With the common season wrapping up across the junior and school ranks, a handful of Detroit Crimson Wings prospects discover themselves enjoying key roles for his or her respective groups. Whereas the staff has one of many league’s prime prospect methods, when can we count on to see a few of its prime prospects in a Winged Wheel jersey?
G Trey Augustine
2023-24 stats (Michigan State College – NCAA): 21-8-2, .919 save proportion (SV%), 2.86 goals-against common (GAA), three shutouts
After being seen as a shock decide by common supervisor Steve Yzerman in final 12 months’s draft, even with being the third-ranked North American goaltender, Trey Augustine has silenced the potential doubters of his choice by the Crimson Wings within the second spherical throughout his freshman season at Michigan State College. This comes after he helped backstop Crew USA to a gold medal on the 2024 World Junior Championship.
Whereas not the most important in stature (6-foot-1), Augustine’s skillset permits him to play a “larger” sport within the crease and might take away time and area on shooters. In his first season in school hockey, he has change into among the finest goaltenders within the Division One ranks and helped the Spartans win their first Huge Ten common season championship this season. He’s additionally a finalist for Goaltender of the 12 months within the convention.
Whereas Augustine’s season has been fairly spectacular, he’s additionally one of many youngest gamers within the school ranks, turning 19 years outdated on Feb. 23. Together with his age, the Crimson Wings are almost certainly to let him season and proceed to develop at Michigan State for some time longer earlier than having him leap to the skilled ranks.
ETA: 2027-28
LW Dmitri Buchelnikov
2023-24 stats (three groups): 66 GP – 16 targets, 26 assists, 42 factors
One other participant that Yzerman drafted at an fascinating level within the draft was his number of Dmitri Buchelnkiov within the second spherical of the 2022 Draft. When taken, Buchelnikov was identified extra as an offensively-minded ahead with a powerful skillset within the offensive zone. His puck dealing with stands proud probably the most in his offensive sport, however he has a powerful shot and powerful hockey IQ that enables him to search out teammates.
However this season, which he has spent most of with Admiral Vladivostok of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), Buchelnikov has proven an improved all-around sport that’s seemingly underrated. This consists of displaying off the willingness to battle within the soiled areas of the ice and enjoying extra of a sound defensive sport as properly. Even with this improved all-around sport, it’d nonetheless find yourself being just a few years earlier than he makes his technique to the Crimson Wings lineup. His present contract within the KHL runs by the 2025-26 season.
Together with his skillset, and if he can proceed to develop his sport at each ends of the ice, he may discover himself with a brief stint with the Griffins in Grand Rapids earlier than making his technique to Detroit. He might not find yourself making the influence that somebody like Sergei Fedorov or Pavel Datsyuk made for the Crimson Wings, however he may simply change into one more Russian-born participant who carves out a stable profession in a Winged Wheel jersey.
ETA: 2026-27 with an opportunity to earn a call-up through the 2025-26 season with stable play in Grand Rapids
G Sebastian Cossa
2023-24 stats (Grand Rapids Griffins – American Hockey League): 14-7-8, .911 SV%, 2.58 GAA, one shutout
After the Crimson Wings traded up within the 2021 Draft to take Sebastian Cossa, the hopes had been that he would change into the eventual franchise goalie the group had been in search of. However after a subpar begin to his skilled profession with the Griffins, he spent many of the season within the ECHL with the Toledo Walleye, the place he regarded assured and succesful. This earned him a promotion to Grand Rapids this season, the place he had an up-and-down season to start however has been in a position to showcase why the Crimson Wings drafted him with the fifteenth decide in 2021.
Cossa’s sport has gone to a different degree because the season has progressed for the Griffins and he’s a key cause why the staff has had the success it has. He has seemingly been in a position to change into extra comfy and assured within the crease this season and has regarded each little bit of the goalie that Yzerman and the Crimson Wings hoped he would. With the goaltending state of affairs being unsettled with the group going ahead, Cossa may discover himself ready to earn a spot on the roster within the close to future.
