Chase Pearson is a little older than your typical prospect at 24 and has been in the Detroit Red Wings organization for six years, fairly long for someone who hasn’t appeared in an NHL game.
His opportunity has arrived. Pearson will be competing for a fourth-line forward spot when training camp starts Thursday at Centre I.C.E. Arena.
“The goal is making the Red Wings roster on opening night,” Pearson said. “Just give them a reason for me to stay. I’m going to try to do that every day and have a positive attitude around the rink. That’s about all I can do, and things will face into play, or they won’t. We’ll see.”
Pearson is a good-sized center (6-3, 205) who fits the checking-line mold. He’s strong defensively, has shown some offensive ability in the AHL and can play the wing.
The Red Wings are looking to replace fourth-line center Luke Glendening, who signed with Dallas. They also parted ways with Darren Helm, Evgeny Svechnikov, Frans Nielsen, Richard Panik and Mathias Brome, creating opportunities.
Mitchell Stephens, acquired from Tampa Bay and drafted the same year as Pearson, might have the inside track on the fourth-line center spot based on his NHL experience (45 games). Veteran Carter Rowney and young Joe Veleno and Givani Smith also are in the mix for bottom-six spots.
Pearson is prepared for the competition after taking strides last season in Grand Rapids (eight goals, 22 points in 28 games).
“Last year was huge for me,” Pearson said. “I earned the coaches’ trust a little bit more, which enabled me to play in all situations and take a step forward. I think I got better defensively and on the offensive side.
“The biggest thing was being around the net, being a little harder, and those areas just battling for pucks around the crease. That’s going to be my MO – face-offs, defensive center, 200-foot player. Offensively, that’s where I kind of keyed on this summer.”
Pearson scored two goals in three games at the Prospects Tournament over the weekend, and Griffins coach Ben Simon noted the improvement.
“Chase took a big step in the right direction last year, both offensively and defensively,” Simon said. “He’s got to take that confidence and parlay that into a bigger step this year. Coming into this tournament as a third-year pro, it gave him the ability to potentially get a little bit of a step ahead going into training camp, having played a few games. He looks strong, like he put on a little bit more muscle. He was in great shape before but looks like he’s ready to go for camp and let’s see where the cards fall.”
Smith, who the Red Wings protected in the expansion draft, no longer is waiver-exempt, so he is certain to make the NHL roster.
Veleno, a 2018 first-round pick (No. 30) who had a five-game stint with Detroit at the end of the season, and Pearson are waiver-exempt, giving the Red Wings flexibility to start them in the AHL if they don’t earn NHL roster spots. As young players, they will not remain in Detroit unless they are playing regularly.
Pearson is the last player remaining from the Red Wings’ ill-fated 2015 draft class (fifth round, 140th overall). He spent one more season in the USHL (Youngstown) and three years at Maine after being drafted.
“I think the extra time in college and putting in the hours to get stronger, faster, and nutrition, being more educated on sleep and all that stuff, it’s all accumulated into the player I am right now,” he said.
Now he is focused on reaching the NHL.
“Whether or not I start the year in Grand Rapids, I’m going to shoot for Detroit,” Pearson said. “I think I’ve put in enough time and hopefully if I am in Grand Rapids, I can show that I’m ready to make the next step to the NHL at some point this year.”
Pearson’s father, Scott, was the sixth overall selection by Toronto in 1988 and appeared in 292 NHL games over parts of 10 seasons with five teams.
“He’s that backbone that I can always fall back on and talk to about whatever situation might arise,” Pearson said. “He’s been through it all, so to have that experience, it helps me gets through the ups and downs if I need it. And the feedback on my game from him is good as well.”
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