Red Wings prospect Carter Mazur to make NHL debut against Utah

One of the top prospects in Hockeytown is set to step into the NHL lineup for his favorite team.

Detroit Red Wings forward Carter Mazur will be making his league debut on Thursday night when the team hosts the Utah Hockey Club.

Mazur was called up by the Red Wings after the team placed forward Christian Fischer on waivers on Wednesday.

It will be a special night for Mazur, a native of nearby Jackson, Michigan. Along with growing up cheering for Detroit, he wears the No. 43 for his favorite player, former Red Wing and Stanley Cup champion Darren Helm. Mazur also stated that he expects to have around 200 and 300 friends and family coming to Thursday night’s game.

The 22-year-old was taken in the third round, 70th overall, in the 2021 NHL Draft. Before turning pro, Mazur experienced substantial success while at the University of Denver, winning the NCAA National Championship during the 2021-22 season along with fellow Red Wings prospect Antti Tuomisto.

Mazur has spent the past two seasons with the Red Wings’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins. There, his scoring touch has meshed well with the edge he has in his game. The former Little Caesars product has a quick release on his shot and a keen eye in the offensive zone that has made him a go-to player in Grand Rapids.

Head coach Todd McLellan recognizes the grit in Mazur’s game. He hopes that game can translate to the NHL and impact a team battling for a playoff spot.

“He has a tenacity to his game, McLellan said after morning skate. “We could use that right now.”

Mazur might have been called up sooner, but his development has been stunted by a couple of injuries over the past two years. He suffered a shoulder injury during the NHL Prospect Tournament in 2023, which kept him out for a few months. Mazur also missed three months this year after suffering an upper-body injury in November.

Yet, his production has hardly subsided. Through 20 games this season, Mazur has notched eight goals and seven assists for 15 points. In 86 career AHL appearances, he has posted 28 goals and 30 assists for 58 points. He registered eight points in nine games during last year’s Calder Cup Playoffs.

The Red Wings (30-25-6) sit fifth in the Atlantic Division, one point back of the last Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.