In the end, there is no point to the Red Wings’ yearly prospect tournament. The stats don’t count towards anyone’s season totals, and the records are lost to time.

However, what impressions did the event leave? Those, though, might last a while. In fact, they can be telling at times. There was a little more to it than just heading into training camp, though, as the event came to an end on Sunday with the Red Wings facing a 0-and-3 record and some significant statistics in the goals-against column.

Here are some notable Red Wings players and events, both positive and negative.

1. Elmer Söderblom was arguably the best player for the Red Wings during the weekend. He ought to have been, too. Söderblom has already competed in the greatest league in the world at a competition mostly attended by players hoping to get into the NHL, many of whom are aware that they won’t have a genuine opportunity for a few years. He looked like the man you wanted him to be—a man against boys. That indicates that he is prepared to go into camp, which is encouraging.

I was particularly struck by two things. First, even though Söderblom’s length has always been apparent, I thought he was using it more during this tournament to extend possessions. He was giving the Red Wings more time with the puck in the attacking zone by swatting pucks out of the air and generally interfering with attempts to leave the game. That’s fantastic to watch, and if he can maintain that throughout the preseason, he can use it to set himself apart.

The second was that I wanted to see him make more use of his shotgun. At six feet eight, his hands are what have made him such an alluring possibility. However, when he puts his weight behind a shot, that body also corresponds to a rocket of a shot, and I was encouraged to see him use that shot a few times during this tournament. However, I’d still like to see more of it, particularly in stride on the rush. His incredible puckhandling will undoubtedly always be a key component of his game, but his shot really jumps out as a weapon that can help him reach his full potential.

2. Detroit’s first-round selection in 2023 Despite just playing two games, Nate Danielson tied for second place at the tournament with five assists. The organisation wanted him to be ready for main camp, so he sat out Sunday after being struck by a shot in Detroit’s second game. However, Danielson’s performance in those two games is a wonderful way to get started right away.