After their notable drop last year, the Detroit Red Wings move back up by a few spots just to the edge of the top-10. Their pool is heavily boosted by the strength of their top talent; only the Chicago Blackhawks had more players featured when our top-100 affiliated skaters and top-20 affiliated goalies lists are combined.
More specifically, the Red Wings are stacked on few player archetypes. First, they have multiple higher-end forwards prospects who profile as physical and gritty two-way forces. Second, they have two of the three best goalie prospects on the planet. There are also some undersized yet highly skilled forwards and defencemen in the mix, too.
As such, even if they can’t match the depth of some of the top-end pools, it’s arguable the Red Wings have the talent to be a few spots higher in this ranking.
Let’s start from the top.
The theme of the Red Wings’ pool is really checking skills and intensity above all else. There’s no one who better matches that description than Carter Bear – and he has plenty of skill, too. While his production slowed in the second half, he still finished third in the WHL in even-strength primary points per 60, according to InStat Hockey.
A fierce competitor, Bear leaves nothing to chance. He sprints hard for every puck, engages in every battle, and goes all-out no matter the score or situation. With a nuanced physical game, he wins inside position every chance he gets, throws tons of hits, and creates most of his offence from the walls, net front, and goal line.
Bear is a skilled finisher, but an even better playmaker. He makes one-touch passes off the wall on the breakout, slips and hooks pucks through traffic, draws pressure before passing, and uses every option – even the trailer and weak side. While it’s not always pretty, he’s a manipulator – a player who stacks the deck in his favour.
With some work improving his skating posture and handling skill, Bear could become a top-six forward, a fan favourite and playoff performer. Even if he doesn’t hit that lofty projection, he’ll still find a way to the NHL. – Mitchell Brown
UPDATE: The Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday announced Brad Krakowitz as the new Grand Rapids Griffins video coach, helping the staff prepare, evaluate and assess their game both as a team and as individuals #GoGRG
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday announced Brad Krakowitz as the new Grand Rapids Griffins video coach, helping the staff prepare, evaluate and assess their game both as a team and as individuals. Krakowitz replaces Erich Junge who is now the assistant video coordinator for the Red Wings.
Krakowitz most recently served as the assistant video coordinator for the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners from 2022-25. In addition to his role with the Roadrunners, Krakowitz served as the assistant coach for the Tucson Jr. Roadrunners from 2019-2023, working primarily with their high school teams. He also worked for Recruit Scouting from 2020-22, scouting draft eligible prospects. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Krakowitz played on the inaugural Tucson Jr. Roadrunners high school team that finished as state runners-up in 2019.
Tickets for the Detroit Red Wings’ Red & White Game at Van Andel Arena on Sunday, Sept. 21 at 3 p.m. remain available to the general public through griffinshockey.com.
UPDATE: The Detroit Red Wings have hired Erich Junge to be their assistant video coordinator! Thank you for your time in GR and we wish you all the best in DET ‼️ #GoGRGpic.twitter.com/swr3bAKZmn
There was nothing on the ice that Gordie Howe could not do. Score, defend, fight, play physical … it was all there. His all-around abilities helped earn him the moniker “Mr. Hockey,” a nickname that was actually trademarked by him and his wife, who was nicknamed “Mrs. Hockey.”
The Dominator
It is perhaps one of the most fitting nicknames because it was so representative of the way Dominik Hasek played. He was, simply, one of the most dominant players in NHL history and could change the fortunes of a team in a way few other players could. Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, Hasek played at a level that was pretty much unmatched by any goalie in any era. He was the reason some of those Buffalo Sabres teams went as far as they did in the playoffs, including the 1998 Stanley Cup Final team.
The Professor
Part of the Detroit Red Wings‘ famed Russian Five, an awesome nickname in its own right, Igor Larionov was dubbed “The Professor” for his cerebral approach to the game. Hall of Fame coach Scotty Bowman called him a “real brainy player,” and Sergei Fedorov said he was one of the smartest players he played with. Larionov was also one of the players who was instrumental in Russian stars defecting to the NHL.
