| STORIES |
- Friday, June 26, 2009: Sheahan offers rare combo of size, skill
- Saturday, June 26, 2010: Sheahan offers rare combo of size, skill
- Wednesday, November 17, 2010: Failure to launch
- Wednesday, December 1, 2010: Mursak waiting for NHL call
- Wednesday, December 15, 2010: Elder Filppula fantastic on farm
- Wednesday, January 12, 2011: Wings in no rush with Nestrasil
- Wednesday, February 9, 2011: 2010-11 mid-season: New Euro Twins rise higher
- Wednesday, March 23, 2011: Memorial Cup chase begins
- Tuesday, April 12, 2011: Red Wings still want Almqvist to ‘hit the gym’
- Wednesday, November 23, 2011: Nyquist closes in on Smith’s top spot
- Wednesday, November 30, 2011: Sheahan’s offensive touch emerges
- Tuesday, February 14, 2012: Sheahan breakthrough needs finishing touch
- Tuesday, March 6, 2012: Tatar progresses despite production plateau
- Wednesday, March 14, 2012: Prospect list Ax-factor
- Wednesday, March 21, 2012: Lashoff playing through the pain
- Wednesday, April 11, 2012: Jurco, Sea Dogs ripping up QMJHL playoffs
- Wednesday, November 14, 2012: Nedomlel returns focus to defensive zone
- Wednesday, December 19, 2012: Paterson puts himself in the spotlight
- Wednesday, January 23, 2013: Productive Sproul shines brightly in CHL
- Wednesday, January 30, 2013: Shades of Edler in Red Wings’ Backman
- Wednesday, February 27, 2013: Sheahan thriving with Griffins on the ice
- Tuesday, April 9, 2013: Nedomlel’s defensive focus pays off
- Tuesday, April 23, 2013: Griffins poised for playoff push
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| AWARDS |
- 2011-12 CCHA Top Defensive Forward Award nominee
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| HISTORY |
2008-09:
- Played Ontario junior B, leading St. Catharines in scoring for second straight year (40-27-46-73).
- Drafted in the fourth round (76th overall) by Erie in OHL draft, but committed to Notre Dame.
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2009-10:
- Stepped in as a freshman at Notre Dame at age 17 and was one of youngest players in NCAA.
- Scored just six goals but finished with 17 points in 37 games, tied for team lead among freshmen.
- Impressed defensively, even playing on the blue line for a few games when injuries hit.
- Arrested and charged with public intoxication and minor alcohol consumption in April.
- Saw his Central Scouting mid-term ranking of No. 5 slide to No. 22 at season’s end.
- Ranked as a consensus first-rounder (13th by ISS, 19th by THN, 28th RLR, 21st TSN).
- Went 21st overall to the Red Wings in the 2010 NHL draft in June.
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2010-11:
- Returned to Notre Dame for sophomore campaign but struggled offensively (40-5-17-22).
- Brutal start: Went without a goal while recording just seven assists through opening 18 games.
- Produced much better in second half of season (22-5-10-15).
- Produced five points in five games to help Notre Dame make it to the Frozen Four.
- Survived first cut for Canada’s silver-medal-winning team but not the second cut.
- Despite offensive struggles, received strong reviews from Notre Dame head coach Jeff Jackson.
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2011-12:
- Returned to Notre Dame for junior NCAA campaign and finished fourth in team scoring (37-9-16-25).
- Set career highs in goals and points.
- Started season averaging a point-per-game (20-7-14-21) but finished in horrible slump (17-2-2-4).
- Also had even plus-minus (one of just four on team) and was second on team with 118 shots.
- Signed amateur tryout deal in March to play in AHL with Grand Rapids (7-1-1-2, minus-2, six shots).
- Signed a three-year entry-level contract with Red Wings in early April.
- Made NHL debut on April 7 against Chicago, earning six minutes of ice time and taking two penalties.
- Served as a Black Ace (spare who doesn’t play) for Red Wings’ brief playoff run.
