Carter Mazur bulks up for run at Red Wings job

DETROIT – Carter Mazur gained 13 pounds of muscle in the offseason, handy for his hard, gritty game, whether in Grand Rapids or with the Detroit Red Wings.

"That was a major factor in how I needed to grow my game and get bigger and stronger," Mazur said. "I was here all summer working with Rob (head strength coach Campbell). Rob put me in a really good spot for the season and look forward to continuing that with him."

The six-foot Mazur, a Jackson native the Red Wings selected in the third round in 2021 (70th overall), is up to 188 and competing for an NHL job in his second year as a pro.

"It was a lot of work to get to that point," Mazur said. "I feel like it's helping me a lot. In the game (Wednesday) I felt stronger on my feet, I felt faster. Every part of my game just feels better because of the 13 extra pounds."

Maintaining the weight will be a challenge.

"It's mostly just eating as much as I can," Mazur said. "It's pretty simple, but it is hard during the year, especially skating every single day and playing games, you lose a lot of calories when you're on the ice."

Mazur will skate on a line tonight with Joe Veleno at center and top 2024 pick Michael Brandsegg-Nygard on the other wing when the Red Wings host Pittsburgh in a preseason game (7 p.m., no TV, livestreamed on detroitredwings.com).

The team appears to have 12 forwards ahead of him on the depth chart, but Mazur is close to breaking through, whether it's at the start of the season or at some point during the year.

Mazur tallied 17 goals and 37 points in 60 games with Grand Rapids, after missing Red Wings training camp and the first six games with an injury. He put up three goals and eight points in nine playoff games.

"I had confidence in the playoffs last year, building off that and then adding that weight is a big factor in me not making the team or making the team," Mazur said. "It is a little thing but it's something that really adds to my game. That's how I play. I want to be heavy. I want to be physical. Even if I'm not 200 pounds I still think I can do that at 188. It adds a lot of confidence to my game and I feel very comfortable where I'm at."

He'll get a good opportunity as the net-front man on the first power play unit with Dylan Larkin, Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat.

"I kind of look at is it's an opportunity to show what I can do net front," Mazur said. "I feel like that's a spot I'm really good at and I succeeded throughout the year last year and being on a power-play unit with Larkin, Kane, DeBrincat, all those guys, is pretty easy. All I have to do is stand and take the goalie's eyes and let them do all the work. But I look forward to working with all those guys."

Coach Derek Lalonde said Mazur has been noticeable in camp.

"Part of his DNA is instinctively a high compete, battle-type guy," Lalonde said. "I just think a good summer growing into his body a little bit improves and helps in some of those areas."

Veleno said of Mazur: "He's not scared to battle in the corners and competes really hard, always gives that extra effort. He's just kind of relentless on the puck, got some good skills in tight, got a good shot and he's kind of built pretty thick."

Lucas Raymond (lower-body issue) took a maintenance day Saturday but is expected back Monday. Erik Gustafsson (upper-body injury) practiced Saturday but won't play tonight. He's expected to be ready on Monday.

Here are the Red Wings' anticipated lines for tonight:

Alex DeBrincat-Dylan Larkin-Patrick Kane

Michael Brandsegg-Nygard-Joe Veleno-Carter Mazur

Tyler Motte-Marco Kasper-Austin Watson

Jakub Rychlovsky-Dominik Shine-Elmer Soderblom

Olli Maatta-Simon Edvinsson

Albert Johansson-Justin Holl

William Wallinder-Brogan Rafferty

Ville Husso will play the first two periods in goal and Sebastian Cossa will play the third period.

Power-play units:

Mazur (net front), Larkin (bumper), DeBrincat-Kane (flanks), Edvinsson (point).

Soderblom (net front), Veleno (bumper), Brandsegg-Nygard/Kasper (flanks), Wallinder (point).