| The Detroit News
Detroit — There have been many items to cross off and take care of for the Red Wings during this long pandemic-ravaged offseason.
Near the top of the list was making sure the young players, somehow, continue playing.
“It was extremely important,” said Shawn Horcoff, the Wings’ director of player development. “We did get on that pretty quickly. We talked about that early in the summer time, trying to forecast and just, the uncertainty, it scared us the most given the situation we’re in as an organization in a rebuild.
“The development of our youth is of utmost importance. And the only way to do that is playing hockey games.”
But where to play?
None of the junior leagues, or college hockey, in North America were going to start in September — the NCAA is beginning its schedule this week, while junior hockey is still weeks away.
But, there was Europe.
Hockey started on time early this autumn in Sweden, the Czech Republic, Austria, Russia and Finland, and has continued despite a few stops and starts because of the coronavirus.
So, the Wings set out and placed young players such as Joe Veleno (Sweden), Mathias Brome (Sweden), Filip Hronek (Czech Republic), Filip Larsson (Sweden), Gustav Lindstrom (Sweden), Jared McIsaac (Finland, before being injured), Michael Rasmussen (Austria), Moritz Seider (Sweden) and Filip Zadina (Czech Republic) in Europe.
They’re playing about three to four games a week, gaining valuable experience, and playing competitive hockey.
“We were nervous; who knew how long this was going to go and how much hockey are you going to play?” Horcoff said. “At the time, Europe was up and running, Sweden especially, and they were playing games.
“Europe was in a lot better situation. We tried to make it a priority to get as many guys placed there as we could.”
So, instead of endless days going to the gym, then doing individual drills on the ice and maybe some scrimmaging if they’re in an area where other professional players live, the young prospects are in an actual hockey season.
The daily, familiar routine of practices, morning skates, and actual games.
“There are only so many spots, and we were fortunate to place a lot of guys,” Horcoff said. “They are in competitive situations, playing real games with real coaches and under real structure. It’s not like shinny games; there is something on the line, and they are getting better.”
The players in Sweden are expected to remain there for the entire season, returning to North America when their individual seasons conclude. The others will return to the Wings when the NHL begins training camp.
Those playing in Sweden, specifically, are arguably playing in the best hockey league outside of North America.
Many of the recent NHL draft picks in Europe are playing near their homes, plus a variety of former NHL players still dot rosters — especially in Sweden — making for a fast and talented league.
“It’s as good as you’re going to get except for the NHL and AHL,” Horcoff said. “We were comfortable knowing they were playing in a good league, pushed to get better, and (larger) ice (surfaces) encourage skating and there’s a lot skill.”
An interesting facet in loaning players to different European teams is working with coaching staffs.
The Wings, Horcoff said, stay in contact with the different coaches and work in unison with them. There are no favors expected, or given, and Horcoff and his stable of assistants in player development (including Dan Cleary and Niklas Kronwall) are able to help in whatever way, if asked.
“We make certain that the same message is being replayed to the player,” Horcoff said. “If we’re telling them to do something, and the coach is saying completely different, you’re spinning your tires and getting nowhere.
“The good news is, we’ve always had good relationships with coaches, and they’ve welcomed our input. It’s always been important for us to establish relationships, first and foremost, with the coaches. I find when you do that, and gain their trust, they’re a lot more willing to have you involved.”
The matter of playing time is rarely, if ever, discussed. Horcoff trusts the different coaching staffs to utilize their rosters accordingly.
“We’re honest with our players,” Horcoff said. “If they’re not playing good, they’re going to know it. We’re not going to sugarcoat it. That’s not going to make them better. We don’t expect favors as an organization. We just expect the players to be treated well and equally as everyone else.
“And listen, it’s a business, and these coaches want to win. They will put the players out there who will help them win the most.
“If the coaches aren’t putting them out there, or putting them in situations, a lot of the reasons why is because they can’t do it at that level. What makes them think they’ll be able to do it in the NHL?”
While the European scouts are on the ground and at the rinks watching, the Wings’ front office here in Michigan is able to watch the games on the internet.
The travel restrictions in place because of the pandemic have grounded every NHL team’s front office in terms of traveling to Europe, and the Wings are no different. But the advances in video, and the broadcasting of games, have changed things considerably.
“We’re not there in person, and it’s not the same,” Horcoff said. “You have a much better feel for the game and you get a better view of the ice, but it’s so much better than nothing. We can still work with their teams, skill coaches, skating coaches and coaches and assistant coaches themselves with what we see and try to improve what the player needs to improve on.”
The Wings have been one of the most aggressive teams in getting players onto European rosters. But there’s only so many spots, and not every prospect was able to get assigned to a roster.
There are many young players who were on the Grand Rapids Griffins roster, or junior or college players the Wings have drafted, who are still waiting to play.
Horcoff and his staff have been working with them since the pandemic started, and continue to do so. Be it through Zoom calls, or specific instruction, or players working with others or individually, the interaction with prospects and specific plans have been going since March.
“The nice thing about being in Detroit is, there are a lot of them here and there are a lot of NHL players around, and they’re getting good skates with those guys,” Horcoff said. “They’re getting good skates and working out, and I know there are scrimmages going on with refs. They’re making the best of it and trying to get into competitive situations.”
Because, in a short order of time, the NHL will begin play.
“Time flies,” Horcoff said, “and we’re almost midway through November and another month from now, the league wants to start by Jan. 1. We’ll be in camp, and if it starts later, we will not be far from camp. These guys should be of the mind it’s go time here and time to get ready for the season.”
ted.kulfan@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @tkulfan