{"id":176286,"date":"2025-08-31T11:21:10","date_gmt":"2025-08-31T11:21:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/176286\/"},"modified":"2025-08-31T11:21:10","modified_gmt":"2025-08-31T11:21:10","slug":"red-wings-prospect-accustomed-to-being-overlooked","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/176286\/","title":{"rendered":"Red Wings Prospect Accustomed to Being Overlooked"},"content":{"rendered":"

He went through the NHL draft process once, twice, three times before Ondrej Becher<\/a> would hear his name called by the Detroit Red Wings during the 2024 NHL entry draft.<\/p>\n

Par for the course, as far as he was concerned. And yet more fuel to stoke the fire of his hunger to prove everyone wrong about him.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll of that helped motivate me to work harder and harder,\u201d Becher told Czech website iSport<\/a>. \u201cFor example, I only got into the draft on the third try.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ondrej Becher shorthanded on a breakaway!\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\uddff\ud83d\udea8 @czehockey<\/a> #WorldJuniors<\/a> #CZEFIN<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/XL5Grrt1kg<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 IIHF (@IIHFHockey) January 5, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n

Detroit chose Becher 80th overall on draft day a year ago. That was following a 32-goal, 96-point season for Becher with the WHL Prince George Cougars.<\/p>\n

Becher also collected 19 points in 15 WHL playoff games that spring. Red Wings\u2019 bird dogs got plenty of chances to put their eyeballs on the Czech forward. His club wound up squaring off against Portland, the team of Detroit\u2019s 2023 first-round pick Nate Danielson, in the WHL conference finals.<\/p>\n

\u201cHis skating is something that when you watch him play, he has that extra gear,\u201d Detroit assistant GM and director of amateur scouting Kris Draper said. \u201cYou watch him and he\u2019s able to bring that speed and skill set.\u201d<\/p>\n

Red Wings Hopeful Enjoyed Solid AHL Debut<\/p>\n

Slowed by an ankle injury at the start of last season, Becher<\/a> would manage to accumulate 10-10-20 totals in 59 AHL games with the Grand Rapids Griffins<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Similar to his time in Prince George, Becher, 21, was left to earn every minute of his ice time with the Griffins. And he\u2019s fine with that.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udea8ONDREJ BECHER\ud83d\udea8 On the breakaway puts the Griffins up 6-2. <\/p>\n

Rockford has now pulled the goalie. In goes Grabko\u2026#GoGRG<\/a> #LGRW<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/5OmEtXewbQ<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Hockeytown West Podcast (@HockeytownWpod) April 5, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cI had to fight for it,\u201d Becher said. \u201cI started on the third and fourth lines. The beginnings were very difficult, but I worked every day and earned my place.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Red Wings saw how Becher\u2019s trajectory in the WHL steadily increased with each season. They think he can develop in a similar manner as a pro with the Griffins.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of those late bloomers,\u201d Draper said. \u201cHe\u2019s just of starting to come into his own and starting to feel comfortable about the type of player that he could possibly be.\u201d<\/p>\n

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