The Left Wing Lock

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The Detroit Red Wings have invited 23 free agents to their annual Development Camp in Traverse City beginning July 4th.

Among those auditioning are defensive forward Darby Llewellyn, two-way defender Ryan Obuchowsk, steady defenseman Kevin Clare, once promising defensive forward Cole Bardreau (pictured) and all three members of Colgate University’s “triplet line” comprised of Kyle Baun, Tylor Spink and Tyson Spink. The Red Wings, who are always close to the 50 contract limit, have limited contracts to spare.

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

• Michael Babcock, Jr. – The 5-foot-9, 157 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 with Fargo also of the USHL where he notched 7 goals and 16 points in 57 games. The 19 year-old forward has committed to Merrimack University.
• Cole Bardreau – The 5-foot-10, 184 pound forward nearly saw his career come to end in January of 2013 after fracturing his C-7 vertebrae. The defensive minded forward is known for his high energy game and work ethic but has limited offensive upside. Bardreau was a key member of the 2012 Team USA team that won the World Junior Championship in Ufa, Russia.
• Kyle Baun – The 6-foot-2, 204 pound forward is the grandson of 1964 Toronto Maple Leafs Stanley Cup hero, Bobby Baun. The 22 year-old spent the last two seasons at Colgate University playing on the trriplet line with fellow tryouts and identical twins Tyson and Tylor Spink. Baun, who attended the Washington Capitals Development camp last season, is a good skater with some grit to his game.
• Dean Chelios – The 6-foot-2, 185 pound played his final season with Michigan State University last year after coming off a shoulder injury. Chelios is a physical forward who hasn’t been able to crack the 20 point mark at the college level. He’s participated in the Wings development camp the past few years and signed a contract with Toledo of the ECHL last year appearing in 8 games for the Walleye.
• Kevin Clare – The 6-foot-1, 210 pound defenseman wrapped up is senior season with the University of Michigan. The defensive defenseman was called the “steadiest defenseman all year” by head coach Red Berenson. Clare blocked a team high 72 shots for the Wolverines and played key minutes on the penalty kill.
• Blake Clarke – The 6-foot-1, 190 winger saw his 2014 draft stock plummet from 93 at the midterm report to 134 in the final report by the Central Scouting Bureau and eventually pass through the 2014 draft all together. After scoring 19 goals and 52 points in 2013, Clarke saw his production dip to 2 goals and 12 points in 2014. The Chesterfield, MO native is a fluid skater but hasn’t shown offensive consistency and needs to improve his on-ice decision making.
• Mark Cooper – The 6-foot-2, 185 pound forward is a hard working forward with good hockey sense. Cooper, who needs to get stronger and round out his defensive game, is entering his third season with Bowling Green after notching 14 goals and 24 points while earning time on the power play.
• Scott Czarnowczan – The 5-foot-10, 176 pound defenseman finished his senior season with Ferris State picking up 6 goals and 25 points in 41 games. The former captain also played 2 games last season with Idaho of the ECHL notching a goal and an assist in that span.
• Andrew D’Agostini – The 5-foot-10, 173 pound goaltender played his overage season with Peterborough of the OHL posting a 3.40 goals against and a .901 save percentage. D’Agostini, who signed a one game tryout with Cincinnati of the ECHL at the end of the 2013 season, was named the 2012 OHL humanitarian of the year for his efforts to support Cystic Fibrosis Canada. This is the second tryout with the Red Wings after attending last years development camp. 
• Alex Globke – The 6-foot-2, 194 pound forward is a linemate of Red Wings prospect, Colin Campbell at Lake Superior State University. The Waterford, MI native finished his freshman season second in scoring with 12 goals and 31 points in 36 games and earned WCHA rookie of the year honors.
• Hampus Gustafsson – The 6-foot-4, 205 pound forward mostly plays center but can play all three forward positions. Gustafsson plays a smart defensively responsible game but his offensive upside may be limited. In 33 games with Merrimack as a rookie, he posted just 4 goals and 10 points.
