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Bouncing back would be a plus
By Sarah Lindenau — RedWingsCentral.com / September 17, 2008Jakub Kindl is hoping to turn a negative into a positive.
The highly-touted first-round draft pick is coming off a difficult rookie campaign with the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League. While he had three goals and 17 assists in 75 games, he posted a league-worst minus-34.
"It was a tough year last year," said Kindl, a product of the Ontario Hockey League's Kitchener Rangers. "I was used to playing a lot (in junior) and then I came to a different league and I didn't play that much or I didn't play like the way I wanted to. It's a huge step to play in the AHL and I learned a lot."
Kindl, a 21-year-old blueliner with a vast array of offensive skill, has always struggled with turnovers in his own zone and inconsistency. He said the tempo and pace of the AHL game was the biggest stumbling block.
"It's a man's league," the 6-foot-3, 202-pounder said. "You are playing with older guys and they are smarter. When you get a turnover in the junior league, it's no big deal. When you get a turnover in the AHL, it's going to cost you."
Despite his dismal season in Grand Rapids, the Red Wings recalled Kindl for the Stanley Cup playoffs. He was one of six youngsters recalled from Grand Rapids to practice with the team throughout the post-season.
"It was the best experience I've ever had," Kindl said. "We learned a lot watching the games — you see every little detail, how hard all four lines compete."
The Red Wings have worked with Kindl to help him regain his confidence.
"We've had lots of talks," assistant general manager Jim Nill said. "He was disappointed about last year, but last year is last year. Life goes on."
The young Czech is using last year's struggles as a lesson heading into a new season. He hopes he can reestablish himself as a top prospect.
"Now I know what they expect from me," Kindl said. "They are expecting way more from me than last year. I am definitely going to try and be a top defenseman in Grand Rapids. If someone gets hurt (in Detroit), I want to be the first guy who gets called up from the American Hockey League."
Kindl played on the top pairing during much of the prospect tournament and manned the top power-play unit. He went pointless and was a plus-3.
"I thought he was one of the better players in the whole tournament this year," Nill said. "So that's a good sign."
— Free agent forward Francis Pare, the reigning MVP of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, is hoping his one-year AHL contract with Grand Rapids will eventually translate into an NHL contract with the Red Wings.
"The (Grand Rapids Griffins) gave me one year," the 5-foot-10, 185-pounder said. "I will try to do my best to get a better contract next year."
Pare, who had 54 goals among 102 points with the Chicoutimi Sagueneens last season, had two assists in four games at the prospects tournament. He centred an effective third line that also featured Stephen Johnston, Cody Thornton and Dick Axelsson.
"I am pretty happy with what I did," the 21-year-old said. "I just need to improve my pace. I just need to react quicker."
— What a difference a year makes for Mattias Ritola.
At this time last year, the 6-foot, 198-pound right-winger was struggling to adjust as he played at his first prospect tournament with the Red Wings. This year, he is clearly more confident and comfortable on the ice.
"I know the hockey now," Ritola said.
Ritola, who played on a line with Justin Abdelkader and Jan Mursak, picked up a goal and an assist in four tournament games. The trio served as Detroit's top line, providing offense and grit.
The 21-year-old Swede spent last season in Grand Rapids, where he notched seven goals among 22 points in 72 games. Ritola's play grew stronger as the season wore on and he eventually earned a two-game call-up to the Red Wings.
"I was just happy playing in Grand Rapids and getting ice time," Ritola said. "I got called up and it was such a surprise. It was a good feeling."
Ritola added 10 pounds of muscle to his frame in the off-season and is eager to continue working toward a full-time job with the Red Wings.
"I need to keep working on myself," he said. "I need to finish checks. I need to keep working every shift, every game, every practice."
— The Red Wings lost 3-2 in a shootout to the Atlanta Thrashers on Wendesday to finish fourth in the tournament. It was their second shootout loss in as many days, making it a disappointing finish for the strong roster.
"I think the kids are really disappointed," Nill said. "We thought we were the better team, but the better team doesn't always win. We've learned that over the years. It's a tough game to get ready for you play your last game at 7 p.m. and then have to be back here at 2 pm the next day. But they battled hard."
— Nill named several prospects who stood out.
"We thought all our guys who are pros or are turning pro stood out," Nill said. "Kindl, Logan Pyett, Ritola, Abdelkader, Cory Emmerton, Mursak. They are men now. They were men in this tournament."
— Of the tryouts, Nill was most impressed by Travis Ehrhardt.
"I thought the Ehrhardt kid was good on defense throughout the tournament," he said.
— Johnston, who the Red Wings nabbed in the sixth round of June's draft, also earned high marks for his strong play in the tournament.
"Of the young kids, I thought Johnston was real good," Nill said.
The 18-year-old forward played the first three games on a line with Francis Pare and Cody Thornton. Johnston was bumped up to the second line for the final game, switching places with Dick Axelsson.
"He's amazing," Pare said. "I had a lot of fun to play with him."
Johnston will be sent back to the OHL's Belleville Bulls at the conclusion of training camp. He is expected to assume a bigger role with the departure of key forwards such as Mursak and Shawn Matthias.
"He's playing really good for his first tournament," Mursak said. "He's still young and he'll get better and better with more responsibility back in Belleville."
— Defenseman Sergei Kolosov was a healthy scratch along with Jordan Foreman on Wednesday, and the Red Wings are looking for more.
"He's going to have to learn to jack up the intensity a little bit," Nill said. "That's something he's going to have to learn or you don't play."
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