It’s been quite a renaissance for the Grand Rapids Griffins.

They have fully recovered from a slow start (losing nine of 11 games) to producing a points streak that has hit 18 games going into tonight’s game at Cleveland. The Griffins can tie the team record of points in 19 in a row tonight by picking up a point against the Columbus Blue Jackets’ American Hockey League affiliate.

Grand Rapids, a team brimming with prospects under first-year coach Dan Watson, is 13-0-3-2 in the streak, including three overtime losses and two in shootouts. It hasn’t suffered a regulation loss since Jan. 12.

“We’ve been meshing pretty well as a team and getting pretty close and I think it’s kind of translating to the ice as well,” forward Cross Hanas said. “And I think we’re just having a lot more fun together out there.”

Part of the reason for the slow start, Hanas said, was an influx of young players.  They needed time to adjust to hockey at the AHL level.

“At the beginning of (2024) we were starting to trend that way.  But some of the results were kind of not going our way,” he said. “But all those games are good for us as a team and as a unit throughout the season.  I think as of lately a lot of the results have been coming our way with the points and the wins.  We’ve been better in our D zone, which has been translating to the offensive zone. We’ve been putting the puck in the back of the net and winning games.”

Griffins Red Hot After Ice-Cold Start

The streak hit 18 when the Griffins lost 5-4 in overtime to Rockford on Saturday night. It snapped a six-game winning streak.

It’s the longest point streak for the Griffins since 2015, when Jeff Blashill was coach and the roster included the likes of Petr Mrazek, Teemu Pulkkinen, Andreas Athanasiou, Martin Frk and Anthony Mantha. That team had points in 19 consecutive games from Feb. 4 until March 20. Tyler Bertuzzi joined the Griffins in April after his Ontario Hockey League season was completed. Dylan Larkin was on that team for the playoffs after leaving the University of Michigan.

Mrazek was with the Red Wings and then was sent to Grand Rapids on Feb. 17.  He contributed to the streak by earning AHL Player of the Week honors for the week ending March 1. Mrazek posted three road wins in a row with a combined 0.67 goals-against average and .976 save percentage.

As part of that run, he had back-to-back road shutouts against the Milwaukee Admirals and Chicago Wolves. He kept rolling, recording three shutouts in four games. Mrazek gave up only two goals in a span of 247.21 minutes of playing time. He had a 0.49 GAA and .983 save percentage (117 saves on 119 shots) during his hot spell.

The Red Wings recalled him on March 9 while the Griffins points streak was still going on. Today, Mrazek is playing impressively as the Chicago Blackhawks’ starting goalie.

The Griffins, currently second in the AHL’s Central Division, will be tested tonight. They take on a Cleveland team sitting atop the AHL North. The Monsters are on a streak of their own, with points in nine of their last 10 games.

The Griffins haven’t lost to Cleveland in regulation this year, with  1-0-2-2 record against the Monsters.

The post Mrazek Was Hot Last Time The Griffins Racked Up Points Like This appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Cross Hanas’ first two years of pro hockey is a reminder that a young player’s journey is rarely a straight line. There are detours and sidetracks, due to injury or ineffectiveness or simple bad luck.

Hanas, drafted 55th overall in 2020, has been held back by injuries. He missed 42 games last year in Grand Rapids, including the last 30 contests.

The post Griffins Coach Dan Watson: Hanas ‘Getting Better Looks’ (+) appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Cross Hanas spent much of last season rehabbing a shoulder injury that ended his season in February last year.

First came the physical rehab, which was successful. Then came the mental rehab.

“I never really thought about that when I first got hurt, how hard it is on the mental side to come back from an injury,” the Texas native said. “I feel like that’s probably taken the longest than my actual physical side did. So it is tough, but it’s something that obviously you build towards and you work towards.”

The post Hanas Works to Return to Level Before Injury (+) appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

The 2023-24 seas0n is nearly two months along, and beginning this week we’ll be keeping tabs on Red Wings prospects in the minors, or juniors, or in college in what we’re calling the Prospect Watch.

It’s not a ranking or assessment of talent, (For now, we’ll leave that to the guys Chris Ilitch is paying to do that) but it will be a snapshot of how prospects fared in the previous week. So the fact that players move up and down on this list is purely our perception, not where we think they rank in the organization.

