The Left Wing Lock

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The Detroit Red Wings have invited ten free agents to their annual Development Camp in Traverse City beginning July 7th.

Among those auditioning are Red Wing draft choice Julien Cayer, who will become a free agent on August 15th and is unlikely to sign with Detroit, Michael Babcock, Jr and NCAA championship winning goalie Parker Milner.

Following is a review of the invitees (listed alphabetically).

•  Michael Babcock, Jr. – The 5-foot-9, 150 pound forward is the son of the Red Wings head coach. The speedy forward was the 68th overall pick of the Cedar Rapid Rough Riders of the USHL but spent last season playing for Detroit Catholic high school where he as named to the 2012 All-State team. Similar to when Jim Nill’s Son (Trevor) skated with Detroit at their annual development camp a few years ago, the 17 year-old Babcock is participating for the experience.

• Julien Cayer –  A 6-foot-3, 193 pound center who was Detroit’s fourth choice in the 2008 NHL entry draft. Cayer, who is not yet a free agent but is likely to become one on August 15th, played the last four seasons with Clarkson University where he never scored more than 10 points in a season. The big forward is  a good skater who plays a physical game, but hasn’t done enough in four seasons to earn a contract. This is likely his last chance with Detroit.
• Dean Chelios – The 6-foot-2, 185 pound forward is entering his final season at Michigan State University. Chelios is a physical forward who hasn’t been able to crack the 15 point mark at the college level. He’s participated in the Wings development camp the past few years along with his brother, Jake. With Jake attending the Chicago Black Hawks camp this year, Dean will be the sole Chelios participating in Traverse City.
• Luke Glendening – The 5-foot-10, 185 pound forward has played the last four seasons for the University of Michigan. Glendening was named the CCHA best defensive forward last season after scoring 10 goals and 21 points in 41 games. Nothing has come easy for the former Michigan captain after walking on the team in 2008. He  signed an amateur tryout contract with the Providence Bruins of the AHL last season appearing in 3 games, and recently inked a one year deal with Grand Rapids for the 2012-2013 season.
• Gleb Koryagin – A 6-foot, 181 pound defenseman who tried out for the Chicago Steel of the USHL last season but spent the year with the Oakland Jr. Grizzlies of the MWEHL. The Troy, Michigan native tallied 3 goals and 17 points in 39 games last season.
• Kellan Lain – A 6-foot-6, 210 pound forward who played the last two season with Lake Superior State University after rebounding from a near career ending wrist injury in 2009 while playing for Oakville of  the OJHL. Lain attended the Anaheim Ducks development camp last summer, but returned to Lake Superior for another season.
• Parker Milner – (pictured) The 6-foot-1, 185 pound goalie led Boston College to the 2012 NCAA Championship last season and was named all-tournament goalie. Milner overcame a mid-season slump that saw him lose his starting job for 10 games but finished the final 17 games of the season with an impressive 1.10 goals against and .960 save percentage. The Pittsburgh native set a Boston College record winning 19 straight games in a single season and finishing the year with 29 wins and 5 losses.
• Travis Novak – A 5-foot-11, 185 pound forward finished his fourth year at St. Cloud State University. The Lethbridge, Alberta native is a known commodity after attending the Red Wings development camp last year. Novak, who played 8 games for Hamilton of the AHL last season, nearly had his hockey career halted when he suffered a scary neck injury which resulted him laying on the ice for 25 minutes in 2011.
• Ted Pletsch – The 6-foot-3, 200 pound winger played his freshman season at Bowling Green State University last year. The Canton, Michigan native is a solid defensive forward who has a knack for killing penalties and played in a checking line role last season. Pletsch, who is the son of the CCHA Commissioner Fred Pletsch, has yet to find his offensive game at the college level scoring just 2 goals and 7 points in 40 NCAA games.
• Robert Rooba – 6-foot-3, 198 pound left wing who spent last season with the Espoo Blues junior team where he tallied 14 goals and 30 points in 39 games. the Tallin, Estonia native was passed over in both the 2011 and 2012 NHL entry drafts despite being ranked the 92nd best European skater in 2011. Rooba, who is a client of former Red Wing Igor Larionov, played for Estonia at the 2012 World Junior Division 2B Championship where he racked up an astonishing 13 goals and 19 points in five games. Rooba also played for Estonia at the recent World Championship where he scored 3 goals and 8 points in 5 games as a rookie.