Top 20 Detroit Red Wings Prospects To Watch In 2019-20
By Tyler Kotila
Dominic Turgeon, Grand Rapids Griffins, 20 points in 2018-19
The Detroit Red Wings recently brought Dominic Turgeon back to the organization on a one-year deal after he put up twenty points in seventy-two games played for the Grand Rapids Griffins last year.
Turgeon spent a four-game stint with the Red Wings last season since he was beaten out by Christoffer Ehn for a starting role. Turgeon has not been the most impressive over his tenure with the Red Wings, but at twenty-three years old this may be his last chance to prove himself.
Turgeon stands 6-foot-2, 200 pounds for the Griffins, who is a product of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft class from the Red Wings. Turgeon is no offensive guru, not built to be the goal scorer of the team/line, but he will play a consistent and smart defensive game. Turgeon is someone who will be of value on the bottom six forwards or someone to slot on the first two lines if the defense is an issue.
He started his tenure in 2016 with the Griffins, since then, Turgeon has totaled 212 games in the AHL. In his time with the AHL affiliate, he has managed seventy total points, in the form of twenty-six goals and forty assists. He was also a part of Calder Cup champion Griffins team back in 2017, contributing five points in twenty-two playoff games.
One of the more valuable aspects of Turgeon is his ability to kill penalties, and he should be able to carry that ability over to the NHL. After watching some video, it is evident that Turgeon is a defensive-minded forward. He has high awareness when carrying the puck, which hopefully can translate into the NHL for the Detroit Red Wings.
Early Expectation: Turgeon’s value is going to come in the form of penalty-killing and defense for the Red Wings. If his offense does develop out of thin air, he would be a late-bloomer like Nick Jensen, who takes some extra time to develop.
Turgeon will most likely start his year out with the Griffins but could leapfrog up to the Red Wings if the need arises or an injury bug starts going through the locker-room. If he exceeds expectations, they may try him out with the Detroit Red Wings as well with one or two starting jobs still in the mix for younger guys. This season, Turgeon is playing to earn an extension/new contract, look for some impact from him if he wants to stick around.