Sandin Pellikka Off to Fast Start

Axel Sandin Pellikka is off to a blazing start in Sweden, recording his seventh goal in 18 games this season. That’s good for a forward. It’s amazing f0r a defenseman. Sandin Pellikka. the 17th overall pick last summer,  is off to the best start for a teenage defenseman in Sweden in 40 years. Ulf Samuelsson, who was very briefly a Red Wing at the end of his NHL career, had nine goals in 33 games in 1982-83.

Axel Sandin Pellikka (#LGRW) had the first three-point game of his SHL career on Nov 16th.

It was also a transition masterclass, showcasing why he's quickly becoming one of the best defensive prospects in the sport.

Highlights: pic.twitter.com/jdOI84wFsn

— Lassi Alanen (@lassialanen) November 18, 2023

Trey Augustine had a big weekend for the red-hot Michigan State hockey team. He was in net for both games as the Spartans (10-3-1) swept top-ranked Wisconsin. Augustine has a GAA of 2.99, a save percentage of . 913 and is 9-3-1 with a shutout while playing in 13 of MSU’s 14 games this season.

Simon Edvinsson has had a solid start even as the Grand Rapids Griffins stumble. The Griffins were swept by the Texas Stars last weekend. Edvinsson had a pair of assists in a 7-4 loss on Saturday. He has three goals in 13 games this season, well ahead of last year’s pace.

Mazur Hot After Return From Injury

Carter Mazur, who missed training camp with an injury suffered in Traverse City two months ago, has five points in seven games so far this season. He has two goals and three assists. That’s the same as Cross Hanas and Amadeus Lombardi, who have played in 13 and 12 games, respectively.

Red Savage is off to a good start at Michigan State after transferring from Miami (Ohio). He has four goals and 14 points in as many games for the Spartans.

Nate Danielson makes scoring goals look soooooo easy!@bdnwheatkings | @DetroitRedWings pic.twitter.com/M9Rc4vq6DA

— The WHL (@TheWHL) November 18, 2023

Nate Danielson and Emmitt Finnie represented the Western Hockey League at each end of last summer’s draft. Danielson, the No. 9 overall selection, was impressive in training camp before beginning the season with Brandon. He has five goals and 13 points. Finnie, taken in the seventh round at No. 201, has four goals and 13 points for Kamloops.

Red Wings 2023 draftee Jack Phelan (137th overall) was among the 22 players named to the 2023 U.S. Junior Select Team that will compete at the 2023 World Junior A Challenge from December 10-17 in Truro, Nova Scotia. The 19-year-old defenseman is showing 1-4-5 totals with the USHL’s Sioux Falls Stampede.

The post Red Wings Prospect Watch: Trey Augustine Posts Big Wins appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

It was his number long before he became a Detroit Red Wings prospect, but Cross Hanas knows for sure when the day comes that he makes the grade as an NHLer with the Wings, it won’t be the number he’ll be wearing on his back.

That’s because Grand Rapids Griffins forward Hanas wears No. 71, the same digits as Detroit captain Dylan Larkin.

Cross Hanas gets his first goal of the season tonight!

It’s wild with how hard he’s been playing that this is just his first. He broke the ice now watch him explode over the next few games! #GoGRG #LGRW pic.twitter.com/iEBowogDXz

— Hockeytown West Podcast (@HockeytownWpod) October 22, 2023

“It’s the number I’ve worn since I was a little kid, but I know I’m not going to get that (number in Detroit) obviously, and I don’t want it,” Hanas said. “It’s totally fine. I’ll write another story.

“I won’t even ask Larks for it. Not even close.”

During preseason games with the Red Wings, Hanas wore No. 74.

Danielson Heating Up

Detroit’s top pick in the 2023 NHL entry draft at ninth overall, center Nate Danielson is getting into a groove with the WHL Brandon Wheat Kings. Following a slow start that saw him garner just a goal and two assists through his frst six games after returning from Red Wings camp, Danielson has caught fire.

He’s put up 1-4-5 numbers over the past three games, collecting at least one point in all three games. As well, Danielson has put 16 shots on goal through the three game. He’s also won 65.06% of his faceoffs (54 of 83).

Sandin Pellikka Under World Tourney Consideration

Detroit’s other 2023 first-round selection, defenseman Axel Sandin Pellikka (17th overall) will be playing for Sweden in international hockey action this season at the IIHF World Junior Championship. However, that may not be the end of his contributions on the ice for his country.

Following the success of teenager Leo Carlsson for Sweden at last season’s senior men’s worlds, Tre Kronor coach Sam Hallam won’t rule out the possibility that Sandin Pellikka could play for the Swedes at next spring’s world tourney. Playing for Skelleftea, Sandin Pellikka, 18, is leading all SHL defensemen with six goals.