• Trevor Hamilton – The 6-foot, 186 pound defenseman attended development camp with the Red Wings last season. He played his first season with Miami of Ohio last year, picking up 5 assists in 30 NCAA games. The Gross Pointe Farms, Michigan native  is a puck moving defenseman who likes to play with an edge and is still rounding out his defensive game.
• Joe Hicketts – The 5-foot-8, 186 pound defenseman is an offensive defenseman with a heavy shot. An excellent skater, Hicketts, is a strong puck mover and thinks the game at a high level.  Despite being small, Hicketts is physically imposing on the ice because of the weight on his stocky frame.
• Hayden Hodgson – The 6-foot-2, 204 pound forward is a physical winger with a big shot. Hodgson was also a serious baseball prospect before giving it up to pursue hockey. Unable to translate his physicality and skating ability into offensive production, the Leaminton, Ontario native slipped through the 2014 NHL draft.
• David Johnstone – The 5-foot-11, 175 pound offensive minded forward spent the past three seasons playing for Michigan Tech University. The former Traverse City North Star forward is described as an offensive catalyst who chips in timely goals for his team. Johnstone also attended the Winnipeg Jets 2013 development camp.
• Darby Llewellyn – The 6-foot-1, 175 pound forward is known for his defensive abilities and competitiveness. Llewellyn was able to score 25 goals and 36 points in 66 OHL games for Kitchener last season but it wasn’t enough to hear his name called at the 2014 NHL draft. The Ann Arbor, MI native is a good skater with a high compete level and excellent wrist shot.
• Ryan Obuchowski – The 6-foot-1, 185 pound defenseman is a good skater who plays with grit, determination and some offensive ability. The West Bloomfield, MI native led the Yale Bulldogs  in plus/minus with +12 in his rookie campaign cementing his top defensive pairing on a team stacked with talent on the back end. Obuchowski plays a solid defensive game but also has puck and stick skills that can generate offense.
• Lucas Peressini – The 6-foot-2, 185 netminder was stuck behind Jake Paterson in Saginaw before being traded to Kingston for a fourth round selection in the OHL priority draft. Pressini played 25 games in his rookie OHL season with Kingston posting a 3.43 goals against and .902 save percentage. The hard working goalie plays a butterfly style and has a good glove hand.
• Brandon Robinson – The 6-foot-3, 216 pound forward has the frame of an NHL forward but his lack of hockey sense and drive are reflected in his poor offensive showing this season while splitting time with North Bay and Kitchener of the OHL.
• River Rymsha – The 6-foot-2, 195 pound defenseman played alongside Red Wings goalie prospect Chase Perry for Wenatchee of NAHL potting 4 goals and 16 points in 45 games. The Huntington Woods, MI native has committed to Dartmouth beginning next season. Rymsha is a puck moving defenseman who is known for his hockey intelligence and quick thinking.
• Luke Sandler – The 6-foot-1, 202 pound forward is a player who has bounced around the USHL, BCHL and NAHL the past four seasons. The 21 year-old still has college eligibility, but given his age it is unlikely he will find a program that would recruit him. The Chicago, IL native’s most productive season came as part of the 2012 Trail Smoke Eaters of the BCHL where he scored 22 goals and 42 points in 50 BCHL games. Sandler also attended the Chicago Black Hawks development camp in 2012.
• Logan Schmidt – The 5-foot-11, 169 pound defenseman is a smooth skater  who thinks offense first. In his first season with Kitchener he scored 2 goals and 25 points in 58 games. His offensive skills and hockey intelligence didn’t translate into bi numbers this season allowing him to slip through the 2014 draft.
• Tylor Spink – The 5-foot-10, 185 pound center plays an offensive game and has a natural chemistry playing along side twin brother Tyson throughout their careers. The duo, along with Kyle Baun, have formed the potent triplet line which led Colgate’s offensive attack.
• Tyson Spink – The 5-foot-10, 185 winger plays a similarly offensive minded game to his brother. The dynamic duo have played alongside each other since they were two years old except for half a season at Cornwall of the CCHL when Tylor missed 22 games due to a shoulder injury.
• Nick Zottl – The 6-foot-4, 215 pound defenseman plays a physical game and isn’t afraid to drop the gloves when called upon. The big blueliner racked up 96 penalty minutes while play for Mississauga of the OHL and was involved in 6 fighting majors.