Zach Nastasiuk

February 2018 – Nastasiuk has spent his four year career as a pro bouncing back and fourth between the Grand Rapids Griffins and the Red Wings ECHL affiliate, the Toledo Walleye. So far his offensive production has been mediocre and has not progressed. Natasiuk will need to make more of his latest opportunity in the AHL to get noticed by the big club. Mark Hillier

August 2017 – Last season has to be seen as a disappointment for Nastasiuk after bouncing between the AHL and ECHL for the second consecutive year. Going into the 2016-2017 season Nastasiuk was expected to make a bigger push for a full time spot with the Griffins but ended up registering just one point in seven games compared to eight points in 27 games during the 2015-2016 campaign. In 47 games with the Toledo Walleye of the ECHL, Nastasiuk tallied 13 goals and 34 points in 47 games which was a slight decline in PPG compared to the season prior where he managed 20 points in 25 games. The Detroit organization will need to continue to be patient with their second round pick but for the third season in a row the hope will be for Nastasiuk to earn a spot on the Griffins’ roster. Jameson Ewasiuk

September 2016 – Splitting time between Grand Rapids and Toledo in his first full pro season last year, the Barrie, ON, native has arrived to training camp with a full head of steam in hopes of earning a spot with the Griffin’s this year. Impressed throughout the Traverse City tournament, with an improved skating stride to carry him up ice and impressive puck control in tight areas to be an offensive threat. Superb defensively, he as the potential to develop into a great depth forward once he learns to contribute consistently on the scoresheet at the pro level. Through his progress in the ECHL, he has definitely proven be ready to make the jump to playing full time in the American Hockey League and earn a spot on the Griffin’s bottom 6. Joseph Highgate

November 2015 – Nastasiuk was unable to carve out a role for himself in Grand Rapids lineup so he was assigned to Toledo of the ECHL. The former Owen Sound Attack captained carved out a solid OHL career and steadily progressed with each year and that’s the hope as he takes the step into the professional ranks. Still pointless through 7 career AHL games, but Nastasiuk has managed to notch a goal and an assist in his first five ECHL games. Projected to be a third line player at best with a chance at special teams Nastasiuk has a couple years before he is worth taking a flier in dynasty pools and he will need to prove he contribute in the ECHL and AHL along the way. Travis Watson

April 2015 – Another season and another steady jump in production for Zach Nastasiuk who had career highs almost entirely across the board. Potting home 35 goals with 17 of those coming on the man advantage (Good enough for 3rd most PPG in the league) as well as 42 assists which bested his previous high of 27 by 15. The most impressive improvement may have been his plus/minus rating which saw him climb from a minus-14 a year ago to a solid plus-9. For all his hard work he was named a finalist for the OHL’s Red Tilson Trophy award going to the player deemed most outstanding player of the year. This award is voted on by sports writers and broadcasters in the OHL.

Nastasiuk plays the game hard and is a strong leader to follow which is why he was named captain in the first place. Unfortunately his leadership and production couldn’t help Owen Sound knock of their rivals from Guelph in the first round of the playoffs. The Attack took the early 1-0 lead in the series over the Storm, but fellow Red Wings prospect, Tyler Bertuzzi, was able to get the better of Nastasiuk this time around helping the team reel off four straight wins on route to the 4-1 series win. This is the third time in the four seasons that Nastasiuk’s been in the playoffs where they were ousted in the first round and all of those losses came in five games. There’s one statistic Nastasiuk will be looking to shake as he continues his progression at the next level. Look for him to make the jump to Grand Rapids for next season. Travis Watson

October 2014 – Owen Sound forward Zach Nastasiuk has been named to the OHL’s roster for the upcoming Subway® Super Series and will compete in both games on November 13^th and 17^th in Peterborough and Kingston, respectively. Nastasiuk has five goals and 10 points in the Attack’s eleven games and looks poised for a strong offensive season. Brendan Ross

October 2014 – Owen Sound have their captain back for the 2014-15 season after Detroit returned Nastasiuk to his junior club. Zach did manage to suit up for the Wings in their training camp and their prospect tournament held in Traverse City but he was rather unimpressive after only notching a single goal in four games played. There has always been much intrigue around Nastasiuk’s game especially how he plays the whole ice, but this should be the year you see that offensive breakthrough. He’s come racing out of the gates picking up two goals and four points through his first three games and the Attack managed to get points in all three as well. The success of the Attack won’t solely fall on the shoulders of Nastasiuk but the team definitely looks up to their leader in times of need and will hope for him to take that next step and lead the way. Travis Watson

September 2014 – Nastasiuk is heading into the 2015 season on a high after being one of 41 skaters invited to the 2014-15 Canada National Junior Team tryouts. The 2013 second round pick even found the back of the net versus Russia in a 5-2 win and ended his development camp with one goal in two games played. He will be looking to take the confidence he gained back to Owen Sound where he will look to help lead an Owen Sound team that’s looking to improve on last seasons results. Nastasiuk is one of only five attack players heading off to a NHL development camp but will surely be back with  Owen Sound where he will captain the team and once again provide the team a solid all-around presence on the wing. Travis Watson

November 2013 – Zach Nastasiuk of the Owen Sound Attack was named to the OHL roster for the 2013 SUBWAY Super Series. Nastasiuk sits second in Attack scoring with 18 points through the first 18 games. Brendan Ross

November 2013 – The Red Wings locked up another prospect from their 2013 draft contingent when they signed Nastasiuk to three-year entry-level deal on November 1st 2013. Nastasiuk the recently name captain of the Owen Sound Attack is enjoying a successful campaign to date where he has amassed eight goals and ten assists. The stat that sticks out to me that I am sure the Wings brass would like to see improve is his minus- 9 rating which could have something to do with the porous goaltending the Attack have displayed ranking second to last in goals against through the quarter mark of the season. Travis Watson

June 2013 – The Detroit Red Wings selected Zach Nastasiuk with the 48th overall selection in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. Travis Watson

June 2013 – An extremely high character player with the willingness to adapt his role to a teams’ needs, Nastasiuk projects as an excellent  pro prospect. Nastasiuk is an all-around player with some intriguing upside in all areas of the game – offensively, defensively and physically. After posting a 20-20 season (20 goals and 20 assists) in 2012-13 for the Owen Sound Attack, Nastasiuk led his Attack in playoff scoring posting near point-per-game totals in 12 post-season games (11 points). He is an aggressive forechecker with loads of hockey sense and a player who excels on the penalty kill. In the offensive zone, he engages well in the cycle and shows a good net drive presence. The mysterious area that surrounds Nastasiuk’s game is his ability to get physical. He has shown flashes of great physicality and if he ever realizes his mean-streak, he could find himself developing into a new physical player (ala Scott Hartnell type). Brendan Ross