“If you look at his achievements, he is involved in discussions, he is relevant,” Hallam told Swedish wesbsite Expressen.se.

“We have these two litters, 04 and 05, that we enter the (world juniors) with, which are absolute top litters. In those hills there are many aspiring superstars. It’s a long season and a (world junior) can also suck the juice out of players. We’ll see how they look in January and beyond.”

Niederbach On The Board

Red Wings draftee Theodor Neiderbach (51st overeall, 2020) finally has a crooked number in the goals column. The center/winger scored for MoDo Hockey in a 4-3 overtime victory over Farjestad.

Theo Niederbach with a great backcheck, and later in the same shift his first goal of the season. pic.twitter.com/HH03JpPoYY

— IcehockeyGifs (@IcehockeyG) October 26, 2023

It was Niederbach’s first goal of the season. He’s swhowing 1-3-4 totals and a minus-8 rating through 14 games this season.

The post Red Wings Prospects Notebook: Griffins Hanas Knows His Number is up appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Red Wings prospects made their presence known over the weekend,  despite the Grand Rapids Griffins getting swept on the road.

The Griffins lost a pair of games to the Colorado Eagles, 6-3 on Friday and 2-1 Saturday.

In Friday’s game, William Wallinder (drafted in the second round in 2020) and Marco Kasper  (first round, 2022) scored their first AHL goals, both in the second period. Michael Hutchinson, in Grand Rapids on a pro tryout, stopped 35 shots in goal.

In Saturday’s contest, Sebastian Cossa (first round, 2021) stopped 31 shots, while Cross Hanas (second round, 2020) scored his first goal of the season. It was the first time this season the Griffins allowed fewer than 40 shots on goal.

https://t.co/AUVu84HwJ2 pic.twitter.com/6NsIYpaygn

— Grand Rapids Griffins (@griffinshockey) October 22, 2023

The Griffins played the Eagles twice at home last weekend to start the season and finished the season series with the sweep at Colorado.

While the players were off Sunday, Griffins announcer Bob Kaser was back at work, filling in for Red Wings announcer Ken Kal for the team’s game with Calgary. Kal underwent surgery after returning from Ottawa on Saturday. He is expected to be out for a week or more.

Thank you to all who wished me well and sent prayers. It truly is appreciated. I was in quite a bit of pain yesterday calling the game. Had a procedure done as soon as we got back from Ottawa. All went well. Will be on IR for at least a week. Enjoy @bkaser1 call.

— Ken Kal (@KenKalDRW) October 22, 2023

A Return Stint

Kaser is in his 24th season calling games for the Griffins. He also has served as a Griffins vice president and president of the team’s youth foundation.

He last filled in for Kal in the 2016-17 season. That season, he did 13 radio broadcasts and one TV broadcast for the Red Wings.

In addition to Sunday’s broadcast, Kaser will call Red Wings home games against Seattle on Tuesday and Winnipeg Thursday and a road game at Boston on Saturday. Kal could return as soon as Oct. 30, when the Red Wings are on the road against the New York Islanders.

The Griffins, 2-2 on the season, return to the ice on Friday with a home game against Cleveland.

The post Red Wings Prospects Have Productive Weekend appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

In two NHL preseason games, Elmer Soderblom hasn’t been wowing the Detroit Red Wings faithful with flashes of offense like he did last fall, or as he was doing earlier in the month at the NHL rookie tournament.

Cross Hanas was the only prospect who scored in Saturday’s 5-2 home-ice win over the Washington Capitals. Captain Dylan Larkin was scoring twice, with Moritz Seider and Austin Czarnik contributing singles.

POV: Elmer Soderblom is tipping shots in front of you… pic.twitter.com/hqqaxRyopK

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) September 23, 2023

The thing is, offensive prowess is not what the Red Wings brass is seeking to see from Soderblom in order to establish that he’s NHL ready.

They’re looking for the 6-foot-8, 255-pound Soderblom to play to his size and to be a more consistent presence in all three zones of the ice.

“What you saw in his game last year was the lack of consistency,” Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde said of Soderblom. “He’s trying to do that for his game this year.

The hulking 22-year-old left-winger was accounting for 5-3-8 numbers in 20 games with Detroit before being assigned to AHL Grand Rapids, where he’d finish the season.

In the offensive zone, the Red Wings like what they are seeing from Soderblom.

“He’s obviously very noticeable with the puck, his ability to control the puck, especially down low,” Lalonde said. “I just think those habits away from the puck. Being a little more responsible defensively, helping us out with our team game a little bit.”

