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Tatar terrific in Traverse City
By Sarah Lindenau - RedWingsCentral.com / September 8, 2009Tomas Tatar is putting on a show in Traverse City.
The Slovak dynamo is tied for first in scoring at the annual NHL prospects tournament with three goals and an assist in two games, including Monday night's one-goal, one-assist showing in a 5-3 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes.
"These games are fast, physical and smart," said the energetic Tatar. "The North American game is really good. I want to play more."
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| Tomas Tatar wants to play in North America this season with the Plymouth Whalers. More photos from Monday at the prospects tournament » |
The 18-year-old center may get his wish, if his Slovak ExtraLiga team Zvolen releases him from his contract. Tatar, draft sixth overall in the 2009 Canadian Hockey League import draft by Kitchener and later traded to Plymouth, would like nothing better than to stay in North America and play for the Whalers.
"I want to (stay in) North America, but I have a contract in Slovakia," said Tatar, who had 23 points in 61 games last season. "I want to play in the O-League really, really bad, but we will have to (wait) until after the tournament."
The Red wings drafted the 5-foot-11, 176-pound forward, with the 60th overall pick in June's draft believing they added a player with top-end offensive potential. Tatar was thrilled when he heard Detroit call his name back in June.
He had actually purchased a Red Wings hat a couple of years ago before being drafted and is wearing it at the tournament for good luck.
"Detroit is my favorite club and to be drafted by them is my dream," he said.
While the Red Wings are excited about Tatar's potential, they are also concerned about his lack of size. Tatar believes his small stature won't be an issue citing his strong play in the corners and along the boards and his hockey smarts.
"More guys play in the NHL now are small," Tatar said. "Martin St. Louis is small, strong and very fast. He's who I want to play like."
PEARCE DISAPPOINTED: Jordan Pearce believes he did not play up to his potential in Monday's 5-3 loss to Carolina. He allowed five goals on 20 shots and was lit up for three goals on seven shots in the third period.
"I didn't think I was terrible tonight, but there were some goals there that I could have made some big saves," the 22-year-old said. "It's always frustrating when you know you are capable of playing a lot better."
The Red Wings signed Pearce to an entry-level contract after he completed his senior year at Notre Dame with a 1.68 goals-against average and .931 save percentage. The 6-foot-1 stopper was courted by multiple teams but ultimately decided on the Red Wings because of their reputation for developing prospects.
"The Red wings are such a strong organization," Pearce said. "They will give you time to develop, but they will also go with the guy who is working hard and playing well."
The Anchorage, Alaska, native knows a spot in the American Hockey League with the Grand Rapids Griffins is no guarantee. He faces significant competition from incumbent Daniel Larsson and fellow rookie Thomas McCollum and could end up with the East Coast Hockey League's Toledo Walleye.
"It's not up to me who plays in the AHL," Pearce said. "All I can do is go out there and work my hardest and have fun. The goal is to one day play in Detroit and if they think it's best I play in Toledo then I will work my hardest."
Pearce spent the off-season losing an estimated 10 to 15 pounds.
"I focused on cardio and long distance schedule knowing the pro schedule of 80 games is a lot different than the college level of 30-40 games," he said. "I feel a lot stronger and faster and I feel like I have a lot more endurance."
FOURNIER INJURED: Gleason Fournier was scratched for the second straight game on Monday with a should injury. The 6-foot, 168-pound defenseman suffered the injury at training camp with the Rimouski Oceanic. The Red Wings invited him to the prospects tournament to practice with the team, but won't play in any games. He will leave before the start of main camp.
NOTES
— The Red Wings canceled their practice Tuesday and it is expected that many of the other participating teams will follow suit. Many of the Red Wings will spend the day playing golf or going fishing on Lake Michigan.
— Brian Lashoff is having a strong tournament thus far. The 6-foot-3, 208-pound defenseman plays a steady game but has chipped in a goal and assist in the two tournament games.
— The trio of Dick Axelsson, Johan Ryno and Brent Raedeke had a strong outing. Ryno notched the first goal of the game and the trio had another goal waved off earlier in the first.
— The Hurricanes made the Red Wings pay for taking bad penalties by scoring two of their goals on the power play.
— Stephen Johnston was inserted back into the lineup on Monday. The 19-year-old center is battling a wrist injury that he aggravated at the July development camp as well as a neck issue. Johnston spent most of the night on the second line with Landon Ferraro and Francis Pare.
— Tryout Chris Whitley will get the start on Wednesday against the New York Rangers. Pearce is likely to be scratched and McCollum will be Whitley's backup.
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The next wave
RWC's top 10 prospects (2009-10 preliminary)
| 01 | F | Tomas Tatar » | Grand Rapids (AHL) |
| 02 | D | Jakub Kindl » | Grand Rapids (AHL) |
| 03 | D | Brendan Smith » | Wisconsin (NCAA) |
| 04 | G | Thomas McCollum » | Grand Rapids (AHL) |
| 05 | F | Gustav Nyquist » | Maine (NCAA) |
| 06 | F | Landon Ferraro » | Red Deer (WHL) |
| 07 | F | Jan Mursak » | Grand Rapids (AHL) |
| 08 | F | Cory Emmerton » | Grand Rapids (AHL) |
| 09 | F | Joakim Andersson » | Frolunda (SEL) |
| 10 | F | Mattias Ritola » | Grand Rapids (AHL) |