According to Ansar Khan of Mlive.com, Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock watched part of the prospects camp in Traverse City over the weekend and was very much impressed by the play of Gustav Nyquist.
“What I saw in the rookie camp is Nyquist is going to be an NHL player for sure,” Babcock said Tuesday. “When is he going to be that?”
Nyquist, a Hobey Baker Finalist out of the University of Maine will spend his first pro season with Grand Rapids of the AHL.
“He’s like Pav (Datsyuk) in that he skates faster with the puck than he does without it, creates space every time he’s on the ice,” Babcock said. “He’s professional with and without the puck. Looks like a hockey player. He’s an NHL player.”
Furthermore, Babcock also revealed his top-four defensive pairings for training camp and the preseason.
Nicklas Lidstrom-Ian White
Niklas Kronwall-Brad Stuart
Jonathan Ericsson-Jakub Kindl
Brendan Smith-Mike Commodore
“I’ll play (Kindl) and Smith probably six games in exhibition to give them the opportunity they need to show what they’re capable of doing,” Babcock said. “The main guys I’ll play four, Commodore probably five, White probably five just because I don’t know them as good.”
Source: Mlive.com