ETA: 2025-26
C Nate Danielson
2023-24 stats (Brandon Wheat Kings/Portland Winterhawks – Western Hockey League): 51 GP – 24 targets, 38 assists, 62 factors
After being a shock in his first preseason with the Crimson Wings, Nate Danielson has continued to be a spotlight reel to observe for WHL and Crimson Wings followers. Whereas being on a Brandon Wheat Kings staff that struggled this season, Danielson was traded to Portland, the place he has been in a position to higher showcase his offensive sport with a stronger staff.
The explanation the Crimson Wings drafted him was not resulting from his offense however extra of his all-around, two-way sport that he possesses. That has been displayed within the WHL this season and with Crew Canada within the 2024 World Junior Championship. He stood out for Canada as one in all its finest all-around gamers whereas being a pest at each ends of the ice. His vitality and motor have helped lead him to earn penalty-kill time in addition to being a powerful face-off participant.
If Danielson’s sport can keep on the tempo and improvement it has to this point this season, he ought to once more discover himself in a Crimson Wings jersey subsequent preseason. Whereas he might not be 100% prepared for the leap to the NHL, he could be despatched to Grand Rapids as an alternative of again to junior hockey. It is because, after this season, he would have performed 4 seasons within the Canadian Hockey League (CHL). With a powerful displaying within the preseason, he ought to discover himself within the Griffins’ lineup and the NHL not too lengthy after.
ETA: 2025-26
D Simon Edvinsson
2023-24 stats (Grand Rapids): 52 GP – 8 targets, 21 assists, 29 factors
The massive-bodied defenseman that the Crimson Wings took with the sixth total decide within the 2021 Draft, Simon Edvinsson, has begun to show his sport into a completely developed sport, with many followers calling for him to get a full-time call-up now. With the Crimson Wings’ protection enjoying like they’ve this season, there may be an out of doors probability he’ll earn that if the staff continues to battle.
Associated: Crimson Wings Prime 25 Prospects: 2023-24 Midseason Replace
With the Griffins this season, Edvinsson has been the staff’s strongest defenseman. He has been caught flat-footed or out of place just a few occasions, however that occurs to each defenseman. He’s beginning to change into extra concerned offensively and that has put strain on Yzerman and the group to determine what to do with him. There needs to be no cause that the quantity 9 ranked prospect within the NHL by our personal Logan Horn doesn’t discover himself in a top-four and power-play function heading into the 2024-25 season.
ETA: 2024-25
C Marco Kasper
2023-24 stats (Grand Rapids): 56 GP – 11 targets, 16 assists, 27 factors
After making his NHL debut in the direction of the tip of final season, there have been excessive hopes that 2022 first-round decide Marco Kasper may get wholesome and make a push for a roster spot with the Crimson Wings this season. However he ended up in Grand Rapids as a result of mixture of low season additions that Yzerman made and the truth that Kasper struggled in his preseason alternatives. His season began gradual production-wise, however he saved pushing on and was a pest for opponents.
Over time, the offense has began to select up and match the remainder of his play, and Kasper has change into one of many Griffins’ higher forwards this season. Whether or not or not it’s leaping into the soiled areas and enjoying a bodily sport or lastly beginning to show his sturdy offensive talent set, he has proven that he’s inching nearer to being prepared for the NHL degree. Relying on what occurs with the variety of pending free brokers the group has this upcoming low season, Kasper may discover himself in a center to bottom-six function with the staff subsequent season. That is additionally depending on a powerful coaching camp and preseason as properly.
ETA: 2024-25
LW Carter Mazur
2023-24 stats (Grand Rapids): 50 GP – 15 targets, 16 assists, 31 factors
One other participant who’s a pest and has a gritty facet to his sport, like Kasper, Carter Mazur has developed himself right into a participant who ought to discover himself as a bottom-six sort of participant who can convey some depth scoring to the Crimson Wings’ lineup. There have been hopes that he would have a powerful displaying in each the Traverse Metropolis Prospects Event and in coaching camp, however he ended up getting harm within the match’s first sport and lacking out on a possibility to showcase his growing sport whereas being despatched to Grand Rapids.
