With the Detroit Red Wings battling for the top of the Atlantic Division, there’s been a bit less focus on their prospects this season than in years past.
That, as much as anything, is a sign of the Red Wings turning the corner after so many years rebuilding. Though Detroit looks to snap a nine-year playoff drought, it still has plenty of prospects on the way, including a handful knocking right on the door on the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins. Some have already logged games in Detroit this season.
So, 50 games into the season, it felt like a good time for a midseason update on Detroit’s top 10 prospects, with some analysis on their seasons and outlooks.
The rankings are my own (though you can find Corey Pronman’s most recent under-23 ranking here) and only feature players outside the NHL who are under 23 years old for skaters and under 24 years old for goaltenders. That notably omits right wing Carter Mazur and left-handed defenseman William Wallinder, who are both 23 (though Mazur has missed most of the season because of injury).
Before we dive in, a couple of key takeaways.
First, the Red Wings have plenty of forward talent on the way. I don’t know if any of them will rise to the level of NHL stars, but it’s a nice blend of valuable traits and player types: wingers with edge and scoring touch, a couple of good skating centers, plus a general baseline of hockey sense and competitiveness. And that’s just the forwards. They also have some big-bodied defensemen and two premium goalies. Detroit is lighter on top-four defense prospects, but keep in mind they have four defensemen under the age of 25 in their current NHL lineup, including two on their top pair. Still, adding a young lefty with top-four potential would be ideal.
Second, with the Red Wings now in playoff contention and a handful of prospects who look close to NHL ready, I wonder whether this is the year Detroit starts to deal from its pool of prospects. The Red Wings don’t have room for all their prospects in their NHL lineup, and being willing to move one or two could be an advantage for Detroit at this trade deadline — especially when dealing with teams that want more advanced prospects, as opposed to draft picks, for an expedited retool.
With all that said, here’s the latest on Detroit’s top 10 prospects:
1. Nate Danielson, C, Grand Rapids (AHL), 21
True 200-foot centers with Danielson’s skill level are hard to find, and that’s the biggest reason he sits atop this list. He has the tools to justify it, as a smart, 6-foot-2 pivot who skates and distributes well while remaining defensively responsible. When he’s assertive, it’s easy to see second-line center potential.
The question is the consistency of his production, and that showed up in his 28 games with the Red Wings earlier this year (in which he had 7 points). He also hasn’t really dominated since getting back to Grand Rapids, either, though some transition time is fair to expect. He’s just 21, so there’s a lot of runway left, but Danielson should be a solid middle-six center as his floor.
He could be back in the NHL by the end of this season, but the Griffins want to emphasize compete level with Danielson in his stint back in Grand Rapids — as well as building back some offensive confidence.
“Get back to scoring some goals, feeling good about himself offensively,” Griffins coach Dan Watson said last weekend. “Touch a lot of pucks, play a lot of minutes. Just get back into that rhythm. … Just getting back to doing what he was doing that got him there in the first place, and then adding to what he’s already done to round out his game.”
Nate Danielson has played 28 games for the Red Wings this season. (Rick Osentoski / Imagn Images)
2. Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, LW/RW, Grand Rapids (AHL), 20
After spending nine games with Detroit to begin the season, Brandsegg-Nygård was sent to Grand Rapids to play a bigger role, and he’s been one of the Griffins’ most important players. His 24 points in 31 games are fourth on the Griffins and tied for ninth among AHL rookies. He’s got a big-time shot, and the goal count is going to tick up from his eight so far. But just as important is his physicality, as Brandsegg-Nygård projects to bring a real presence to the Red Wings in the coming years.
I would expect to see him in the NHL for good by this time next year, and possibly sooner.
3. Carter Bear, LW, Everett (WHL), 19
Bear was always going to be a tricky player to evaluate this season, coming off an Achilles injury that ended his season last year. He made Team Canada for the World Juniors, which was a good sign, but didn’t play much at the tournament. I still see plenty of offensive smarts and skill, and he’s dangerous from the half wall on the power play. He’s still willing to throw his body around, too.
But I do want to see him move his feet more, especially since skating isn’t a strength to begin with. In terms of his production, he’s scoring at a slower rate than last season with 1.21 points per game, down from 1.46 in his draft year. Again, though, the injury recovery aspect clouds all of that, and it’s worth noting he has 22 points in his last 13 games.
4. Trey Augustine, G, Michigan State (NCAA), 20
Augustine has been excellent at every level throughout his young career, and that has only continued this season. His .937 save percentage is the second-best mark in the nation, and he has started twice as many games (20) as the only netminder ahead of him. Which is all to say: He has a very strong case as the best goalie in college hockey and has a chance to add to it with a national championship push very much in play for No. 2 Michigan State.
Because Augustine is on the smaller side for a goaltender at 6-1, there will naturally be some measure of uncertainty around his projection until he arrives in the NHL. But his track record to this point is just about unimpeachable, and his numbers through three college seasons closely approximate Jeremy Swayman’s.