Red Wings Want Soderblom To Be Big Presence

All over the ice, they’re also seeking to see Soderblom play as big as he is while towering over opponents.

“A little more jam all the time,” Lalonde said. “You can see it at moments. I liked through the rookie games and the game the other day, the simple habit of finishing your check. Obviously with that big body, being hard to play against.”

Punishing (New)Power

Much of the future of the Red Wings will be honing their craft this season with the AHL Griffins. It will be defenseman Wyatt Newpower’s role to ensure that these kids have the runway to take flight.

Saturday, in his first preseason appearance for Detroit, AHL veteran Newpower was displaying what a devastating physical presence he can bring.

Wyatt Newpower is making a very literal impact on this game. He's not thought of as being a prospect at 25, but as GR depth…

The boy hits. The boy fights. The boy shoots right.

— George Malik (@georgemalik) October 1, 2023

In the first period, Newpower drove Washington forward Nicolas Aube-Kubel hard into the boards with a punishing check. Then in the third period, he laid out Capitals defenseman Martin Fehervary with a stout open-ice hit.

“The Grand Rapids guys spoke highly of him, his compete,” Lalonde said. “That was one of the reasons why we wanted to get him in. He showed a couple of those physical hits, momentum-type hits. Did a really good job.”

The post Red Wings Notebook: Sizing Up Soderblom’s Chances of Sticking With Red Wings appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

The NHL preseason is the time for prospects to shine and be gaining notice and Detroit Red Wings hopefuls Cross Hanas and Marco Kasper were finding different methods to stand out in Saturday’s 5-2 win over the Washington Capitals.

Pressed into a higher spot in the lineup following an injury to forward Robby Fabbri, Hanas set up Austin Czarnik for Detroit’s first goal and was potting the fourth Red Wings goal himself.

He's already got an assist, so why not a goal for good measure? Cross Hanas puts the @DetroitRedWings back up by three goals with his first of the preseason! #LGRW pic.twitter.com/14wfMc1jkM

— Bally Sports Detroit (@BallySportsDET) October 1, 2023

“Obviously, that was my first game at home, too, for any game up here,” Hanas said. “I didn’t get one last preseason, so it was pretty cool to be out there at LCA tonight, with the fans and stuff. To get one was pretty special.”

Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde is liking what he’s seeing from second-year pro Hanas.

“He can finish,” Lalonde said. “Some offensive confidence, can make some plays . Skill guy like that, he gets chances like that.”

Red Wings Kasper Drops Mitts With Mantha

Meanwhile, in a rare fight between two Red Wings first-round picks, 2021 top draft choice Kasper found himself trading punches with Washington’s Anthony Mantha. Detroit originally selected Mantha 20th overall in the 2013 NHL entry draft, later trading him to the Capitals.

He doesn't back down! Marco Kasper drops the gloves against former Red Wing Anthony Mantha! #LGRW pic.twitter.com/YRpbjY8SaW

— Bally Sports Detroit (@BallySportsDET) October 1, 2023

“He’s a gritty kid, you got to give it to him,” Hanas said of Kasper. “That guy’s a big veteran in this league. Proud of him. He stuck his ground. The guy is way bigger than him.

“Marco doesn’t back down from anybody. He’s a real big competitor”

Soaking It All In

Before the puck drop, Hanas and Kasper found themselves situated next to each other on the bench, both soaking in the atmopshere of their first NHL home-ice preseason experience as pros.

“A lot of people would kill to be in this spot, so I just try to take every day as a blessing,” Hanas said. “It’s great to be out there. LCA is a beautiful arena. It’s pretty crazy. Me and Marco, it was his first game (at LCA), too.

“I remember being on the bench and right before the puck dropped, we looked at each other like ‘Holy Smokes! This is sweet.’ It’s just super-fun to be out there.”

Fabbri Ailment Not Considered Serious

If the Red Wings were to ever stage a country hoedown, Fabbri could be the star act. No one can sing a hurtin’ song like him. If it weren’t for bad luck, he’d have no luck at all.

In his second game back following the fourth knee surgery of his career, Fabbri didn’t make it to the second period. Fortunately, this latest ailment isn’t related to his oft-injured knees. It’s an upper-body injury and one that is not believed to be a long-term issue.

“We’re probably being a little cautious there,” Lalonde said. “If he doesn’t practice tomorrow I think we’ll expect him sometime early in the week to practice.”

