Red Wings Future Stars: Seth Barton
By Tom Mitsos
5 years agoWith their sixth pick in the 2018 NHL draft, the Detroit Red Wings picked defenseman Seth Barton (third round, 81st overall), their third straight defenseman after picking Jared McIsaac and Alex Regula in the second and third round, respectively.
It’s no secret the Red Wings need help on the blueline, and Barton hopes to be able to fill that need down the line.
BY THE NUMBERS
Stats courtesy Elite Prospects
Barton had a productive season for the BCHL’s Trail Smoke Eaters, scoring six goals and adding 27 assists, and adding three goals and eight assists in 16 playoff games.
The 18-year-old told Detroit Red Wings.com’s Dana Wakiji he hopes to continue to contribute offensively while being sound defensively.
“I think this past year in junior I found my game. I’m a two-way defenseman that can produce points. Hopefully the coaches trust me in any situation so that’s what I try to play as a defenseman. I think that’s what I’ll bring.”
After playing in the BCHL last season, the Kelowna, British Columbia, native will play college hockey at UMass Lowell, so he’ll be looking to make the jump to the pro level in three to four years.
LOOKING FORWARD
The biggest thing to watch with Barton is his size. He’s tall, at 6-foot-2, but he’s undersized at 174 pounds. He’ll definitely need to bulk up if he wants to compete at the NHL level.
The Red Wings’ Red Line Report said Barton is “Big, strong, solid defensive blue-liner is capable of performing a shutdown role. Standout athlete is a second year eligible who emerged out of nowhere in the second half. Great in transition with an explosive start up.”
Barton admitted he will need to work on his physical game when asked by NeutralZone.net where he needs to improve.
From junior hockey to the college level, physicality is a big part. So just the physical strength, which will obviously help the quickness and the change in game the junior level to the college level brings. I’m just working on my physical strength, physical abilities, just skating. I can always improve my skating.
He’s also a right-handed shot, which is always a plus in a league dominated by left-handed defensemen.
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