Unwittingly, perhaps even unknowingly, Detroit Red Wings director of player development Dan Cleary was letting the cat out of the bag during the club’s development camp last week.

Answering a question about Detroit prospect Nate Danielson, Cleary was dropping this little nugget of information.

“When we go to Dallas for prospects tournament . . .” Cleary said.

Wait, what?

The Red Wings have held prospect tournaments in the fall at Center ICE in Traverse City, Michigan for over two decades. It’s a sure sign that summer is over and hockey season is upon us. Traverse City is where Detroit icons like Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk first pulled on the Red Wings jersey and took to the ice for game action.

This fall, that won’t be happening. A tournament that dates back to 1998 isn’t taking place this fall. The Red Wings are heading to Frisco, Texas to partake in a pair of games against the Dallas Stars rookies.

Last year, you will recall that the Stars were the only team other than the Wings in Traverse City for rookie games.

According to a source familiar with the situation, the plan is for the two teams to continue to alternate hosting rookie games. That would mean the Stars will be again visiting Traverse City in the fall of 2026.

Red Wings Tourney Was Once Pinnacle Of NHL Rookie Events

The first tournament in Traverse City featured rookie teams from four different clubs. In its heyday, growth saw the event contesting rookie games among eight teams. Each team would play four games over five days.

By 2023, the tournament was back down to four teams and then last year, just the two clubs.

“Things are changing, evolving in the offseason, development camps, rookie tournaments,” Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman said. “Teams are doing different things.”