Now, the key for the Red Wings is getting Augustine signed after this season. As a college junior, Augustine would have the ability to become a free agent in August 2027 if he goes back to school for his senior year. It should help Detroit’s cause that he’s a local product and that Sebastian Cossa figures to be in the NHL next season, creating a path to lots of playing time in Grand Rapids. But it’s a factor worth mentioning for any college junior, and especially one with another top prospect at his position.
5. Sebastian Cossa, G, Grand Rapids (AHL), 23
Cossa has probably earned an NHL look with his play thus far, earning an AHL All-Star nod for the second straight season with a .932 save percentage (second in the league). That number needs some context, as the Griffins are the league’s best defensive team, and their backup goalies have been equally effective in the crease. But Cossa is now over 100 AHL starts, has proved his ability to carry a heavy workload and deserves an NHL call-up.
The big obstacle to a call-up, at this point, is that the Red Wings are in an extremely tight Eastern Conference playoff race, and starting goalie John Gibson has really found his groove. So from that standpoint, I do get the logic in letting Cossa keep logging plenty of reps in Grand Rapids as the Griffins push for a deep playoff run.
Still, Cossa’s entry-level contract will expire after this season, and it would likely behoove Detroit to get him a few more games before needing to count on him as part of its tandem next year. It’ll be an interesting dynamic for Steve Yzerman to manage down the stretch.
Sebastian Cossa is an AHL All-Star for the second straight year. (Nicolas Carrillo / Grand Rapids Griffins)
6. Anton Johansson, RHD, Leksands (SHL), 21
Johansson has a highly impressive tool kit, as a 6-4 right-shot blueliner who skates well, plays with an edge and has offense in his game as well. He’s regularly playing north of 20 minutes per game in the SHL, and after he had an impressive stint in Grand Rapids at the end of last season, I fully expect him to come over again this spring. His team is last in the SHL, so there’s minimal risk of a playoff run to delay him (though he could have to play in the relegation round).
I debated putting Johansson a couple of spots higher on this list because the tools are legit. He has a real chance to be a 4/5 defenseman, and if he ends up a No. 4, that’s a valuable piece.
7. Eddie Genborg, LW, Timrå (SHL), 18
Genborg’s quickly outperformed his draft slot as a second-round pick last summer, and it’s worth noting Pronman has Genborg ranked above Bear in his most recent under-23 rankings. There’s certainly a lot to like, as a big body who finishes hits and gets to the net: the kind of player the Red Wings need in their lineup.
His production in the SHL this season has been strong, with 15 points in 28 games, trailing only Ivar Stenberg and Anton Frondell among U20 players. And he was a key contributor on Sweden’s gold medal-winning World Junior team as well, with three goals and 8 points in seven games.
He projects as a bottom-six winger in the NHL, but between the physicality and nose for the net, there are plenty of winning elements in his game.
8. Max Plante, LW, Minnesota Duluth (NCAA), 19
Plante is arguably the Hobey Baker favorite at this point, as college hockey’s leading scorer with 20 goals and 38 points in 24 games. He plays in all situations for Minnesota Duluth and has a strong defensive stick in addition to his obvious skill and hockey sense.
His World Juniors didn’t go as hoped, with just one goal in three games before an injury ended his tournament early, but he’ll have more opportunities to prove himself in big moments, as the Bulldogs are the nation’s No. 6 team and should be NCAA Tournament bound.
Plante’s size is part of the question on his projection, as he’s not a dynamic skater for a smaller skilled forward. His smarts and determination should help make up for that and give him a chance to be a middle-six type, but Genborg is the more projectable athlete, and that’s why Plante ranks behind him for me, even though I’m a believer in both players.
9. Amadeus Lombardi, C/LW, Grand Rapids (AHL), 22
Lombardi was the Griffins’ most noticeable player on my recent visit to Grand Rapids, buzzing around the ice and controlling pucks offensively. He missed significant time this season with an injury, but he has 16 points in 16 games. Lombardi is an excellent skater with good hands and vision who can be an entry machine, and he’s ready for an NHL look.
The issue is, where do the Red Wings slot him in, especially since his main drawback is he’s not polished defensively? His NHL role is probably as an energy type who can create some offense lower in the lineup, so being able to be trusted defensively would really help his cause. I do wonder whether Lombardi (as well as Wallinder, who just missed the age threshold for this list) could become a trade candidate, because he’s probably outgrown the AHL without a clear lineup place in Detroit.
10. Shai Buium, LHD, Grand Rapids (AHL), 22
Buium has missed most of this season because of injury, playing just four games. But he’s back now, and will be an interesting player to watch the rest of the way as a smart, big-bodied defenseman with flashes of offense. Skating is the question here, and if he moved like Wallinder or Anton Johansson, he’d be higher on this list. Still, he’s improved his mobility since the draft, and his size and smarts give him a chance — though as he’s 22, the clock is starting to tick.
Honorable mentions: Dmitri Buchelnikov, Jesse Kiiskinen