Lombardi using 2025 NHL Prospect Games as launchpad into Training Camp

FRISCO, Texas -- Amadeus Lombardi, who turned 22 in June, is one of the elder statesmen on the Detroit Red Wings’ 2025 NHL Prospect Games roster. But it wasn’t that long ago that the Grand Rapids Griffins forward was the recipient of veteran mentorship while participating in this annual tournament, either.

So, for Lombardi, this weekend is all about elevating both himself and his teammates.

“I’m happy to be here, helping the younger guys and get some momentum going into [Training] Camp,” Lombardi said following Detroit’s 6-2 win over the Dallas Stars at Comerica Center on Saturday night. “I’m excited for it.”

Lombardi and the Red Wings will look to sweep this year’s edition of the NHL Prospect Games on Sunday night. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. CT, with streaming available on DetroitRedWings.com and the Red Wings Mobile App.

Added to Detroit’s NHL Prospect Games roster on Saturday morning, Lombardi said there’s a lot he wants to prove not only in Texas but in the weeks ahead.

“Showing that I got stronger and can handle pressure,” Lombardi said. “I’m not going to be a guy that’s running around dropping guys left and right, but if I can be able to protect the puck a little better that’s going to be a big thing. The other thing is just defensively, being more responsible, playing a 200-foot game and getting trust from the coaches more. I’m going into my third year with the same staff, getting comfortable with them. Hopefully, they trust me more and I obviously need to earn that trust.”

Reflecting on his 2024-25 campaign in the American Hockey Leage, in which an upper-body injury limited him to 44 regular-season games, Lombardi said he felt he played well when healthy.

“It was a shortened season,” said Lombardi, who tallied 40 points (19 goals, 21 assists) last season. “It was positive and trending upwards from my first year, when I was playing more of a limited role. Last year, I stepped into a big role…especially coming back from that injury.”

Just like his Prospect Games teammates, Lombardi has NHL aspirations. Selected by Detroit in the fourth round (No. 113 overall) of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, Lombardi explained how chasing that childhood dream also requires a lot of self-awareness.

“It’s every kids’ dream to play in the NHL,” Lombardi said. “But it’s also important to stay focused and in the present, don’t worry about the past or the future. Stay in the now. There’s a plan above, so just follow that plan. Trust yourself, and hopefully good things will happen.”

Maintaining that one-day-at-a-time approach will one day, Lombardi strongly believes, pay dividends.

“Last year, I figured out the offensive side of things,” Lombardi said. “I felt more confident…Now, it’s about reeling it back in, playing responsible, earning the coaches’ trust and being put in all situations. Growing that other side of my game. I think I can help the team with that.”