More Yzerman Draftees May Join Red Wings in 2023-24

Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman will never hand out roster spots on the basis of pedigree. The only guarantee a Detroit first round pick gets is an invitation to development camp.

Yzerman wants them to earn their opportunities. He made that clear again last month when he signed a handful of free agent veterans. Yzerman isn’t holding spots open for rookies. His position is that if a younger play shows he deserves a place on the roster, then Yzerman will figure out how to give it to him.

“I’m not going to tell any of these kids, ‘Hey, you’re not on the team next year,” Yzerman said. “Go out and play well and perform. Two years ago we were sure our plan was Lucas (Raymond) was going to need a year in the American League. We’re watching him in Sweden and don’t really know. Then he came over and performed really well – he looks good in rookie tournament, he looks good in preseason. Well, we’ll start him off in the NHL and hopefully he doesn’t go backwards, and he had a good year.

With Yzerman’s mini speech, we take a look at which Detroit draft picks might get NHL playing time in 2023-24:

Simon Edvinsson (Drafted 6th, 2021)

On one hand, he showed his potential in his brief trial with the Red Wings. On the other hand, Yzerman signed veteran defensemen Shayne Gostisbehere and Justin Holl. Detroit has six veteran defensemen.

Plus, he is coming off surgery.

What Yzerman said last month after signing two defensemen: “We have high hopes for Simon. I’m not prepared to put him on the team in a top-six role. Certainly, I don’t think it’s beyond a possibility that Simon comes in and had an outstanding training camp, and outstanding preseason and simply forces his way into the lineup. That’s what every one of us – our fans, our organization – would love to see. And if that happens, that’s great.”

If Edvinsson starts in Grand Rapids don’t fret, NHL teams always have injuries. Edvinsson is going to end up in the Red Wings’ lineup in 2023-24.

Marco Kasper (Drafted 8th, 2022)

Just based on his one NHL game, you want to believe he will get a chance this season. This is a serious young man with serious ability. But his chance may not come at the start of the season.

Unless he performs like Raymond did in his first NHL preseason, it makes too much sense for him to pick up some AHL experience. He will benefit from that.

But if he looks sharp against AHL competition, he will get his chance at the NHL.

Albert Johansson (Drafted 60th overall in 2019)

If Johansson wouldn’t have been injured late in the season, he probably would have been promoted to Detroit for some games late in the season. The Red Wings appreciate his consistency and how he has worked on his development.

He doesn’t have the offensive upside that Edvinsson has, but he is an NHL defender.

William Wallinder (Drafted 32nd overall in 2020)

Because this is Wallinder’s first season in North America and he likely will play the entire season in Grand Rapids. Even Seider logged a season in Grand Rapids.

The Red Wings would like to see Wallinder be a difference-maker at the AHL level. He needs to be a 20-minute defenseman and an offensive contributor.

Carter Mazur (Drafted 70th overall in 2021)

If you like to play hunches or root for the underdog, Mazur is your guy. He’s a fourth round pick and only played five games for Grand Rapids at the end of the last season . He probably should play a full season in Grand Rapids.

But there is something about his blend of spunk, scoring touch and all-around play that makes you believe there is a chance he could earn some game in the NHL this season.

Amadeus Lombardi (Drafted 113th overall in 2022)

Most people in Red Wings Nation are both excited and curious to see what Lombardi will do in professional hockey. He has a dominant performer as Flint Firebirds center in the Ontario Hockey League in 2022-23  Based on Yzerman’s history, unless Lombardi dominates at the AHL level, Yzerman will want him to play a full season with the Griffins.

Don’t forget that Jonatan Berggren played well at the AHL level and Yzerman still didn’t call him up. The Red Wings want to be patient with Lombardi

Cross Hanas (Drafted 55th overall in 2020)

The Red Wings were impressed with how Hanas played against AHL competition last season. He had nine goals and 17 points in 30 games. What they didn’t like was that he suffered an injury that cost him almost 50 games.

If Hanas had played a full AHL season in 2022-23, we might be talking about his chances of playing in the NHL. But the Red Wings want him to play those AHL games he missed last season.

William Wallinder (Drafted 32nd overall in 2020)

Because this is Wallinder’s first season in North America, he likely will play the entire season in Grand Rapids. Even Seider logged a season in Grand Rapids.

The Red Wings would like to see Wallinder be a difference-maker at the AHL level. He needs to be a 20-minute defenseman and an offensive contributor.

Elmer Soderblom (Drafted 159th overall in 2019)

It’s difficult to project what Soderblom’s status is. He had five goals in 20 games at the NHL level and five in 21 in the AHL. He was injured for the rest of the season. Soderblom is still 6-foot-8 with a scoring touch. The Red Winpgs want to be bigger this season.

If there are no injuries, Detroit’s 13-person forward group looks set. And the path to a roster spot becomes more challenging if Kasper makes the team coming out of training camp.

All Soderblom knows for sure: he must play well in preseason to have a chance to make it.

Jared McIsaac (Drafted 36th overall in 2018)

He may not be considered a premium prospect, but the Red Wings haven’t given up on Defenseman McIsaac. The Red Wings qualified him and he will be an important player for new coach Dan Watson in Grand Rapids.

If the Red Wings run into injury problems on defense, it’s not unthinkable Yzerman would consider McIsaac. He has 131 games of AHL experience.

Antti Tuomisto (Drafted 35th overall in 2019)

The 6-foot-5 Finn had a strong season in Finland’s top league in 2022-23. But he will likely need to play the entire season in the AHL.