Detroit — What a strange hockey season this was for Red Wings draft pick Pasquale Zito.
Or non season, which made it so unique.
The Wings’ recent sixth-round pick in the NHL Entry Draft didn’t play a game this past season. Zito’s Windsor Spitfires are part of the Ontario Hockey League, which never got started due to the pandemic.
So Zito was back home in Ottawa doing what he could to stay in shape, and hope for the best in his NHL draft year.
“The last time I played was last March (2020), before the OHL shut down,” Zito said after the Wings picked him 166th overall. “It was against Kitchener. That was the last game I played that mattered.”
While other junior and college leagues around North America and Europe were able to at least partially complete seasons and draft-eligible prospects were able to be evaluated, Zito was home working out in a gym.
His only hockey came in pick-up games.
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“Playing a lot of pick up with a bunch of OHL guys,” Zito said. “I was very fortunate I had my gym that was open, and I’d have scrimmages (at a local junior team’s rink). There were tons of great players and I was lucky enough to stay in shape and have something like that to continue working on my game.
“It’s been real frustrating. A lot of ups and downs. It was frustrating that everyone else in the world got to play except the Ontario Hockey League. It’s tough. You’ve always dreamed of playing your NHL draft year to kind of showcase your skill and how much you’ve improved over your first year and I didn’t get that opportunity.
“But I’m quite honored to be selected by such a great organization like Detroit for trusting me.”
There certainly was a measure of trust by the Wings, who only saw Zito during his previous season in Windsor.
But Kris Draper, the Wings’ director of amateur scouting, picked up on many qualities about Zito that made him a legitimate prospect.
“Was it hard? Yeah, I mean obviously we haven’t seen him,” said Draper, of the decision to draft Zito. “But I know after we made the selection and we talked to him, he was so excited about getting drafted. He basically said ‘I’m going to do everything I can to make it worthwhile of us obviously stepping up and picking him.
“That’s pretty neat to hear.”
Zito isn’t the type of player who will light up scoreboards. In 46 games during the 2019-20 season, he had three goals and 10 assists in 46 games, with 27 penalty minutes.
The 6-foot, 175-pound left wing gets into the faces of rivals, likes to agitate and plays with passion.
“He wants to be a hard player to play against,” Draper said “He wants to compete against the other team’s top players, wants to make a tough net-front presence. Those are the things you like.”
It’s probably not surprising that Zito points to Calgary’s Matthew Tkachuk as a player he admires.
“He’s one of my favorite players,” Zito said. “Just how much heart he brings to the game and how hard he works. I feel like I bring a lot of similarities, like his physicality and leadership. I’m a very emotional player. I bring a lot of heart to the game.
“He’s a guy I look up to in the NHL.”
Draper was thrilled to hear it.
“When you interview a player and all of the sudden they start talking about ‘my favorite players are the Tkachuks,’ it kind of puts a little smile on your face that that’s the way they want to play.”
With no game action to watch, scouts wanted to see video of Zito working out and did Zoom interviews. Zito had several Zoom conversations with the Wings, and felt a connection to the organization.
But with no games, Zito really had no idea what the draft weekend would be like.
“I was a little nervous going into the draft, not being able to play and having that season under my belt for the scouts to see my full potential,” Zito said. “I continued working out during the pandemic and trying to work on my overall game, just trying to improve my speed and to play at the next level.”
The fact the Wings drafted Zito makes his entire story come almost full circle.
As a rookie Spitfire, Zito would often slow down by the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor and gaze wistfully toward Detroit.
“I’d see all the beautiful lights in Detroit and I’ve kind of imagined going over and playing (in the NHL) and now it’s happened,” Zito said. “It’s kind of surreal I’ve been drafted by Detroit, and how close it is to Windsor. I’m excited. I can’t wait to see the city there (in Detroit).”
ted.kulfan@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @tkulfan
The Pasquale Zito file
►Pick: No. 166 overall (Round 6)
►Position: Left wing
►Height/weight: 6-foot, 174 pounds
►Last season: Windsor (OHL), 2019-20, 46 games, three goals, 10 assists, 13 points. No 2020-21 season due to pandemic.
►Scouting report: Zito’s favorite player is Calgary’s Matthew Tkachuk, which gives you an idea of what kind of player Zito is. Tough, hard-nosed, physical, and will do anything asked to win a hockey game.