The Athletic’s Max Bultman ponders what the Red Wings’ path to “internal improvement” is, assuming that the roster remains in its current form (i.e. if there are no trades to bolster the top-six forward group or the top-four defensive group).
Bultman spotlights Marco Kasper, Simon Edvinsson, Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond’s developmental curves, but I’m most interested in the following paragraphs:
Yzerman also alluded to a young player coming up from Grand Rapids and helping the Red Wings, and there are two names that really come to mind.
One is Carter Mazur, who was called up last season only to quickly sustain an upper-body injury and be done for the season. Injuries have followed Mazur as a pro, but he’s the kind of gritty forward with offensive touch who could both help build a tougher-to-play against identity and score more goals in the bottom six.
The other, and perhaps the higher-ceiling candidate, is Nate Danielson — the 2023 ninth pick who had very similar numbers to Kasper in their respective AHL rookie seasons. Whether Danielson makes the team out of camp or not, his blend of size, skating, smarts and skill gives him the potential to play in the top six and complement Detroit’s top players.
Red Wings assistant director of player development Dan Cleary praised Danielson’s finish to last season, particularly the Griffins’ final game (a double-overtime playoff loss to Texas), and Detroit will challenge him to pick up where he left off.
There are other names to know for the season. Forward Amadeus Lombardi is one, after a great second season in Grand Rapids. Both Shai Buium and William Wallinder could bring more size on the back end. And of course, recent first-rounders Michael Brandsegg-Nygård and Axel Sandin Pellikka have big potential once they adjust to North American ice.
But Danielson, because of how truly well-rounded he is, has the most potential to move the needle for Detroit in 2025-26 among the prospects, if he can find his top level consistently.
Continued (paywall); the Wings’ desire for internal improvement will definitely involve a rookie or two making the big club’s roster, and, quite possibly, a veteran or two being supplanted by a younger player.
We all know that the Wings’ current-roster young players have to “take a step” forward for the team to improve; for me, the “x-factors” are members of the Red Wings’ youth movement coming up from Grand Rapids.
