Detroit City Wire

Detroit Red Wings forward prospect Carter Mazur is focusing on his future with the team after a difficult NHL debut last March, which ended in a season-ending upper-body injury during his second shift. Despite the setback, Mazur said he remains positive and committed to his development.

“I was called up for a reason,” Mazur told DetroitRedWings.com. “My game is still there. It’s not a career-ending injury, but the thought of that happening with all my family and friends there is still brutal. However, I have a great support system behind me. Every single one of them supports me no matter what. It was a tough thing to go through, but I have the right people behind me to get me in the right spot.”

Mazur missed several months during the 2024-25 season with the Grand Rapids Griffins due to another upper-body injury but returned to contribute 15 points in 20 games for Detroit’s American Hockey League affiliate.

“Already having a year in the American Hockey League under my belt, I felt more comfortable last year,” Mazur said. “That helped me a lot. I trust my ability, and I always go back to that. I feel like I have some skill and snarl to my game…And out of the 20 games I did play, I felt like my game added a lot to the group.”

To prepare for next season and reduce injury risk, Mazur has focused on offseason training and nutrition, gaining 15 pounds of muscle this summer with help from Griffins staff.

“Gaining strength was always a big part of probably why I’ve gotten hurt a lot,” Mazur said. “I’m on the smaller side, but [Griffins Strength and Conditioning Coordinator] Marcus [Kinney] and [Griffins Physical Therapist] Zack Harvey put me in a good spot heading into the summer. Just keeping that muscle on, figuring out more about my body and what I really need is huge.”

Mazur credited his teammates for their support throughout an adversity-filled season.

“I keep in touch with a lot of those guys, mostly every day,” Mazur said. “It’s easy to just show up to the rink, be around your buddies and go to work with them. It’s a lot of fun. Shai Buium was my roommate, so I practically got to be around him 24/7. There are so many other guys there who, like me, want the same goal. It’s easy to push each other to get to that goal.”

He also highlighted Grand Rapids head coach Dan Watson as an important mentor during his recovery.

“Last year, especially when I was hurt, he was the one who would always come up to and start talking with me,” Mazur said about Watson. “Since I couldn’t be out there, I didn’t really have anything to talk about hockey wise, but he always made sure to get it away from hockey and go to personal life stuff. That really helps around the rink, gets away from all that and then when it’s really time to lock in, he’s really dialed in on everything. He’s an unbelievable guy and coach to play for.”

With training camp approaching this fall, Mazur aims for improved performance as he competes for an Opening Night roster spot.

“After being [with the Red Wings], it makes it even clearer how much I need to be better,” Mazur said. “I need to push myself and I want to help them get back to the playoffs. I know I can get to that level. I have the ability, so it’s just about staying healthy. I’ve been through a lot of injuries, and I feel like I’ve come back better and stronger from every single one. I can’t really look at this one any differently.”