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It’s time for Daily Faceoff’s third annual NHL Prospect Pool Breakdown, looking at the best all 32 teams have to offer. We’re highlighting the top 10 prospects for every franchise, their biggest strengths and weaknesses, and so much more.

The criteria for being labeled a “prospect” are simple: players generally have to have played in 50 or fewer NHL games or spent more time outside of the NHL than in it last year. Players over 23 years old are not included, with goaltenders needing to be 25 or under.

Today, we’re checking out the Detroit Red Wings.

While the Yzerplan hasn’t panned out into any tangible NHL success, you can’t argue with the talent waiting in the wings.

The Red Wings might look like a mess on paper, with many not expecting the team to make the playoffs again in 2025-26. Last year saw the promotion of Simon Edvinsson, Marco Kasper and Elmer Soderblom to the big club, with the first two playing significant roles throughout the season. That alone is good, and while there’s a real chance not a single new prospect will earn a full-time gig this coming year, there’s plenty of talent on the way up.

The most exciting element is the arrival of Axel Sandin-Pellikka, the team’s top prospect, in North America. He looked good in his two-game AHL stint after putting up excellent numbers in the SHL and with Sweden at the World Juniors. The Red Wings have always shown a willingness to play the patient game with their star blueliners, and it has worked out quite well for Edvinsson and Moritz Seider so far. I’m excited to see what’s next with ASP.

But that’s just scratching the surface. The team has legit skill at every position, giving them one of the strongest pipelines in hockey.

Biggest Strength

There might not be a harder position to snag depth for than in net. Yet, the Wings have a handful of legit goaltending prospects (which isn’t shocking given they had like 400 contracted crease protectors last year). Both Trey Augustine and Sebastian Cossa look like future NHL starters – don’t be surprised if one is moved out to get immediate help. Rudy Guimond had one of the best seasons of any junior goalie this past year, going 16-0-0 in the regular season and 8-1 with Moncton in the playoffs en route to a QMJHL title. I also thought Michal Pradel was one of the top goaltenders in the 2025 draft, so that’s another high-end pickup.

Biggest Weakness

Left-handed defenders are typically a dime a dozen – but not a single one appears in Detroit’s top 10. I like Shai Buium, and I wouldn’t write off Anton Johansson, either. But I’m not convinced a single LHD is a surefire NHLer. With all the other depth they have, it feels a bit nitpicky. But it seems like the Red Wings focused on finding value in some of the tougher areas to develop and forgot about the left side of the point.

Fast Facts:
NHL GM: Steve Yzerman
Dir. Amateur Scouting: Kris Draper
Chief Amateur Scout: Jesse Wallin
AHL Affiliate: Grand Rapids Griffins
ECHL Affiliate: Toledo Walleye

TOP 10 PROSPECTS

*Axel Sandin-Pellikka (Steven Ellis/The Nation Network)*

1. Axel Sandin-Pellikka, RHD, 20 (Grand Rapids Griffins, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 17th overall, first round in 2023

Sandin-Pellikka was one of the best players at the 2025 World Juniors despite not winning a medal. Back in Sweden, Sandin-Pellikka scored the most goals and points by an SHL junior skater this past season, registering 12 markers and 29 points. His defensive game is solid, too, as you’d hope from a defenseman. Sandin-Pellikka is physically better than we’ve seen from him in recent years, and is much more engaged in clearing out the crease to keep traffic away from his goaltender. I think ASP could step into the NHL this season if the Red Wings needed him to, but there’s no rush. He’s a future top-four defender, and a bit of time honing his skills on the smaller ice in the AHL wouldn’t hurt. It won’t be long until he’s plying his trade at Little Caesars Arena, though.

2. Trey Augustine, G, 20 (Michigan State University, NCAA)

Acquired: Drafted 41st overall, second round in 2023

Fresh off becoming the most successful American goaltender in World Junior Championship history, Augustine has continued his trek to becoming the top goaltender in the NCAA this year. He registered a seven-game winning streak from mid-October until the end of November to help push MSU near the top of the standings. He hasn’t lost consecutive games at any point this year, and while having a good team helps, he routinely is forced to make 30-plus saves against quality opponents. Augustine is ready to take the AHL by storm next year and isn’t far away from challenging for NHL duty, either. He’s about half a foot shorter than Cossa but has been a star at every level. I think the gap between Augustine and Cossa is close, but many scouts I’ve talked to think Augustine has the higher ceiling.

3. Sebastian Cossa, G, 22 (Grand Rapids Griffins, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 15th overall, first round in 2021

*Sebastian Cossa (Taya Gray/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)*

It felt like Cossa was going to challenge for Detroit’s starting job this season – but then they acquired John Gibson. Still, I think he Cossa be in the NHL sooner rather than later. The 22-year-old had a remarkable season with the Grand Rapids Griffins, putting up some of the league’s best numbers for the second straight year. The Red Wings were smart about his development – they sent him to the ECHL for his first year of pro hockey instead of rushing him to the Griffins in 2022-23. Since then, he’s been an absolute force and even won in his NHL debut earlier this season. The 6-foot-6 goaltender has a great frame, is fundamentally sound and has some of the most powerful legs you’ll find of any prospect. I wonder if he becomes trait bait, though.

