Detroit Red Wings: OHL bodychecking ban could lead to prospect shuffle

The Detroit Red Wings may have to shuffle around two prospects after the Ontario Hockey League banned bodychecking in their latest announcement.

Over in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), the Detroit Red Wings have prospects, basically, putting on a training camp. Here in North America, the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) has made an announcement regarding bodychecking during the upcoming 2020-21 season.

In an effort to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus that has caused this global pandemic, the OHL is putting a ban on bodychecking. Ontario Minister of Sport, Lisa MacLeod, announced that the OHL would not allow bodychecking in 2020-21.

Many around the hockey world have responded to this announcement, some announcements being brasher than others, but this ban on bodychecking does affect the Red Wings organization and its prospects.

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Currently, the organization has two prospects who are slated to play the 2020-21 season in the OHL, and it might be time to make a quick prospect shuffle.

As mentioned above, the organization already has many of its prospects competing over in Sweden, so why not add to it?

Take a look at the two prospects who could be shuffled and sent over to, or kept in Sweden to play in the SHL for the 2020-21 season.

Albin Grewe – Forward

As the 2020-21 season approaches, Albin Grewe was supposed to get his first chance to play his hockey over in North America. Grewe was drafted by the Saginaw Spirit of the OHL and was going to be playing out his hockey here in Michigan.

The 6-foot, 187-pound forward, is known for his physical side of the game. He is known for his relentless forechecking and getting down and dirty in puck battles. Grewe may not do so well in a league where he is unable to use bodychecking. Currently, he is stationed over in Sweden with Djurgårdens IF of the SHL, and keeping him over might be the best move.

Shuffling things around and keeping the loan as a permanent thing for the 2020-21 season might be the best course of action for the forward who’s game thrives on his physicality.

Donovan Sebrango – Defenseman

On day two of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, the Red Wings selected defenseman Donovan Sebrango in the third round of the draft. He is currently slated to play his 2020-21 season for the Kitchener Rangers of the OHL, but he might be on the move and headed over to Sweden.

Sebrango is a 6-foot-1, 183-pound defender who managed six goals and 24 assists for 30 total points in the OHL during the 2019-20 season. The hope for Sebrango is that he can flourish into a two-way defenseman, showing prowess as a defensive defenseman who can also be a playmaker.

If the Red Wings want to get Sebrango on the ice in a league where bodychecking is allowed, they should ship him over to the SHL to join the rest of the organization’s prospects who are currently playing over there.

The Detroit Red Wings will have some decisions to make, but it seems like keeping their prospects out of the OHL might be the best move to avoid non-bodychecking hockey.