24-25 Prospects Thread

[lordstanley]

This X thread was initiated about Habs prospect Jacob Fowler but is relevant to Augustine as well. Fowler was drafted in the 3rd round in 2023, about 20 spots after the Wings drafted Augustine. 
 

 

[buddha]

what's the list of goaltenders who played 3 seasons in ncaa before turning pro who werent good?

i bet its longer than the list above.

disappointing from augustine.  he has nothing left to prove in the ncaa and is likely holding back his development.

otoh, he was drafted by detroit and would have likely spent the next decade in the minors anyway because we cant have young players come up before they are absolutely, 100% overripe as prospects.

[slothfacekilla]

16 hours ago, lordstanley said:

This X thread was initiated about Habs prospect Jacob Fowler but is relevant to Augustine as well. Fowler was drafted in the 3rd round in 2023, about 20 spots after the Wings drafted Augustine. 
 

 

Add in Jimmy Howard, Cam Talbot and Ben Bishop.  It isn't exact but Connor Hellbuyck spent his third year after his draft in the NCAA as well (D+1 was in the NAHL before going to college).

Next season the OHL kids will be flooding the NCAA, raising the overall talent level as well.  I really don't think it is a big deal but people like to be mad about stuff.

[Dan Gilmore]

5 minutes ago, slothfacekilla said:

… but people like to be mad about stuff.

 

[Shinzaki]

Is NIL money playing a part in his decision?  If he's getting paid already, he might view another year at MSU as being preferable to shuttling between Toledo and Grand Rapids on an entry level deal.

 

[slothfacekilla]

10 minutes ago, Dan Gilmore said:

 

Now I'm mad!

[gehringer_2]

1 minute ago, Shinzaki said:

Is NIL money playing a part in his decision?  If he's getting paid already, he might view another year at MSU as being preferable to shuttling between Toledo and Grand Rapids on an entry level deal.

 

MSU sells out their hockey games, sold 111K tickets this season, so they can probably afford to pay a star player at least as much as some AHL guys make. But I don't know anything about what Augustine's existing deal with the Wings might be.

[slothfacekilla]

2 minutes ago, gehringer_2 said:

MSU sells out their hockey games, sold 111K tickets this season, so they can probably afford to pay a star player at least as much as some AHL guys make. But I don't know anything about what Augustine's existing deal with the Wings might be.

I'm being pedantic but he doesn't have a deal with the Wings because he has to stay an amateur to play in the NCAA.  They just own his rights through his senior season.  I think the most he can make on his entry level contract is $950k a year plus bonuses that are capped at something like....15% of the annual salary?  Something like that.

[gehringer_2]

11 minutes ago, slothfacekilla said:

I'm being pedantic but he doesn't have a deal with the Wings because he has to stay an amateur to play in the NCAA.  They just own his rights through his senior season.  I think the most he can make on his entry level contract is $950k a year plus bonuses that are capped at something like....15% of the annual salary?  Something like that.

right!  I'd bet MSU can't pay him $950K  - but doesn't he only sniff that $950K if he makes it to Detroit?

Edited Wednesday at 05:41 PM by gehringer_2

[slothfacekilla]

1 hour ago, gehringer_2 said:

right!  I'd bet MSU can't pay him $950K  - but doesn't he only sniff that $950K if he makes it to Detroit?

Correct, since it is a two way contract the player earns less if he is not in the NHL.  I'm actually not sure if that is standardized too or if it can be negotiated.  It would be interesting to see a NIL vs ELC breakdown honestly.

[buddha]

msu isnt paying big money for hockey players.  nobody who has a serious basketball or football team is spending a lot of money on hockey.

[Hongbit]

On 4/1/2025 at 11:23 AM, slothfacekilla said:

 

A little bummed selfishly because I wanted to see him in the pros.  In the end it might be for the best to stagger him and Cossa at GR, giving Cossa another season as the guy in GR without having to give Augustine games too.

This is probably the best scenario for all parties.  The alternative was having he and Cossa split time in GR next year.   That wouldn’t be ideal for either of them  The other option was to have Augustine play next year in Toledo but the ECHL is a lower level competition than major College Hockey.   They also have Guimond and Gylander in the system as well.   

Staggering lets them have Cossa in the NHL and Trey in GR in 26-27.   That should give a pretty look for both as the figure out who is the future and who gets traded.  

[slothfacekilla]

 

 

 

I hope they just keep using Lombardi at wing, lets him play his game more.

[buddha]

2 hours ago, slothfacekilla said:

 

 

 

I hope they just keep using Lombardi at wing, lets him play his game more.

i still have high hopes for lombardi.  i think people still underrate him.  if he hadnt gotten hurt this year it would have been a goalfest for him, imo.

[slothfacekilla]

43 minutes ago, buddha said:

i still have high hopes for lombardi.  i think people still underrate him.  if he hadnt gotten hurt this year it would have been a goalfest for him, imo.

Totally agree with you, from the little I've seen of him this year he looks like one of the best players on the ice.  I hope he can put some muscle / weight on this offseason and challenge for one of the roster spots [hopefully] opened up by Smith/Motte or maybe Berggren/Kane if they trade/relinquish Berggren and don't re-sign Kane (and I'm assuming they re-sign Elmer to a cheap RFA contract).

Also wouldn't mind the Wings getting creative to get rid of Tarasenko and/or Rasmussen.

[gehringer_2]

7 hours ago, buddha said:

msu isnt paying big money for hockey players.  nobody who has a serious basketball or football team is spending a lot of money on hockey.

It wouldn't have to be very big money to be better money that minor league hockey but even if it's not better, if you just assume he's not going to get rich in either place but is going to get enough make student life easy, which is going to be a more fun year?

[buddha]

6 hours ago, gehringer_2 said:

It wouldn't have to be very big money to be better money that minor league hockey but even if it's not better, if you just assume he's not going to get rich in either place but is going to get enough make student life easy, which is going to be a more fun year?

i think he was upset after they got upset and he made an emotional decision.

but i could be wrong.  he could have had conversations with wings mgmt and decided this waa a better place than splitting time in GR.  heck, the wings might have agreed considering all the bad goalies they have blocking cossa's path.  

and honestly, if cossa DOES want to earn it, he only has to beat out 39 year old cam talbot or washed up petr mrazek.  or whatever 6 3rd string goalies yzerman decides to put in his way.

in all seriousness, if cossa cant beat out talbot or mrazek he doesnt deserve to be in detroit.  my fear is that he DOES beat them out and they send him to GR anyway.

[slothfacekilla]

 

For all that is said for the Walman trade situation I really think the Wings did a great job picking up Kiiskinen in picking up that extra second round pick they shipped out.  Especially "selling high" on Gibson who seemed to take a big step back this season in the Predators' org.

 

 

Hmmm allegedly the Wings pushed to sign him after this season.  He seems like he could be a solid bottom six / PKer.

[lordstanley]

Speaking of college decisions, while we all agree NIL in college hockey won't be much, there's definitely talk in Canada about how even a bit of NIL plus the NCAA's ruling last year that playing CHL hockey doesn't kill your eligibility will send some Canadians to the States. Including Gavin McKenna possibly. There are some college hockey schools that aren't big in college football or college basketball so might direct some money towards hockey.