Top 20 Detroit Red Wings Prospects To Watch In 2019-20
By Tyler Kotila
Keith Petruzelli, Quinnipiac University, 8-3 record in 2018-19
In 2017, the Detroit Red Wings added to their goaltenders in the farm system by selecting Keith Petruzzelli in the third round of the NHL Entry Draft. The goaltender will be a junior this upcoming season at Quinnipiac University where he has been able to grow in his development as a goaltender. A product of the USHL, Petruzzelli committed to Quinnipiac after his time with the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL.
Petruzzelli is a large-bodied goaltender just like Ben Bishop of the Dallas Stars who’s frame alone can make it harder to score. He stands 6-foot-6, weighing in at 190 pounds for Quinnipiac and is still known for his ability to react quickly even for a big body. Petruzzelli is more of a calm and collected goaltender whose strength is being able to react and size up shots well quickly.
Last season as a sophomore, Petruzzelli was able to develop behind a highly-touted goaltending prospect who saw more of the ice time than Petruzzelli. In the fourteen games that Petruzzelli did play in, he was 8-3-0 for Quinnipiac with a .904 save percentage and 2.42 goals-against average. In the shadow of a San Jose Sharks prospect goalie, Petruzzelli did not see as much ice time as the Red Wings would have hoped.
Petruzzelli is not the best goaltender in the Detroit Red Wings organization, but he definitely could move higher on the list of top goaltenders with a strong season with Quinnipiac. He should be poised for a reliable full year of hockey as the Quinnipiac starter, which will allow him to grow his game as a starting goaltender.
Early Expectation: As mentioned above, the upcoming junior had a prospect goaltender blocking his starting role with Quinnipiac. Going into this year, Petruzzelli should be able to win a starting role and show his capabilities at the NCAA level, while continuing his development for the Red Wings organization.
Dobber Prospects compared him to goaltender Matt Murray of the Pittsburgh Penguins. It seems pretty accurate for someone who does an excellent job of judging his shots and using his large frame to an advantage in the net while remaining calm under pressure in front of the net.