Helene St. James

Detroit Free Press

The conditions aren’t ideal, but a look at a prospect is a look at a prospect.

Detroit Red Wings management has spent the week at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth eyeballing the USA Hockey-organized National Junior Evaluation Camp. Attendees include defenseman Vili Saarijarvi, the Red Wings’ third-round draft pick from 2015, who is playing for his native Finland.

“He’s dealing with a bit of a nagging injury, something minor,” assistant general manager Ryan Martin told the Free Press Friday. “Finland didn’t have a great start, but played better the last few days. Vili looks good, he’s doing a good job on the power play.”

Martin said Saarijavi has been checked out by team doctors, who do not think surgery is necessary.

Saarijarvi is only 5-feet-10, 163 pounds, so one of the keys for his development is to increase body strength. He finished 2015-16 with 12 goals, 31 assists, and a minus-15 in 59 games for the Flint Firebirds in what was his first OHL season.

The Firebirds had their share of controversy during a tumultuous season that included the OHL stepping in to take control of hockey operations, and in June Saarijarvi was traded to Mississauga. That’s a situation which pleases the Wings.

“We could put him in pro hockey, but realistically, because of the way he’s built and what he needs to work on, it will be great for him to go to Mississauga and try to be one of the more dominant players in the league,” Martin said. “He’ll come to camp and see where he fits in the pecking order with Grand Rapids, but he’s best served with another year in the OHL.”

The Wings want to see Saarijarvi, 19, work on his defensive zone play and the speed at which he makes decisions.

Contact Helene St. James: hstjames@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @helenestjames.

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