a member of the USNTDP, Savage has been often known as a strong shutdown heart that may be relied upon to play towards the opponent’s prime line, kill penalties and win key faceoffs within the defensive zone. He doubtless received’t ever be an enormous offensive risk within the NHL, however along with his fast wrist shot and occasional flashes of creativity, he might persistently rating 10-15 targets in a checking-line function ala Kris Draper. As such, I see that as his ceiling.
As for Savage’s ground, his defensive hockey IQ, work ethic, management, and faceoff capacity ought to make him at the very least a fourth-line heart or prime call-up choice. In any case, I see him making it to the NHL in some capability within the subsequent few seasons.
NHL ETA: Finish of the season in 2024-25
Quotables
“Savage has the potential to be an entire participant who excels on each ends of the ice with some offensive prowess that ought to excite if all goes effectively.” – Tyler Kotila, Octopus Thrower
“He will be very aggressive on the forecheck and within the impartial zone it’s not an issue for him to have the puck and make a play…Within the D zone, that’s in all probability the place he in all probability excels probably the most. He kills a variety of performs, actually bears down taking attracts.” – John Vanbiesbrouck, USA Hockey
“I don’t wish to say I don’t see myself as a prime six ahead, however I perceive that I’ve to play pretty much as good of a defensive sport as I can…And I actually get pleasure from shutting down prime strains that I play towards. It’s a task I’m comfy in.” – Pink Savage
Remaining Ideas
Savage is considered one of my favourite NHL prospects. He has been ever for the reason that 2021 NHL Draft the place I had him 62nd in my remaining rankings. He ended up going means later at 114th, however I believed in his potential then and I nonetheless imagine in it now. He ought to have been chosen late within the second spherical moderately than all the way in which down within the fourth. His total talent set is ideal for the underside six of any NHL crew. He may not be the high-end heart prospect that Kasper and Danielson are, however he might be an necessary a part of the Pink Wings sometime. Mark my phrases, he might be a key piece of a Stanley Cup win, similar to Draper was all these years in the past as a part of The Grind Line with Kirk Maltby and Darren McCarty/Joe Kocur.
