David Pope

March 2019 – Pope’s first year as a pro has been underwhelming, to say the least. With only three points in his first 27 games played with the Griffins, fantasy owners can only hope he improves drastically going forward. Mark Hillier

April 2018 – David Pope continued to improve in his final year of NCHC hockey, posting 20 goals and 21 assists leading his team with 41 total points in 35 games played. He also got bigger and stronger and continued to work on his skating. In all likelihood, he will sign an ELC with the big club soon and spend some time at the AHL level. Gifted with a very good shot and NHL size, Pope has a decent chance of earning a spot with the rebuilding Wings within the next year or two as a middle-six winger. Mark Hillier

August 2017 – After a disappointing sophomore season at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, where he had four goals and eight points in 31 games, Pope broke out last season with 13 goals and 31 points in 34 games. He showed a lot of progress in his overall game and he is learning to use his size to his advantage but his skating, although it has gotten better, still needs some work. Unless he signs a contract with Detroit before the season starts, Pope will return to university for his senior year. The Red Wings own Pope’s rights until 30 days after he leaves school, so he will need to build on last season and continue to progress if he hopes to earn a pro contract. Jameson Ewasiuk

December 2016 – Here’s a former fourth-round pick very much on the back burner for Detroit who has yet to flourish and hit his stride playing collegiate hockey with the University of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks. Still without a professional contract entering his junior year, Pope has fought hard to improve his game since leaving the BCHL and his point production through his first two NCAA seasons speaks to that. Amassing only 22 points in 64 total games, the stiffer competition in the college ranks has been a difficult challenge for the Edmonton native. However, 2016-17 could be his breakout year, as he’s already compiled 16 points through his first 14 games and shows no sign of slowing his 1.14 point per game rate.

Throughout his amateur career, Pope has relied on his elite shot to produce and make himself stand out, however with only 17 goals in three NCAA seasons thus far, rounding out his game will be a necessity to succeed at the next step of his career. Joseph Highgate