On a night that was supposed to be just another step in the Detroit Red Wings’ playoff chase, Carter Mazur’s return to the NHL spotlight turned into a story of resilience, family, and hope for a franchise looking for a spark. Called up from the Grand Rapids Griffins on his 24th birthday, Mazur laced up his skates at Little Caesars Arena for only his second NHL appearance—and this time, he got to savor every second.
It’s been a long, winding journey for the Jackson, Michigan native. Drafted in the third round (70th overall) of the 2021 NHL Draft out of Denver University, Mazur’s professional path has been marked by both promise and pain. His NHL debut on March 5, 2025, was heartbreakingly brief—just 1 minute and 10 seconds into his second shift, a dislocated elbow ended his season and left him waiting over a year for another shot with the Red Wings.
“I was at the (Grand Rapids Griffins) morning skate and coach (Dan) Watson came in and said, ‘You should answer your phone,’” Mazur recalled with a grin. “And then I had a good feeling of what it may be, and especially on my birthday. It was a whirlwind.”
That whirlwind brought him back to Detroit’s lineup for Saturday’s 5-3 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, where he logged just over 10 minutes of ice time—far more than the fleeting seconds of his first NHL game. The occasion was made even more special by the crowd: Mazur estimated that at least 150 friends and family members, rallied by his father, filled the stands to cheer him on. “I only told my dad, and I want to say that he said 150 people showed up, I didn’t even know,” Mazur said. “But I kind of let him handle all that and tell people I was playing.”
He laughed when asked about the ticket bill: “I only got four, so they got them themselves, thank God. But no, it’s good to have that support from Jackson.”
For Mazur, the call-up wasn’t just a birthday present—it was a testament to perseverance. After his devastating NHL debut injury, Mazur returned to the Griffins this season with high hopes, only to be sidelined again by a lower body injury that cost him 48 games. Yet, in the 14 games since his return, he’s shown the scoring touch that made him a top prospect, notching 11 goals and 15 points. “It’s been a tough road, but I feel like I got better from it again,” Mazur said. “I’m here for a reason again, but it has been a long road for sure.”
Red Wings coach Todd McLellan admitted that Mazur wasn’t on his radar at the start of the season, given the roster’s depth and the forward’s absence due to injury. “I didn’t know a lot about Carter,” McLellan said. “Even through training camp, there’s so many players this year. We were together for six, seven days, and then an exhibition season, and there’s so many to manage that it’s hard to really get to know an individual, so you rely a lot on individuals in the organization. Anything that we saw this year, he really wasn’t involved in because of another injury, which has been unfortunate to him.”
But Mazur’s recent run in Grand Rapids was impossible to ignore. “Since he’s been back, though, he’s been quite an effective player down there, and we’ve always tried to tap into those players that are playing well and maybe productive there and bring them up and see if they can give us a spark. I think he provided that, but it wasn’t an easy game to come and play when the rest of the group was pretty flat,” McLellan added.
Detroit’s playoff hopes are hanging by a thread. With a 39-26-8 record and just two points separating them from a postseason berth, the Red Wings are entering a critical three-game road trip with nine games left on the schedule. Mazur is expected to remain in the lineup, and he’s eager to contribute. “I’m just happy to be back here and get back to my game,” Mazur said after Monday’s practice, where he skated on a line with J.T. Compher and David Perron. “It’s a really good feeling. Again, I’m here for a reason. I want to bring energy and spark to this team, and I feel like I can do that. And then I just look forward to showing what I can really do. I’ve only played 14 games this year, so to get back in this and just ramp up my intensity is really all I need to do.”
Mazur’s determination isn’t just talk. Over the offseason, he bulked up to 200 pounds, hoping to withstand the rigors of pro hockey and shake the injury bug that’s bitten him more than most. “I think you just can’t think about it,” Mazur said. “I think I just got to go out there and play my game no matter what. Injuries are part of the game. They happen to a little more to me than a lot of people, but I’ve gone through every single one of them in a good positive way.”
His attitude has impressed the Red Wings’ brass. Mazur is one of only five players from the third round of the 2021 NHL Draft to play in the league, and if he can stay healthy, he could be a big part of Detroit’s future. “If Mazur can stay healthy and produce at the NHL level, he could earn a permanent roster spot with the Red Wings and become a key part of their future plans,” noted a team source.
The Red Wings, meanwhile, are hoping Mazur’s energy can ignite a roster that’s been searching for consistency as the regular season winds down. “It’s hard to play in a game where the whole team was as smelly as we were today, but Carter did a good job,” McLellan quipped after Saturday’s game, a nod to both the team’s struggles and Mazur’s perseverance.
Now, as Detroit gears up for a pivotal stretch, all eyes are on Mazur—not just as a feel-good story, but as a potential difference-maker. His journey has been anything but easy, but his resolve has never wavered. “I’m here for a reason,” Mazur said. “I want to bring energy and spark to this team, and I feel like I can do that.”
With his family in the stands, his health finally on the mend, and his determination as strong as ever, Carter Mazur’s second act in the NHL is just beginning—and the Red Wings are hoping it’s the spark they’ve been waiting for as the playoff race heats up.