Detroit Red Wings sign 6-foot-6 winger as NHL season quickly approaches

While size isn't as big of a factor as it once was in the hockey world, great size can still be a major asset in today's game, and that's what Isaac Ratcliffe will be hoping as he signed a professional tryout with the Detroit Red Wings as training camp officially kicks off.

The 25-year old stands at a very imposing 6-foot-6 on the ice, and was drafted in the second-round of the 2017 NHL Draft by the Philadelphia Flyers, but ultimately he struggled to catch on with the team. Back in 2021, the now 25-year old played in 10 NHL games with the team, tallying 1 goal and 4 points in that time, but hasn't managed to make his way back to the top league since then.

Ratcliffe spent the 2023/24 season with the Chicago Wolves of the AHL, playing in 66 games and netting 7 goals and 10 points, so while the production may not be there, he could be an asset at the NHL level on the fourth line given his size. In Detroit, the top-six appears to be set with the likes of Patrik Kane, Dylan Larkin, Alex DeBrincat and Vladimir Tarasenko leading the way, but with the bottom-six being wide open, this could be the best opportunity Ratcliffe has for a permanent NHL role, so he should be a very intriguing story to watch in Red Wings camp.