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Defenseman Richard Nedomlel isn't shy about dropping his gloves after fighting 16 times in juniors and three more last season with Toledo of the ECHL.

(Brendan Savage | MLive.com)

Like a lot of young hockey players, Richard Nedomlel is prepared to do whatever it takes to achieve his dream of playing in the National Hockey League.

It won't be flashy moves, slick skating or offensive numbers that could help Nedomlel crack the Detroit Red Wings' lineup someday.

It will be the dirty work.

Nedomlel, 21, has the one thing coaches can't teach -- great size -- and the 6-foot-5, 228-pound defenseman is prepared to use it whenever possible as he embarks on his second professional season this year.

"I'm trying to be a big, physical guy who is not afraid to drop the gloves, stand behind teammates, block shots, play on the (penalty killing units)," said Nedomlel, who will play for the Red Wings in next week's prospects tournament in Traverse City.

"Sometimes (fighting) hurts but if it that's what it takes, I'll always be standing behind my teammates. I'm not here to score goals. I'm here to be a tougher guy to be hard to play against, be the guy like Brennan Evans is in Grand Rapids. Play tough.

"That's my kind of game."

That's no doubt good news for the Red Wings fans who are craving to see the club add some toughness – providing, of course, Nedomlel can keep improving his game after spending most of last season with Toledo of the ECHL.

In 60 games with the Walleye, he had eight goals and 10 assists while finishing 16th in the ECHL with 150 penalty minutes. He fought three times.

Nedomlel also played three games last season Grand Rapids, where he could find himself this season if things go well in training camp beginning Sept. 19.

A native of the Czech Republic, the Red Wings liked Nedomlel's physical style and willingness to mix it up when they selected him in the sixth round (175th overall) of the 2011 NHL draft.

During three seasons with the WHL's Swift Current Broncos, he racked up 285 PIM and fought 16 times.

"With our depth in Grand Rapids (last year), him and Max Nicastro spent pretty much the whole season down in Toledo," said Jiri Fischer, the Red Wings' director of player development. "This year, he knows he doesn't want to repeat playing in the East Coast Hockey League all season again.

"He wants to be an American Hockey League player. He's committed. He's going to come here, he's going to be part of the prospects tournament again. We want to see maturity in his behavior off the ice as well as on the ice."

The Red Wings would like to see Nedomelel get better at moving the puck out of his own zone while avoiding costly turnovers. More offense would be nice -- he had 17 goals among 64 points during his final two junior seasons -- but the Red Wings aren't counting on that to be a regular part of his game.

They like his mean streak and the fact that he can use his size and long wingspan to defend his own zone.

Nedomlel's stint with the Griffins last year gave him a taste of what he hopes to experience this season.

"Now I know what to expect," said Nedomlel, who is ranked 19th among Detroit's prospects by RedWingsCentral.com. "I know the coach in Grand Rapids (Jeff Blashill). I know the drills.

"I'm going to do whatever it takes to make it here."

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