Detroit — He’s heard it his entire hockey life, so at this point, the jab doesn’t bother Amadeus Lombardi.
It never really did, but especially now, as he’s embarking on a pro career with the Red Wings.
It’s the notion that he’s too small. Not big enough. Will not ever play pro hockey.
Lombardi, 20, all of 5-foot-10, 165 pounds (listed in the program, at least), kept pushing and not listening and became a 2022 fourth-round pick (113th overall) of the Red Wings.
“I was also growing up, kind of late bloomer and I’m still kind of growing into my body,” said Lombardi, who is participating in the Wings’ development camp this week. “It’ll obviously take time. It kind of helped me growing up, being so small, because I had to deal with it at such a young age, and I dealt it with my whole life.
“It’s always going to come up, but there’s a lot of small players who’ve played. I’ll try to make it work if I can.”
What Lombardi does lack in size, he’s made up for in playmaking and pure offensive ability.
Lombardi took a major step forward this season, posting a career-high 45 goals and 57 assists for 102 points (in 67 games) with Flint in the Ontario Hockey League.
That gained him a late-season reassignment to minor-league affiliate Grand Rapids, where Lombardi had one assist in two games in his pro debut.
“As soon as I got there, I realized what a cool place it would be to play, obviously,” Lombardi said. “The games, what I took from them was how prepared they are, even with two games left (in the season). Everyone was preparing real well and you’re eating well. I have to get stronger at that level, and it’ll be an adjustment, but I’m excited to make that.”
Always considered a flashy playmaker, Lombardi made a concerted effort to shoot the puck and score some goals himself last season. He had 18 goals the season before he was drafted, but did have the 41 assists, continuing to provide offense.
“In the summer, I wanted to get a lot stronger, and going back to the OHL, I really worked on my shot and strength,” Lombardi said. “I shot a lot of pucks and did a lot of strength drills, and it put confidence in my mind.”
Lombardi also found that having the better shot ultimately made him a more complete and dangerous offensive threat.
“When they took away the shot, that’s when my passing could thrive a little more,” Lombardi said.
There’s been no concrete decision made as to whether Lombardi begins his pro career in Grand Rapids this autumn, or returns to Flint for a final season.
Regardless of where Lombardi is, he’ll have to keep adding weight and getting physically stronger, as has been the mandate for a while now. He’s using this development camp to take into the summer whatever else the Wings feel is necessary to lift his game.
“I’m trying to take the critique I get from the staff and what I need to work on and get stronger and faster and take that into my summer and to the next level,” he said.
Great experience
Jackson native Carter Mazur had a taste of pro hockey last spring while playing for Team USA at the world championships.
Coach Derek Lalonde was on the Team USA staff, which gave Lalonde and Mazur (the Wings’ 2021, fourth-round pick) a chance to get familiar with each other. But for Mazur, specifically, it was a great chance to play some of the best NHL players in the world.
“I feel like (the tournament) helped me a lot, especially playing the first game and (Colorado Avalanche star) Mikko Rantanen was out there, players of that caliber,” said Mazur, who is at the development camp. “It was kind of special to be on the same ice as them, but I felt that I was out there and doing what I did best. I feel like I was ready and was put in a situation to where I succeeded.”
Mazur loves to irritate opponents but can do it coupled with some offensive skill. Mazur enjoyed watching his favorite player through the recent playoffs, Florida’s Matthew Tkachuk.
“He is really fun to watch because he does it all and gets under people’s skin,” Mazur said. “He fights and I’m probably not going be a fighter, but I’m probably going have to back myself up a couple of times, for sure. He was really fun to watch, and he’s also got the skill, so he’s someone I do want to model my game after.”
ted.kulfan@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @tkulfan