Detroit Red Wings

The Daily: Red Wings Rebuild Picks Up Steam; Andrew Gibson Speaks

Published

2 months ago

August 3, 2024

If you are a Detroit Red Wings fan suffering from rebuild fatigure, this story isn’t for you. We respect those of you who prefer to think about where the team is in terms of the NHL playoffs. Eight years out of the playoffs is too long.

But our recent ranking of Detroit’s prospects, made us think how close we are to knowing what this Yzerman-built team will look like. In case you missed it, we ranked our Top 15 Red Wings prospects last week. It was a paywall story. We didn’t rank Simon Edvinsson, Jonatan Berggren (drafted by Ken Holland) and Albert Johansson because all three are likely to make the roster this season. Berggren and Johansson are no longer waiver-exempt, meaning the have to clear waivers to be sent to Grand Rapids. Yzerman has said he doesn’t believe they would clear waivers.

Our top six prospects included 1. Marco Kasper, 2. Axel Sandin Pellikka, 3. Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, 4. Nate Danielson, 5. Carter Mazur and 6. Sebastian Cossa. Kasper, Brandsegg-Nygard and Danielson project to be top six forwards, and Sandin Pellikka will be a Sergi Zubov-type high scoring defenseman. Mazur can be a poor man’s version of Tyler Bertuzzi. In other words, he’s a scrappy competitor with scoring ability. At 6-foot-6, Cossa has the goalie size every GM covets. He will be the Grand Rapids’ Griffins’ No. 1 goalie this season and then, if all goes well, he will be competing for a roster spot in 2025-26.

🗣️ COOOOSSSSSAAAAA

Sebastian Cossa set a new franchise record with a 19-game point streak from Jan. 19-April 5 (13-0-6), beating out Marc Lamothe’s 15-game run from Oct. 19-Nov. 30, 2002 #GoGRG

SEASON REVIEW >> https://t.co/mIrHO7xZZf pic.twitter.com/SRDwd7PY50

— Grand Rapids Griffins (@griffinshockey) July 11, 2024

All six of those players should be, or could be, playing in Detroit by 2025-26. We also think defenseman William Wallinder could get a shot by 2025-26. Six-foot-five Finnish D man Antti Tuomisto could also be knocking at the door.

If you add up those players, the Red Wings will have at least four Yzerman draft picks (including Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond) on the roster this season, and it could be five or six. By 2025-26, at least half of Detroit’s roster will be players drafted by Yzerman’s regime. The rebuild isn’t over, but we will have a good idea of what kind of talent Yzerman has assembled.

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Red Wings In Case You Missed It

A former Red Wings prospect and a current prospect faced off at the World Junior Summer Showcase. It was an interesting moment for Andrew Gibson.

Jiri Fischer’s son, Lukas, is drawing attention as a St. Louis Blues prospect. Jiri still works for Detroit as a scout.

Prospect John Whipple projects to be a heavy hitter for GM Steve Yzerman’s team up the road. He likes that role.

Red Wings Offseason

It’s 68 days until the Red Wings season opener. Will GM Steve Yzerman work out deals with Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond before then? Detroit’s training camp hasn’t been announced, but it is roughly 47 or 48 days away.