One player’s misfortune is another player’s opportunity. Moving up in the lineup from the fourth line, Hanas was able to capitalize on his additional role in the top-six forwards.

“It’s a lot of what sports is, just getting a chance,” Hanas said. “Obviously, you don’t want to see somebody go down and leave a game like that, but I kind of got an opportunity to play on a couple different lines tonight.

“That was pretty good for me.”

The post Hanas, Kasper Stepping Up For Red Wings; Fabbri Injury Not Considered Serious appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

The Detroit Red Wings will have 68 players in training camp Thursday in Traverse City and 6-foot-8 Elmer Soderblom already has GM Steve Yzerman’s attention. And it’s not just because of his size.

Yzerman was encouraged by how well Soderblom’s performed at the NHL Prospects Tournament at Traverse City last week. He scored in every game, and every opponent had difficulty dealing with him. He was engaged every minute he was on the ice.

“The reason we brought him up there was because he was hurt and he missed a lot at the end of the season,” Yzerman said. “We just wanted to get him in some competition, get him banged around in games to prepare him for training camp. It turned out to be a great thing… he could of, if he’d wanted to, kind of floated through it a little bit. But he played really hard, he played really well. ”

Given the number of veterans Yzerman acquired this summer, it will be difficult for prospects to earn a spot on the Red Wings’ varsity. But Soderblom is, at the very least, off to a good start.

“We were really pleased with his performance and how hard he competed up there,” Yzerman said. “I think that bodes well for him here in the preseason, because he is one of those players that is competing to play for the Red Wings this year and he’s gonna have to really earn it. But it was a really positive weekend for him. We were really happy with his attitude and his performance.”

Red Wings Hope to Be Bigger

The Red Wings want to play with more push-back this season, and it would help if Soderblom was ready to weaponize his 248-pound frame and be a 20-goal scorer.

Even though Yzerman has plenty of veterans, he said Tuesday that he hopes some youngsters give him a reason to think long and hard about his opening day roster.

“Not necessarily gonna be specific,” he said, “but I’m expecting some of them to push.  We’ll see.”

The likely candidates to push are winger Soderblom, defensemen Simon Edvinsson and Albert Johansson, plus center Marco Kasper. The longer shots are forward Cross Hanas, defensemen William Wallinder and Antti Tuomisto.

Hanas Drawing Attention

Hanas played 30 games for the Grand Rapids Griffins last season  and was tied for the tournament lead in Traverse City with four goals in three games.

“He has great attitude,” Yzerman said.  He had a good year last year.  Two tough injuries. He worked very hard in the offseason. We think very highly of Cross as a young man and he’s a good prospect. His season was cut short by injury last year but we’re optimistic. And he did play well. A couple of goals he scored, he can put it under the bar off the half wall on the power play. He did that several times last year in GR. He’s played one year of pro hockey, he’s a young guy and he’s working really hard at it. He’s very competitive and he’s a real good person. We just hope he continues to improve.”

Kasper played one game for the Red Wings last season after his Swedish Hockey League season was over.

The projection on Tuomisto and Wallinder is they will get plenty of playing time with Grand Rapids. At the prospect tournament, coach Dan Watson played them together in all situations. Tuomisto is 6-foot-5 and Wallinder comes in at the 6-foot-4.

“Obviously (Tuomisto’s) a big guy,” Tuomisto said. “He passes the puck pretty well, he thinks it well. It looks like his pace of play is picking up. Again, we think he has a chance. William Wallinder is a good skater, has good puck skills. He’s got a chance. Albert (Johansson), he had a real good year for us in GR last year, finished the season injured. He’s 100% healthy, ready to go now. We’re optimistic about him.”

The post Yzerman Believes Some Red Wings Prospects Will Challenge For a Job appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

The Detroit Red Wings’ yield of 20 goals-against in three games at the NHL Prospects Tournament isn’t nearly as concerning as the fact that prize prospect goalie Sebastian Cossa gave up 13 of those goals.

Obviously, the Red Wings aren’t losing faith in Cossa over three meaningless September games. But undoubtedly they expected better from Cossa, considering how well he performed last season for the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye. He didn’t perform in Traverse City like he did in Toledo.

“Maybe a little bit of lack of focus at times led to those goals against,” said Dan Watson, who coached him last season in Toledo and this week in Traverse City. “Again, that’s that part of trying to refocus. I’m sure he feels pressure and all that kind of stuff, but with that said, he’s matured in that area. Now again that next step is going to be the mental side of it. You let one in, you gotta forget about it, you gotta move on and be ready to stop the next puck, or stop the next play. I think that’s gonna be his focus here. We’re gonna help him along the way as much as we can.”