Continued (does “Cujo” count as a legendary Red Wing? Methinks not); I’m not sure how Nicklas Lidstrom misses out on the list, but that’s just me.
At the SHL’s media season-start meeting in Stockholm, it was clear that many have low expectations for Leksand for the 2025-2026 season. In the annual experts’ vote, in which about a hundred media representatives responded to questions, among other things, which team will be relegated from the SHL, Leksand received as much as 38% of the votes–the most of any team.
But both coaches and players choose to turn the talk into motivation.
“We in our team believe more than you believe in us. And it’s going to be a good start,” said head coach Johan Hedberg.
Hedberg describes how the team uses the tip-offs as a driving force, and he believes that it can even be an advantage to start as an underdog.
“It’s easier to create a “us versus the world” feeling. If you go in with expectations and can’t live up to them, the height of the fall is worse. That’s when it comes starts to haunt you,” he told Hockeynews.
Defenseman Anton Johansson is on the same track.
“I’ve said it before that I like to be a bit of an underdog. I think we on the team are pretty confident with that as well. We aren’t favorites. We have a team that can develop throughout the season. I really think we will do it, and take big steps,” Johansson said.
Both coaches and players agree that there is great potential in the team – and that the season will be about building, growing and sharpening the performances game after game.
“We know we might not earn four straight wins, but we’re going to be in every game. So our panic is not as great as if Färjestad would lose four straight games. Now, of course, we don’t want to start with four losses – but you have to take it where we are and try to build something for the long run,” says Hedberg.
“It’s more than a fan than favorite. The team looks promising. I think it’s going to be a damn fun season,” said Anton Johansson.
The Detroit Red Wings are attempting to sell their 5-game ticket plans which include access to Sergei Fedorov’s jersey retirement game on January 12th via a novel approach:
We just had to share this incredible news! Scoring a Fedorov 5-Game Plan today not only guarantees you get the best seats at the best price when No. 91 goes up into the rafters, but a plan now includes a Rink Side Chat with the legend himself, Sergei Fedorov!
I’m not usually one to deal in speculation, but the Calgary Flames signed sophomore goaltender Dustin Wolf to a massive 7-year contract with a $7.5 million cap hit today…
Given that Edvinsson is 22, and given that the salary cap is going to skyrocket over the course of the next couple of summers, should the Red Wings lock up their 6’5,” 209-pound defenseman before he becomes a restricted free agent next summer? And, if so, how much is reasonable for a player who appears to be a 30-50-point producer?
I’d guess that Edvinsson could earn somewhere in the neighborhood of $7.5 million. How much do you think the Red Wings might pay Edvinsson to buy some of his future earning years?
“I’m on him quite a bit sometimes,” Cleary acknowledges. “I don’t know if he likes to see me coming that often, but I love Nate. I love his game.”
Danielson, 20, finished his first full pro season by collecting 12-27-39 totals in 71 AHL games for the Grand Rapids Griffins. In terms of productivity, Danielson seemed to grow into his game as the season continued. The player Detroit selected ninth overall in the 2023 NHL entry draft scored eight of his 12 goals over the final 24 regular-season games played by the Griffins.
“Yeah, strong,” Cleary said of Danielson’s second-half performance. “He had a strong finish. Probably his best game was his last game (of the Calder Cup playoffs) in Texas. Very competitive. One of our better players. I know we lost (and were eliminated) in double overtime, but he was tremendous. It was a must-win game, and he brought it.”
After that game, Cleary once again confronted Danielson. This time, it was to accentuate the positive.
“I’m like, ‘That’s how you’re going to have to play.’ And that’s what he’s going to have to play coming in the fall.”
Continued (paywall); Danielson and every other young player needs to find more consistency to their game. Danielson has to “bring it” at a playoff level every game, and that makes sense.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 08: (EDITOR’S NOTE: Image was converted to black and white.) Patrick Kane of the Detroit Red Wings poses for a portrait during the NHL North American Player Media Tour at the Waldorf Astoria on September 08, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 08: Alex DeBrincat of the Detroit Red Wings poses for a portrait during the NHL North American Player Media Tour at the Waldorf Astoria on September 08, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)
