NHL Prospect Tournament set for September 2019 in Traverse City

By @StefanKubus – 

The Detroit Red Wings announced Monday that the NHL Prospect Tournament will once again return to Centre Ice Arena in Traverse City for the 21st season.

The tournament will take place prior to the NHL preseason at some point in September, with specific dates to be announced later.

Joining the tournament for the first time ever will be the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Leafs join the Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild, New York Rangers, St. Louis Blues and Red Wings to make it an eight-team pool.

The eight-team field will split into two four-team divisions. Teams face each team in their division during the round robin before a crossover on the last day of the tournament, capped off with the first-place finishers in each division meeting for the championship on the final day of the tournament.

The Columbus Blue Jackets won the tournament this year. The Red Wings’ only title came in 2013.