DETROIT -- The Detroit Red Wings aren't reading too much into goaltender Thomas McCollum's rocky first season with the Grand Rapids Griffins.

They see it as a learning experience many young goalies go through while transitioning from amateur to pro.

"There's one good goaltender underneath that jersey, and we just got to find a way to get it out of him," Griffins coach Curt Fraser said during the Red Wings development camp at Joe Louis Arena. "I think this year he's going to show us all why Detroit took him so high and why we think the world of this kid."

McCollum, Detroit's first-round pick in 2008 (30th overall), went 10-16-2 with a 3.48 goals-against average and .881 save percentage as Daniel Larsson's backup in Grand Rapids.

Now that Larsson has returned to Sweden, McCollum has a chance to earn the starting job with the Griffins. He will compete with veteran Joey MacDonald,

.

"I'm really looking forward to working with Joey," said McCollum, 20. "I think we'll be a good partnership. We can really push each other. He's a very experienced player, there's a lot I can learn from him."

McCollum said he finished 2009-10 on an upswing and thinks he has sorted out some technical issues in his game.

"My last 10 starts I really focused on being a lot more patient and let the play come to me," McCollum said. "Once I stopped rushing everything, I felt I was in much better position, much more in control. That's where my season really turned around.

"I want to work on playing at the top of the crease, use my size (6-foot-2, 205 pounds) to my advantage. I know if I stay out and try to make guys beat me with the shot, there's not much room to put the puck in the net."

Said Fraser: "Tommy moves so well and looks so good out here, he's just got to take that into his games. In a couple of years, he'll be great for this Detroit Red Wing team."

Growing up just outside Niagara Falls, N.Y., McCollum was a huge fan of the Buffalo Sabres and their all-world goalie, Dominik Hasek. McCollum learned at an early age he wasn't flexible enough to mimic Hasek's unorthodox style, but he can copy his work ethic.

"I heard nothing but great things about how hard he worked," McCollum said. "You see him battle night in and night out, and that's something I tried to incorporate in my game. I learned growing up watching how Dom battled all the time and how it really helped him on third and fourth saves."

He said he needs to improve his lateral quickness and endurance.

"I spent a lot of time skating with (Red Wings goaltending coach) Jim Bedard, working on my footwork," he said. "You can never be too good at things like that."

McCollum has allowed himself to look ahead to 2011-12.

Chris Osgood is expected to retire after this season, leaving the Red Wings with two options: Sign a veteran free agent on a one-year deal as Jimmy Howard's backup, or promote McCollum.

It will depend on how McCollum fares this season.

"I think about it here and there, and a lot of times during the summer it helps push you a little harder in workouts," McCollum said. "But my main concern is next season, building on a strong finish. If I do that, it could happen. But if I don't have a good season, (a promotion) is not going to be anything to worry about."