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| SCOUT COMMENTS |
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“We think he could be a point-producer for us, for sure. He’s got a great feel of when to go into holes in the offensive zone below the tops of the circles. He finds places to go and get the puck. He has the ability to really beat guys down low with his size and he’s a really strong kid. He can score and set up plays and he’s pretty solid all-around offensively.” — Red Wings scout Mark Leach (June 2010) … “He’s so mature for a kid his age … He’s equally good in all three zones and goes to the front of the net. He’s very conscious in the defensive zone and down behind the net in the defensive corner — he makes certain his team isn’t outnumbered. In the neutral zone, he makes all kinds of things happen but will get back and turn a transition if needed.” — NHL Central Scouting scout Jack Barzee (2010) … “I don’t like to make comparisons with young players. It’s not really fair to them. But he does remind me of Johan Franzen. He’s got a big, thick body. He’s been a big scorer. That’s what we project him to be.” — Red Wings assistant GM Jim Nill (June 2010, MLive.com) … “The physical skills are there. He’s a strong kid with a great hockey body and a great hockey mind and he’s a very intelligent player. The thing for him is confidence and consistency.” — Notre Dame head coach Jeff Jackson (February 2012) … “He’s a good two-way hockey player. He has very good offensive ability, but an outstanding defensive player. Most nights he’s playing against one of the team’s top players. So, as a first-year pro, we couldn’t ask for more.” — Grand Rapids Griffins head coach Jeff Blashill (January 2013, MLive.com).
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| STRENGTHS |
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Went to college with a reputation for being a highly-skilled offensive player … Showed he could play in any situation and thrive … Described in The Hockey News by one scout as the “most complete player in the 2010 draft” … Mature two-way game already … Outstanding hockey sense in all three zones … Solid size and strength … Good stick skills and soft hands … Capable of beating defenders 1-on-1 … May have only scratched the surface of his scoring potential … Has the raw tools to become an impact player at the NCAA level and perhaps beyond … Drives through traffic and uses his impressive size to protect the puck … Slightly more of a playmaker than a scorer … Terrific penalty killer who sharply anticipates plays and knows how to use his stick defensively.
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| WEAKNESSES |
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Struggles with confidence and inconsistency, enduring numerous scoring slumps while at Notre Dame … Gets numerous scoring opportunities but doesn’t bury enough of them … Simply put, he needs to produce more … Described as a character player by his coaches, but he’ll need to continue to prove to doubters that an under-age drinking incident in April 2010 was just a hiccup.
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| PROJECTION |
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The Red Wings drafted Sheahan in the hopes he’d become a big-bodied scorer in the mold of Johan Franzen and it’s not clear after three college seasons whether he’ll realize that potential. However, he’s so strong and well-rounded, it’s clear he’s going to play in the NHL regardless. Sheahan could challenge for a spot on Detroit’s third or fourth lines in 2012-13, but would probably be better off developing his offensive touch and building his confidence in the AHL with Grand Rapids.
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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 |
| 2007-2008 |
St. Catharines Falcons |
GHL |
45 |
22 |
39 |
61 |
39 |
| |
Playoffs |
16 |
5 |
10 |
15 |
14 |
| 2008-2009 |
St. Catharines Falcons |
GOJHL |
40 |
27 |
46 |
73 |
55 |
| |
Playoffs |
11 |
8 |
5 |
13 |
30 |
| 2009-2010 |
Univ. of Notre Dame |
NCAA |
37 |
6 |
11 |
17 |
22 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2010-2011 |
Univ. of Notre Dame |
NCAA |
40 |
5 |
17 |
22 |
28 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2011-2012 |
Univ. of Notre Dame |
NCAA |
37 |
9 |
16 |
25 |
24 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Grand Rapids Griffins |
AHL |
7 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Detroit Red Wings |
NHL |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
| |
|
|
|
|
- |
- |
| 2012-2013 |
Grand Rapids Griffins |
AHL |
72 |
16 |
20 |
36 |
33 |
| |
Playoffs |
11 |
1 |
8 |
9 |
4 |
| |
Detroit Red Wings |
NHL |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Player statistics © www.eliteprospects.com