There’s no official plan for Cossa this season, but the logical next step is to play as the Grand Rapids Griffins’ goalie this season. GM Steve Yzerman will  want him to look sharper during the training camp.

“We saw the physical growth, we saw the technique growth, we saw his maturity growth all last year,” Watson said. “The next step and the hardest part is the mental side of the game. It truly is hard and that will be the next step in this process. ”

Elmer Soderblom (Drafted 159th in 2019)

With a goal in all three games in Traverse City, Elmer Soderblom showed the consistency that the Red Wings are hoping to see from him this season. Soderblom played particularly angry against the Dallas Stars. The Red Wings liked that.

He’s 6-foot-8 and when he’s playing at a high level, he is difficult to defend against. His combination of size and scoring touch makes him dangerous in front of the net.

Given all of the offseason acquisitions, the Red Wings theoretically don’t have much room for younger players. But training camp always brings injuries with it. Soderblom did show promise in his 20-game stint with Detroit last season. He’s probably near the front of the line to be “next up” on the Red Wings.

Cross Hanas (Drafted 55th overall in 2020)

The Red Wings liked how he played last season when Hanas, 21, went down with an injury. He was also impressive in Traverse City, leading Detroit with four goals. That tied him with Columbus player Jordan Dumais and Toronto’s Brandon Lisowski for the tournament lead.

Presumably, Detroit brass would like to see Hanas log more than the 30 AHL games he had last season. But if he shows a scoring touch again this season, he could earn a trip to Detroit. Let’s not forget the Red Wings want to increase offensive production this season.

“You want guys to get pucks to the net and obviously he knows where to put them,” Watson said. “I thought his game progressed as the tournament went on. I thought his compete level was high, he was making better plays and decisions with the puck. But for him to get a couple there, that’s big because that just grows confidence in players. And we want confident players in our locker room… He should be feeling good heading into main camp.”

Marco Kasper (Drafted 8th overall in 2022)

Kasper picked up two assists in Detroit’s final game, against Toronto, at the NHL Prospects Tournament. Those were his first points of the tournament.

But even if he hadn’t produced a point, the Red Wings would not be concerned. They expect his scoring will come. In the meantime, they have a hard-nosed center who pushes himself to be better every day.

It will probably be Watson’s job in Grand Rapids to help him find his scoring touch. But if Kasper plays well in training camp, he has a shot at making the Detroit roster.

“It’s making smart decisions with the puck,” Watson said. “Knowing when to make those high-risk plays. Knowing when to make sure it’s a low-risk play. That’s gonna be part of his development, too. Whether he’s with myself or Detroit, that’s to be determined. I think for him, it’s knowing when to do that. You can see the skill. He is smart, he can make those plays. Now it’s showing him the right times to do it. You could see this weekend, there were times he did it really well and there were times he had some turnovers. But that’s correctable and it’s coachable. He wants to be coached in those areas. He wants to watch video on that. Those are the players we’re excited about and we’re excited to coach.”

Nate Danielson (Drafted 9th overall in 2023)

Danielson put up five assists in two games until he suffered a minor injury in Detroit’s third game. He showed his hockey IQ in the tournament. Even when he isn’t noticeable, he still finds a way to be in the play.

But he’s young, and it doesn’t seem possible that the Red Wings would consider keeping him. That’s not Yzerman’s history. He respects the development process.

William Wallinder (Drafted 32nd overall in 2020)

The Red Wings probably want to see Wallinder, 21, play a full season in Grand Rapids. Don’t forget that even Moritz Seider played a season in Grand Rapids.

You could tell by the way Watson used Wallinder that he believes he can be an impact player in Grand Rapids. Wallinder played in all situations, and logged plenty of minutes The Red Wings gave up too many goals in this tournament and the 6-foot-4 was only -1. He boasts strong offensive potential.

This is a player who will be a top four defenseman.

Antti Tuomisto (Drafted 35th overall in 2019)

Tuomisto has moved up in Detroit’s prospect rankings because of how well he performed in Finland in 2022-23. He’s big, and makes a strong first pass. Like Wallinder, he can kill penalties and play on the power play. Tuomisto and Wallinder fit well together.  Tuomisto is also a right shot, which makes him more valuable. His play in the Traverse City demonstrated his potential to be an effective North American pro player.

The post Where Red Wings’ Prospects Stand After Rookie Tourney appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.