Detroit Red Wings prospect David Pope may compete for role next season

The Detroit Red Wings will resume talks with forward David Pope once he has finished his senior year of college.

Pope, 23, was drafted by the Wings at 109th overall in 2013. He has to be signed by Aug. 15, or he’ll be a free agent.

Pope is done with his collegiate playing career, and wants to finish classes at the University of Nebraska Omaha.

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“His representative and I talked and we agreed that he would like to focus on his school and his education, finish final exams, and walk in graduation,” Wings assistant general manager Ryan Martin said Friday.

The Wings are keen to keep Pope, who had 20 goals and 21 assists in 35 games in 2017-18.

“He’s legit 6-foot-3,” Martin said. “He needs to fill out, he’s got room to grow in terms of body, but he’s got good skills, really soft set of hands, and good offensive instincts. He knows how to get open away from the play.

“We think he’s in position to compete for a position in Detroit in next season.”

Martin said the key to Pope’s development this past season was the work he put in last summer.

“He was really dedicated in the gym," Martin said. “He trained here for a couple months last summer, and it really showed in his playing. He had the best year of his college career.

“He’s a bit of a late developer, but if he has another summer like he did last summer, again, we think he can compete for a job in Detroit.”

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

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