Detroit City Wire

Carter Mazur is set to make his NHL debut with the Detroit Red Wings against the Utah Hockey Club at Little Caesars Arena on Thursday night. The Jackson, Michigan native expressed excitement about wearing the Red Wings jersey, particularly donning No. 43 in honor of his favorite player, Darren Helm.

Mazur's debut coincides with the first-ever meeting between Detroit and Utah. The teams will conclude their season series on March 24 at Delta Center. Mazur is eager to contribute to the Red Wings' playoff push, saying, "I hope to help them get in the right direction."

Detroit head coach Todd McLellan plans to place Mazur on the fourth line but has not finalized who he will play alongside. McLellan noted that Mazur had a strong training camp and praised his competitive nature and intensity.

Mazur missed part of the season due to an upper-body injury but has since recorded 15 points in 20 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins in the AHL. He expects significant support from family and friends during his debut.

In addition to Mazur's debut, Michael Rasmussen is expected to return to Detroit's lineup after being sidelined since February 23. Rasmussen emphasized resilience despite recent losses: "A couple of games not going our way isn’t going to bring us down."

Detroit recently lost its third consecutive game against Carolina Hurricanes, while Utah remains four points out of a Wild-Card spot in the Western Conference. Utah captain Clayton Keller leads his team with 69 points this season.

Utah goalie Karel Vejmelka signed a five-year contract extension and has posted solid statistics this season. Rasmussen acknowledged Utah's hard work and depth, stating that Detroit must focus on its own game plan.