The day after every NHL draft, prospects quickly understand that when you go in the draft isn’t as important as when you arrive in the NHL.

Amadeus Lombardi was a Red Wings fourth round pick in 2022, but since last season he’s been playing like a first-round talent.  Coming off registering 40 points in 44 AHL games for the Grand Rapids Griffins last season, Lombardi registered five points in the two games of Detroit’s prospect series against the Dallas Stars last week.  Sunday, he followed that up by setting up Elmer Soderblom for two goals and then scoring the game-winning shootout goal at the Red & White games.

“He’s a real prospect,” Red Wings assistant coach Alex Tanguay said, “by what he’s done here (in training camp) and what he’s done at Grand Rapids. His speed is a real asset. He’s got tools that are NHL.”

Added Weight

Because of his offensive gifts, he has to be in the mix competing for one of the final roster spots on the Red Wings. In his first season in Grand Rapids, he held his own playing in the bottom two lines. He’s a smaller forward who played at 170 pounds last season. After a summer of working out, he’s close to 185.

“Last year I figured out the offensive side of things. I felt more confident, especially when I came back from an injury,” Lombardi said. “I did have the ability to take over games, help my team that way. Now it’s about reeling it back in, playing responsible, earning the coach’s trust, like I said, being played in all situations, growing that other side of my game. I think I can help the team with that. Definitely I want to take that next step defensively and in all, touching the defensive side.”

Tanguay said the hope is the Red Wings will be able to give him every opportunity to see what he can.

“He’s going to have to continue his growth,” Tanguay said. “… We’ll give him opportunities on the power play and hopefully in every other situation. But you have to find a niche in the NHL, and those guys, they have tools in certain aspects, for sure.”

Lombardi is popular with his Griffins teammates. “He’s a great, great kid,” Soderblom said. “He got a lot of skill, and obviously a really
good skater.  I think he’s just getting better and better every single year. It’s fun to play (with him).”