The Hockey News’s Tony Ferrari is breaking down NHL teams’ prospect pools in significant depth, discussing the stand-outs, 2023 draft classes, and strengths and weaknesses of each team’s group of next-generation NHL’ers.
Here’s part of his introduction to the Red Wings’ prospect pool:
When a team is going through a rebuild, they accumulate bountiful and diverse prospect pools. Detroit is no exception as the ‘Yzerplan’ has taken full effect. The team has a prospect pipeline with talent at just about every position, and they should have players at each position pushing for NHL jobs sooner than later.
Marco Kasper has been a revelation since being drafted. While many, including myself, questioned his offensive skill and upside, he came out this past season and routinely showed he has confidence with the puck and was creating regularly at the SHL level. Kasper has a refined two-way game and understands the nuances of playing in the center of the ice. He joined the Red Wings for one game at the end of last year before a nagging knee injury prevented him from playing more. He could compete for a job in camp.
Another player with NHL games last season was ‘Lord Elmer’ himself, Elmer Soderblom. The towering behemoth found his way onto the NHL roster until just after the New Year, playing in 21 games with the big club before finishing the year in Grand Rapids. Soderblom has incredible skill that isn’t often seen in a player who stands 6-foot-8. His ability to shoot a puck from between his legs in tight or elevate with a defender riding his back is impressive. His skating isn’t a strength, but he’s shown time and time again that he can work through it at every level.
Carter Mazur has been deemed many times as the Red Wings’ next ultra-pest scorer, and while he appreciates comparisons to players such as Tyler Bertuzzi, among others, he brings his own flair to the game. Mazur has an excellent shot and can finish from all over the ice. His hands in tight are excellent, and he works hard in the tough areas to maintain possession. He could be an excellent complementary player who brings the finishing touch to any line.
The Red Wings drafted one of the most exciting players to watch in Dmitri Buchelnikov last year as an overage pick. His skill and entertainment value are undeniable, but the translatability of his game is questionable. Another player that fits that mold is Amadeus Lombardi, who was drafted out of the OHL in the ‘lost year’ but has since exploded and dazzled with his skill and creativity. If either one of Lombardi or Buchelnikov hit, the Red Wings could have a lethal scorer on their hands.
The back end is an interesting mix of skill sets. There are offensive wizards with the puck who can create something from nothing and defensive stalwarts that can shut down an opponent’s cycle with excellent stick work or bone-crushing physicality. They’ve done an excellent job of changing things up whenever anyone has felt like they’ve nailed what Detroit is looking for on the back end.
Simon Edvinsson is the cream of the crop, bringing a combination of size, skill, offensive creativity and defensive fortitude. It was evident during last year’s pre-season that he needed to refine some of his traits to round into form, but the developmental step he took last year was exactly what the Wings wanted to see. By the time he came up to the NHL, he was a completely different player and put together an impressive nine-game stint. A shoulder surgery in May with a four- to sixth-month recovery time puts the start of his season in doubt, but we could see him establish an NHL role full-time by Christmas.
Continued; this is a long read, but it’s worth your time.
