panoo

But MSU star won't be rushed
July 7, 2007
BY GEORGE SIPPLE
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER

Justin Abdelkader won an NCAA championship with Michigan State and is a former recipient of Michigan's Mr. Hockey award.

But the best honor -- playing for the Red Wings -- might still be yet to come.

"We love his intensity," said Red Wings assistant general manager Jim Nill. "One of the reasons we drafted him is because of the physical aspect he can bring. His offensive skills are starting to develop more. We projected him to be a three-year college player."

Abdelkader, who is participating in a conditioning camp for Wings prospects through Tuesday at Joe Louis Arena, won Mr. Hockey as a senior at Muskegon Mona Shores in 2004. He was selected 42nd overall by the Wings in the 2005 NHL draft and scored 10 goals and 22 points as a freshman at MSU in 2005-06.

Last season, he scored 15 goals and 33 points for the Spartans, who won the NCAA title game, 3-1, against Boston College. Abdelkader snapped a tie in that game by scoring with 18.9 seconds remaining, and was named most outstanding player of the tournament.

"Scoring that goal shows I can do it at crunch time and hopefully (I) bring that confidence over to next year and keep it going," Abdelkader said Friday.

Nill said Abdelkader's game can continue to improve in East Lansing, so the Wings had no immediate reason to send the 6-foot-2, 203-pound left wing to Grand Rapids, the Wings' American Hockey League affiliate.

"We're not big into rushing kids," Nill said. "He had a great finish to the year. Play one more year. Be the leader of the team. Be the big fish in the small pond. Win it again and fine-tune your game.

"We're very happy with his strength. He has a good weight to him and I think he can put more weight on. Michigan State's done a good job developing him."

Abdelkader has enjoyed a summer with teammates reminiscing about their title run. The Spartans recently went to Washington to meet President George W. Bush. Abdelkader said the team has watched the title game together about a half-dozen times.

"We still get nervous (that) last minute, hoping we're going to score," he said. "It's still pretty special watching.

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