| STORIES |
- Sunday, June 25, 2006: Wings fast forward at the draft
- Thursday, June 29, 2006: Looking for the next Liles
- Monday, December 3, 2007: Three prospects to smile about (or not)
- Monday, December 24, 2007: Pyett another for the 6-feet-and-under club?
- Monday, January 7, 2008: Grigorenko stalls in Russia
- Monday, May 5, 2008: Red Wings keep ‘getting lucky’
- Monday, May 19, 2008: Larsson positioned for success
- Monday, May 26, 2008: Will 2006 draft class deliver?
- Monday, May 4, 2009: Rocky road for AHL rookies
- Tuesday, January 19, 2010: Pyett turns it around
- Monday, September 20, 2010: Mursak on deck for NHL duty
- Wednesday, September 29, 2010: On the hot seat
- Wednesday, March 2, 2011: Tatar avoids second-half slide
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| AWARDS |
- 2005-06 ADT Canada-Russia Challenge (Team WHL)
- 2007-08 ADT Canada-Russia Challenge (Team WHL)
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| HISTORY |
2005-06:
- Won gold medal with Canada at under-18 Junior World Cup in Europe in August.
- Led Regina defenceman in scoring (71-10-35-45) but posted minus-14, second worst on team.
- Finished ninth among all WHL blueliners in scoring.
- Tied for Regina team lead in playoff scoring (6-1-6-7) in first-round loss to Saskatchewan.
- Fourth-place Canada’s top-scoring blueliner at world under-18 championship (7-1-3-4, 25 shots).
- Selected by Detroit with the second-to-last pick in the 2006 draft in Vancouver (212th overall).
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2006-07:
- Finished fourth in WHL defensemen scoring with Regina (71-14-48-62).
- Placed sixth in WHL with 31 power-play assists and 12th in total assists with 48.
- Maintained plus-14 rating, second-best on Regina (36-28-2-6, fifth in 11-team conference).
- Enjoyed productive two-round post-season (10-3-6-9, plus-2).
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2007-08:
- Represented Canada in the Canada-Russia Under-20 Super Series (7-2-2-4).
- Appeared in one NHL pre-season game with Red Wings before being sent back to junior.
- Served as captain of Regina in fourth WHL season and had notably strong start (25-11-15-26).
- Finished second in defence goal-scoring (20) and fourth in points (54).
- Scored 13 of 20 goals on power play and was a team-best plus-24.
- Won gold with Canada as third-pairing blueliner at the world junior championship (7-0-1-1, 13 shots).
- Appeared in six playoff games as in six-game first-round loss to Swift Current (6-1-3-4).
- Appeared in two exhibition games at Team Canada’s training camp for the IIHF world championship.
- Signed three-year entry-level contract with Red Wings in May.
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2008-09:
- Appeared in one NHL pre-season game before being sent to Grand Rapids (AHL).
- Struggled to find his place in the lineup and was often a healthy scratch.
- Didn’t produce much (61-3-11-14) but his struggles were mostly on the defensive end.
- Finished a minus-1 and had 71 shots on goal.
- Pushed out of the lineup completely in the playoffs, getting into just one of 10 games.
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2009-10:
- Appeared in two NHL pre-season games with Red Wings (2-0-0-0, minus-1).
- Returned to AHL with Grand Rapids for a second tour of duty.
- Put together bounce-back year (80-9-21-30, plus-7, 125 shots) with a struggling team.
- One of three 30-plus-point blueliners in Grand Rapids with Doug Janik (37) and Jakub Kindl (33).
- Logged top-four minutes and particularly impressive gains on the defensive end.
- Named to the Red Wings’ second round of Black Aces for the NHL playoff run.
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2010-11:
- Appeared in one NHL pre-season game with the Red Wings, recording no points.
- Returned to Grand Rapids for third AHL season but production slipped (74-9-13-22).
- Finished with career-high 144 shots but had a career-low minus-8 rating.
- Season highlight was a second-period hat trick on Feb. 27.
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2011-12:
- Cleared waivers and returned to Grand Rapids for fourth AHL season.
- Logged top-four minutes but struggled to make impact (73-2-25-27, minus-1, 163 shots).
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| SCOUT COMMENTS |
| “He’s a small defenseman, but we like his offensive skills and ice vision. We’re all looking for the next John-Michael Liles. Some can make it. Some find a way to get through that, and other guys don’t.” — Red Wings assistant general manager Jim Nill (June 2006) … “He’s one of those guys the new rules have really helped. Size is a factor but he’s strong for his size and he’s one of those (Derek) Meech- or (Andrew) Ference-type guys.” — Nill (January 2007) … “He’s bounced back from a really tough rookie season like it is for a lot of kids. He’s played really well.” — Nill (January 2010). |
| STRENGTHS |
| Smooth, mobile skater … Offensively inclined and more than willing to join, or lead, the rush … Makes good decisions … Crisp breakout passer who plays heads-up game … Poised and smart … Doesn’t make many mistakes with the puck … Hard point shot … Works hard and doesn’t shy away from traffic … Former junior captain who has good leadership skills. |
| WEAKNESSES |
| Defensive game has improved in the AHL, but it’s not clear if he’ll have NHL success in that department … Small at 5-foot-11, but fairly stocky … Hopes to join a long list of sub-six-foot defenseman who have beaten the odds in the NHL … Turns the puck over too often … Hasn’t produced the AHL numbers expected of an offensive-minded player with his skill-set. |
| PROJECTION |
|
In what might have been his last chance in the Red Wings’ system, Pyett struggled in his fourth AHL season on a one-year contract in 2011-12. Although he has good offensive skills, he hasn’t developed into an NHL-calibre defenseman and will likely become a free agent.
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Player statistics powered by www.eliteprospects.com
| Season |
Team |
League |
GP |
G |
A |
TP |
PIM |
|
Playoffs |
GP |
G |
A |
TP |
PIM |
| 2003-2004 |
Regina Pats |
WHL |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2004-2005 |
Regina Pats |
WHL |
67 |
5 |
19 |
24 |
67 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Canada Western U17 |
WHC-17 |
6 |
2 |
4 |
6 |
8 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2005-2006 |
Regina Pats |
WHL |
71 |
10 |
35 |
45 |
89 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Canada U18 |
WJC-18 |
7 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
10 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2006-2007 |
Regina Pats |
WHL |
71 |
14 |
48 |
62 |
84 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2007-2008 |
Regina Pats |
WHL |
62 |
20 |
34 |
54 |
54 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Canada U20 |
WJC-20 |
7 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2008-2009 |
Grand Rapids Griffins |
AHL |
61 |
3 |
11 |
14 |
12 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2009-2010 |
Grand Rapids Griffins |
AHL |
80 |
9 |
21 |
30 |
41 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2010-2011 |
Grand Rapids Griffins |
AHL |
74 |
9 |
13 |
22 |
38 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2011-2012 |
Grand Rapids Griffins |
AHL |
72 |
2 |
25 |
27 |
48 |
| |
|
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|
|
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Player statistics © www.eliteprospects.com
