- Confident Tomas Nosek aims for Red Wings roster spot in 2017-18
TAMPA, Fla. - In the brief time that Tomas Nosek has been up with the Detroit Red Wings, he has looked like a player with a future in the NHL.
He has the size (6-3, 210) and possesses good defensive instincts. His footspeed has improved during three seasons with the Grand Rapids Griffins and he has shown a determination to get to the net.
"He's a good 200-foot player; he's smart, he's accountable, he's got good puck skills, he's got good hands around the net, he's got good offensively ability," Red Wings coach Blashill said. "He's strong on his skates, which allows him to be in those tough areas. I thought (Tuesday) and his first game were his two best games."
Nosek notched his first NHL goal in Tuesday's 4-1 loss at Carolina. He drove to the net and banged in the rebound of Drew Miller's shot that bounced off the back boards.
"I would say before I was close a couple times but not a lot of confidence with the finish," Nosek said. "Make sure your mind stay (focused) and make sure you put it in. That's what happened this time.
"Millsie got the puck for me, so thanks for him."
Nosek lamented that it came in a loss, but Blashill and teammates were happy to see him rewarded for working hard in the five games since being recalled.
"I thought he's been playing well ever since he's been up here," Henrik Zetterberg said. "When he's been on the ice he works hard and he does the right things. It's good to see that he got rewarded with a goal."
Nosek turns 25 on Sept. 1. He no longer will be waiver-exempt next season. He figures to have a good chance of making the Red Wings roster, assuming he's not selected by Vegas in the June expansion draft.
He has improved each season with the Griffins and had 15 goals and 40 points in 49 games before being promoted.
Czech native hopes to land permanent roster spot in NHL next season.
"I think (playing on the inside) was my game from when I was little, so I just tried to be a little bit faster, that's what the coaches told me every summer to work on," Nosek said. "I just try to go hard to the net, use the big body and the speed.
"For sure, every game you get confidence and I can feel right now I got confidence down there so I bring it up here."
The native of the Czech Republic could be the club's fourth-line center next season.
"Nosek has had a real nice year this year in Grand Rapids, almost a point a game until three weeks ago, when he got concussed," Holland said. "He was the No. 1 center down there, he's a big man."
Another tough break for Glendening
Luke Glendening will head into another off-season hobbling due to an injury.
He had a bone bruise in his ankle last year. In 2015, he cut a tendon in his hand. This year, he will end up missing the final seven games due to a fractured ankle.
"Very disappointed," Blashill said. "He's a heart and soul guy, somebody that gives you everything he's got. He's had three years in a row that, going into the off-season, even though he was able to finish the year, he's had issues. That's not easy on your training. It's got to be disappointing for sure."
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