Mazur has showcased his sport for the Griffins this season and may push for a spot within the lineup for the Crimson Wings, hopefully as early as subsequent season if he can end this season on a excessive observe.
ETA: 2024-25
D Axel Sandin Pellikka
2023-24 stats (Skellefteå AIK- SHL): 39 GP – 10 targets, 8 assists, 18 factors
With the decide the Crimson Wings acquired within the Filip Hronek commerce with the Vancouver Canucks, they took Axel Sandin Pellikka. The 19-year-old Swedish defenseman has developed his sport to the purpose that many have believed that Yzerman received a steal within the draft. Between his offensive sport being the strongest swimsuit of his sport and slowly progressing defensively, Pellikka has earned excessive reward for his play within the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) this season.
Whereas his defensive sport may nonetheless use some work, his offensive sport may be very a lot a welcomed signal within the Crimson Wings pipeline and will result in him making the leap to the NHL faster than different gamers might. However gamers have discovered that making the leap to the North American fashion sport is a studying curve. The almost certainly route for the Crimson Wings to go is the Moritz Seider route. Bringing Pellikka over to Grand Rapids and letting him get his toes moist within the skilled sport whereas adjusting to the play would do him wonders. If he can show he’s prepared, there’s a probability that he may earn a shot within the NHL lineup earlier than the tip of subsequent season.
ETA: Late season call-up in 2024-25 with a full-time spot in 2025-26
LW/RW Elmer Soderblom
2023-24 stats (Grand Rapids): 52 GP: 9 targets, 15 assists, 24 factors
After incomes a spot within the opening evening lineup with the Crimson Wings final season, big-bodied winger Elmer Soderblom performed 21 video games within the NHL earlier than spending the remainder of the season with the Griffins. There have been hopes that he may make the subsequent steps in his improvement this previous offseason to earn one other shot within the NHL, however was a sufferer of the brand new additions within the ahead grouping and located himself in Grand Rapids as soon as once more this season.
Soderblom began off gradual like Kasper did with the Griffins, however likewise has seen his sport progress because the season has gone on. He has been in a position to benefit from his huge body (6-foot-8) to play a powerful offensive sport because of a powerful shot. His playmaking talents have been extra on show this season as properly, showcasing sturdy hockey IQ and passing capacity. With the uncertainty of the pending free brokers within the group, Soderblom has an out of doors probability of incomes himself a shot as soon as once more within the Crimson Wings lineup subsequent season as one other depth participant who generally is a net-front presence and trigger havoc within the offensive zone along with his dimension.
ETA: 2024-25
D William Wallinder
2023-24 stats (Grand Rapids): 52 GP – 3 targets, 11 assists, 14 factors
After Yzerman stunned some along with his number of William Wallinder within the second spherical of the 2020 Draft, Wallinder ended up making his transfer to North America full-time this season with the Griffins. The shock by many got here within the type of that Wallinder is a uncooked expertise that may want some improvement and time earlier than making his technique to the NHL.
The transfer to Grand Rapids was a studying curve for Wallinder, as it’s for lots of European gamers. However he’s one other participant who has seen his sport catch as much as the sport fashion in North America. With him, Edvinsson and Albert Johansson holding down the fort on the again finish for the Griffins, they’ve created a powerful grouping defensively. One other season in Grand Rapids blended in with extra gamers within the Crimson Wings lineup heading in the direction of free company after the 2024-25 season, Wallinder may make the leap to the NHL within the 2025-26 season full-time.
ETA: 2025-26
Plans Might Change
Whereas the Crimson Wings have a lot of prospects within the pipeline that may very well be pushing for roster spots within the close to future, Yzerman may find yourself doing what he did this final offseason by including veteran items to spherical out the roster that takes spots from these youngsters. Crimson Wings followers have seen previously with former GM Ken Holland letting prospects play fairly some time in Grand Rapids earlier than getting their full-time shot within the NHL. The hope is that a minimum of just a few of the highest prospects could make selections more durable on Yzerman relating to roster and lineup decisions within the not-so-distant future.
*All stats are as of March 17, 2024*