Detroit Red Wings propsect Cross Hanas isn’t as much about fitting into a box as he is about checking off boxes.
Playmaker? Yes, that would be his forte.
“I think of myself as a playmaker,” Hanas said. “I like making plays. Setting guys up is kind of what I find myself enjoying. I’ve been that way my whole life.”
Goal scorer? Sure, when the opportunity arises, he’ll be happy to finish them off.
“I love to score, obviously but I think setting guys up is a big part of my game,” he said.
SODERBLOM → HANAS! 🚨🚨#DRWPT pic.twitter.com/aNsWlvACuV
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) September 17, 2022
Power-play performer? He certainly possesses all the requisite skills.
“I think just sticking to what I’m best at, making smart plays and being a good offensive guy, but also keep growing my defensive area of the game,” Hanas said. “I’m just trying to show them that my two way game is getting a lot better. Just trying to prove that, too.”
Penalty killer extraordinaire? Hanas believes his insights as an offensive player make him the ideal one to work on the kill.
“If you’re on the defensive side, but you kind of know what the offensive guy is maybe thinking, you can kind of be in the right spot there,” Hanas explains.
Responsible enough to defend a lead? That’s an objective Hanas has worked hard toward mastering.
“I can play both sides of the puck and both sides of the special teams,” Hanas notes. “I’d say that was probably the area where I grew the most this year.”
Hanas A Revelation For Red Wings
Hanas is proving to be a delightful surprise for the Red Wings during the club’s NHL Rookie Tournament in Traverse City, Michigan.
A year ago upon his arrival at this destination, he was without an NHL contract. Hanas was coming off a dreadful year in which he bounced around, looking for a place to play during the pandemic.
“I had a tough time going to Lincoln of the USHL with some of my teammates (during the pandemic),” Hanas said. “I went through a lot of adversity there.”
This fall, he’s showing up here after signing an entry-level deal with the Red Wings. Coming off a career year. an 86-point season for the WHL Portland Winterhawks, Detroit’s 55th overall pick in the 2020 NHL entry draft is brimming with confidence. He’s preparing to battle for ice time with the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins, the top farm club of the Red Wings.
Maturity Showing On And Off Ice
“Cross, he’s…
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