Red Wings Rookies Learn How To Be Pros

Every player who participated in the NHL Rookie Tournament hosted over the past week by the Detroit Red Wings is firmly convinced that they are going to make the show.

The vast majority of them will be proven wrong in that assessment.

However, almost all of them will get the chance to taste life as a professional. And whether that’s a mere sampling or the opportunity to dine on the full meal experience will depend partly on how well they make the adjustment to being a pro.

On the surface, that might sound silly. In reality, it’s a fact of life that they must embrace with 100% commitment.

Red Wings goalie prospect Trey Augustine understands this reality succinctly.

“Yeah, for sure,” Augustine said. “It’s definitely— it has been my job for a while, but even more so now, it’s definitely a job.

But I was looking forward to the ups and downs that come with that.”

The Columbus Blue Jackets rookies wore T-shirts this week, embracing the philosophy that all of these players must apply going forward.

On the back of those shirts was the following message:

That’s what the future holds for the life of a professional athlete. Everything they do, every action they take, must be weighed against how it impacts the team, their teammates, and ultimately, themselves.

“When they get inside the locker room, they’re playing now with guys who are married, who have kids, who depend on everyone in that locker room playing well and being a part of it and being dedicated and committed,” Grand Rapids Griffins coach Dan Watson said.

“These young guys see real quick that it matters. Everything they do matters.”

Red Wings Rookies Adjust On & Off The Ice

Augustine got a glimpse into the future late last season. He played a two-game stint for the AHL Griffins.

On the ice, there were definite adjustments he had to make to the pro game.

“Yeah, everything just happens so much faster,” Augustine said. “Everyone’s a little bit better, passing a little cleaner, shots a little harder, a little more precise.”

He’s aware that more adjustments will confront him as he embarks on his first full pro campaign.

“It’s gonna be the first time I ever play a season where there’s a lot more games than there are practices,” Augustine said. “Just seeing how I can manage that and just keep improving each and every single day.

“So you really just have to be on top of your game all the time.”

Away from the rink, the lifestyle adjustment is equally challenging, if not more so. Young pros are afforded an abundance of free time every day.

What’s that old saying about idle hands?

Watson cited Augustine as the example, but really, it applies to all of the Red Wings rookies who are turning pro.

“There’s no classes for him now, so once we leave the rink, he’s got a full day ahead of him to figure out what to do with,” Watson said. “I think a lot of guys, they underestimate that side of it.

“Going back to your apartment, it’s a little bit different. You’re not going back to a dorm or a house to hang out with the guys.

You’re on your own a little bit at times. And that’s a big adjustment.

“It’s mentally, too. I think of the recovery side of it.

If you look at our schedule right now, we’ve got five three-in-threes 3 throughout the season. Whether he plays a Friday or Sunday, whether he gets a Saturday game, there’s a lot of travel, and then we play.

“So there’s a lot of things that go into it, and then just the amount of ice time that we get. There are goalie sessions every single practice day for 30 minutes.

There’s a ton of ice that he’s going to have to get used to, but also have the ability to recover and learn from that.”