Forward Motion: Andrej Nestrasil Excited to be Back After Break Out Year
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Last year at this time, Andrej Nestrasil’s career with the Red Wings didn’t look so bright. The 75th overall selection in the 2009 NHL draft hadn’t been able to crack the AHL full time, spending the bulk of his first two professional seasons in Toledo of the ECHL. Last season was a different story with Nestrasil was getting an opportunity due to a depleted lineup.
“It was a weird season,” Nestrasil said. “When the season started I was playing on the fourth line. I was thinking to myself ‘here we go again’, but then I told myself to just be patient. Out of nowhere after Christmas, I was playing on the first line and it was what I had been waiting for. I am glad I got the opportunity and I tried to make the most of it.”
The 6-foot-3, 210 forward potted 16 goals and 35 assists in 70 AHL games for the Griffins last year. Nestrasil also earned a chance to play in the postseason and continued to produce with 4 goals and 6 points in 10 games. All this while playing his first full season at center and learning the position.
“I feel like playing center is better for me even though I think I am going to play left wing this season,” he said. “It taught me a lot especially in the defensive zone. Now if I am going to play winger, I am going to be the first guy back because I already know what to do.”
The Red Wings rewarded Nestrasil for his strong play last year with a one year contract extension earlier this summer. The Czech Republic native will have to clear waivers to return to Grand Rapids, but he’s just happy to be back with Detroit.
“I had offers from teams in Europe and I said no right away,” Nestrasil said. “I knew right after the season when I talked to Ken Holland and Ryan Martin and I told my agent I wasn’t going anywhere. I was so happy to stay a Red Wing.”
Nestrasil spent the summer getting stronger and trimming 10 pounds of body fat in he hopes that he will improve his speed this season which has been an issue since he was drafted. The big forward watched many of his Grand rapids teammates get a shot at the NHL last season and he hopes his chance is coming
“I think I made a step in the AHL and showed that I can be a top six player,” Nestrasil said. “My goal is to play in the NHL one days so I am not going to give up. I am just going to show up at the rink every day, be positive, work hard and eventually it is going to happen.”
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One of Nestrasil’s closest friends in the Wings system is Tomas Jurco. Nestrasil couldn’t be happier for Jurco’s success at the NHL last season which saw him play 36 games for Detroit where he scored 8 goals and 15 points during that stretch.
“I was real happy for him,” Nestrasil said. “He’s NHL ready and he’s so skilled that I think he is going to play a lot of games this year. I know he is going to do great.”
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Nestrasil likes to joke that it is his role to take care of the young Czech and Slovak prospects in Grand Rapids. With the recent signing of Tomas Nosek, there could be at least seven Czechs/Slovaks spending time in Grand rapids this season.
“What am I going to do, I already have 4 guys to take care of and now it is going to be like 7,” he said laughing. “I feel like a babysitter in the organization. I think that is why they signed me over the summer because there were so many of them. That is my role on the team this year, to be the father.”
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Another member of the contingent, Tomas Jurco could split time between Detroit and Grand Rapids this season, but he’ll need a better showing than the opening day of training camp. Coach Babcock talked to Jurco on three separate occasions about not dangling so much and focusing on the drills.
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Team Howe defeated Team Lindsay by a score of 3-2 in the shootout. Luke Glendening and Darby Llewellyn scored for Team Howe with Mitch Wheaton and Andrej Nestrasil scoring for Team Lindsay. Johan Franzen and Henrik Zetterberg scored for Team Howe in the shootout.
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top prospect, Anthony Mantha’s unfortunate injury during the NHL prospects tournament means that he will start the year in Grand Rapids once he is healthy.
“We talked about giving Mantha a good look,” Head Coach Mike Babcock said. “The reality is he is going to have to work his way back from Grand Rapids.”
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Coach Babcock was asked if the Mantha injury opened the door for other prospects to start the year in Detroit and his response was:
“No chance.”
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On the defensive side of the game the young stable of defensemen that includes Xavier Ouellet, Ryan Sproul, Alexey Marchenko, Mattias Backman and Nick Jensen will get a long look during exhibition season.
“We’ve got eight exhibition games,” Babcock said. “They have to win a job.”
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After playing in just 26 games last year with Detroit, Stephen Weiss is back and finally healthy. The 5-foot-11, 193 pond center suffered a groin injury that required multiple surgeries after a set back.
“What I went through last year, I am honestly just happy to be back on the ice,” he said. “It could have really taken a toll the rest of my career to be honest. But to go through the summer and get back on the ice and skate without any pain has been wonderful for me. I feel more comfortable everyday.”
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The red Wings have revamped the schedule for Sundays practice session which now includes a morning workout beginning at 9:45 am prior to the Red and White game.