4. Carter Bear, LW, 18 (Everett Silvertips, WHL)

Acquired: Drafted 13th overall, first round in 2025

A season-ending injury before the playoffs was a big bummer. But he was one of the CHL’s most dangerous forwards this year, registering 40 goals, 82 points and 77 penalty minutes in just 56 games. He’s a difficult player to play against, and his athleticism is top-notch. The injury clearly didn’t scare off the Red Wings, who likely see him as a top-six forward who isn’t afraid to play with a physical edge. I loved this pick by Detroit – a team that needed someone capable of getting pucks on net in the system. Bear is at least another 2-3 years away from NHL duty but I think he’ll adjust just fine.

5. Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, RW, 19 (Grand Rapids Griffins, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 15th overall, first round in 2024

Brandsegg-Nygård played his first year in the top Swedish league, registering a modest 11 points in 42 games. He also made his AHL debut, and was one of Norway’s best players at the World Championship. It was a busy season for the young forward, and while his offensive numbers weren’t anything special, he does so much away from the puck. Brandsegg-Nygård competes as hard as anyone, winning battles against much bigger competition on a regular basis. He was a wicked shot release, although we didn’t get to see it too often this year. I also love how committed he is to being the best two-way threat on every shift, too. MBN might not be a play-driver, but he’s going to be one heck of a support guy.

6. Nate Danielson, C, 20 (Grand Rapids Griffins, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted ninth overall, first round in 2023

*Nate Danielson (Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images)*

Danielson’s game was never going to be about pure skill or offensive domination. Instead, it was about how rounded he was and how he uses his strength and hockey sense to win battles. He had a solid 39 points in 71 AHL games as a pro rookie, and he has impressed in the past two pre-seasons, too. I could see him maxing out as a 40-point NHLer, but he’ll be exceptionally useful in a two-way role. I hope we’ll see him get some NHL action this season, but I don’t expect him to see full-time duty for at least another year as he continues to play with more confidence with the puck.

7. Dmitri Buchelnikov, LW, 21 (CSKA Moskva, KHL)

Acquired: Drafted 52nd overall, second round in 2022

Buchelnikov received plenty of attention after registering a whopping 54 points in 65 games with Vityaz. He was the only 50-point U-22 player in the KHL, beating out top prospects such as Ivan Demidov and Vadim Moroz. The 5-foot-10 forward has always been a bit underrated due to his smaller frame, but he’s quick, skilled, and does excellent work with the puck. His lack of size might be an issue in the NHL, but Buchelnikov has boosted his draft stock in such a big way as a playmaker. Scouts are still a little mixed on him, but I like where Buchelnikov’s game is right now.

8. Carter Mazur, LW, 23 (Grand Rapids Griffins, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 70th overall, third round in 2021

Mazur’s season was limited to just 21 games due to injury, but he still put up a solid 15 points in 20 games. With the way he was playing down the stretch, he could have hit 50 points for the first time in his two-year pro career. He has a great shot, battles hard and plays with a ton of skill. As a secondary scorer, it feels like Mazur has a lot going for him. But his lack of game action last year probably didn’t help his odds of starting next year in the NHL. Maybe he’ll be a mid-season call-up – and I feel like his two-way game will be enough to keep him in the big leagues once he eventually gets called up.

9. William Wallinder, RHD, 22 (Grand Rapids Griffins, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 32nd overall, second round in 2020

*William Wallinder (Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images)*

Wallinder continued to show improvement in his second season in North America, registering 19 points with the Griffins. More importantly, he continued to refine his defensive zone reads while earning some penalty kill time. At 6-foot-4, he has excellent reach and does a great job of taking space away. He doesn’t get enough love for his creativity with the puck – he doesn’t need to do much with it in the AHL but he seems more confident handling it under pressure. I think he’ll be a third-pairing defender at best, but Wallinder has all the makings of someone who can handle it.

10. Amadeus Lombardi, C, 22 (Grand Rapids Griffins, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 113th overall, fourth round in 2022

Lombardi is more than a dude with a great name. He’s also a talented producer, scoring 19 goals and 40 points in 44 games in his second year of pro hockey. Had he played the entire season, we’d be talking about 55 points, easily. Lombardi’s skating has always needed work, but he makes up for it with his incredible hockey IQ and quick hands. His ability to play with just about anyone in the lineup and make noise is impressive. Some scouts wonder if he’ll need to transition into a winger to make the NHL given he’s on the smaller size as a center. But at this point, I have a hard time betting against his natural skill. It just might be another year or two until he’s given a legit chance.

The rest: Jesse Kiiskinen, RW (19), Alexandre Doucet, LW (23), Jakub Rychlovsky, LW (23), Ondrej Becher, C (21), Emmitt Finnie, C (20), Eddie Genborg, RW (18), Brent Solomon, RW (18), Michal Svrecek, C (18), Grayden Robertson-Palmer, C (17), Austin Baker, LW (19), Charlie Forslund, LW (19), Max Plante, LW (19), Kevin Bicker, LW (20), Noah Dower Nilsson, LW (20), Brennan Ali, C (21), Dylan James, LW (21), Max Kilpinen, LW (21), Owen Mehlenbacher, C (21), Red Savage, C (22), Kienan Draper, RW (23), Shai Buium, LHD (22), Anton Johansson, RHD (21), Will Murphy, LHD (17), Nikita Tyurin, LHD (18), John Whipple, LHD, 19), Fisher Scott, LHD (20), Brady Cleveland, LHD (20), Larry Keenan, LHD (20), Jack Phelan, RHD (21), Michal Pradel, G (18), Landon Miller, G (19), Rudy Guimond, G (20)

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