As the calendar moves to March, the 2024-25 regular season is batting in the NHL. The same can be said for American Hockey League (AHL), junior and college hockey. The Detroit Red Wings saw some prospects in the system, with a strong start to the calendar year in 2025 and played a key role in the success of their respective teams in February.
D Shai Buium – Grand Rapids Griffins (AHL)
Although his younger brother Zeev picked his younger brother Zeev in the first round of the 2024 NHL admission draft, he has yet to be hyped and watched, with Shai Buium having a strong first professional season in the Grand Rapids Griffins. His offensive game isn’t as top-notch as his brother, but his all-around game sticks out from the back end of the ice.
Griffins’ February was a tough team with a 3-7-1 record, but the purchase and some other Red Wings prospects were the highlights. He has four assists in 11 games, but his game is the best on both ends of the ice. Offensively, when he puts the puck on the stick, he constantly shows a strong vision and IQ to make smart games and has a trick to help start the rush with a solid first pass. After entering the offensive zone, his vision continued to show in February, finding teammates with four assists he did record from his scoring position. Buium has shown a constant willingness in terms of the game’s defense, whether by blocking shots in time or using his larger frame (6-foot-3,210 pounds) to separate his opponent from the puck.
Much of the focus on the Red Wings’ defense prospects is usually on Axel Sandin Pellikka, who may have reached North America next season (for good reason). Still, Buium’s all-around sound game comes with offensive skills, and the game starts to reach its target normally, which could make him a strong contender for the organization’s future defensive core. Being able to balance offensive upside in players like Sandin Pellikka and a more defensive projection may be the end of the day that fans can see whether his development can continue to be on the hope.
F Emmitt Finnie – Kamloops Blazers (Western Hockey League)
In one of the Red Wing prospects that have been talking about throughout the season, Emmitt Finnie missed most of February due to an upper body injury. But that didn’t stop him from becoming one of the most influential players on the Kamloops team, hoping to find a way out for the WHL playoffs. Finnie is the seventh round pick in the 2023 draft, and as the season progresses, he has reached another level of play, currently leading the Trail Blazers by 72 points.
While there were only three games in February, Finnie showed why he might be the most important player for the Blazers, launching the playoffs, taking four points (three goals and one assist) in only those three games. He continues to show off his offensive game, including high-end sports and playing. He could take over a game with a shot, but it seems like he has taken a playmaker route this season, with 40 assists with his 72 points.
If Kamloops missed the playoffs, Fanny could join Griffins and make her debut after signing an entry-level contract (ELC) in March 2024. He will certainly be a prospect to keep an eye on if he brings Griffins’ eyes to the Grand Rapids.
G Rudy Guimond – Moncton Wildcats (Quebec Maritime Junior Hockey League)
Rudy Guimond appears to be flying under the radar at the position of Trey Augustine and Sebastian Cossa, and he has had a great season in the QMJHL after moving from the USHL earlier in the season. He seemed to struggle with the hardcore Cedar Rapids early in the season and took action in just six games. Guimond attributed the Roughriders organization with many event sites and players around and hopes to move to Moncton to help him reach his full potential.
He seems to have achieved another potential in the Wildcats and has only played 12 games so far. Of course, this number is not dependent on his performance, as he scored 1.56 with a 12-0-0 record, with an average score of 1.56 (GAA) and a savings percentage (SV%) of .948. In February, Guimond played seven games, and he collapsed on February 1 with his first QMJHL 3-0 defeat to the Cape Breton Hawks. He also scored a season show in the final start of the month, earning 42 saves in another Wildcats victory.
While he may not have an impact on a red-winged roster like Augustine or Xhosa, Gaimond’s performance this season has opened up many people and he may become an asset to the organization. The draft pick for the sixth round of the 2023 draft will play at Yale next season.
F Jesse Kiiskinen – HPK (liiga)
After a strong performance for Finland in 2025, he had a total of 6 goals and 1 assist, Jesse Kiiskinen brought his game back to Liiga’s HPK. Not only did he lead his team by 42 points, he also set an HPK series record for players under the age of 20. In February, he showed off his entertainment skills, contributing six assists in eight games and playing with 1 goal. He also scored five or more online in five games.
Related: Red Wing Foreground Layer: Untouchables & Trade Chips
Like Finnie, Kiiskinen can take over a game with his target scoring ability, but strikes a good balance between scoring and assists. Of his 42 points this season, 29 points were in assists. Whenever he is on the ice, he helps make his teammates better. When it comes to Liiga’s U20 players, he currently leads the league with 11 points in Topias Hynninen. After Nashville Predators were traded to the Red Wings for defenseman Andrew Gibson in the offseason, Kiskinen appeared to have a player’s creation that could make an impact on the Red Wings’ roster if he could continue to improve and eventually advance and jump to North American Hockey.
F AMADEUS LOMBARDI-Griffins (AHL)
Another potential client whose wounded insect was hindered, Amadeus Lombardi returned with an upper body injury, which brought him from early December to 15 February. He is a 2022 fourth round pick since being drafted and has been a fan favorite among Griffins and Red Wings. His offensive skills were fully demonstrated in his six games in February with speed and excellent hockey style. He scored 21 points this season, with only 44 of them, so it’s safe to say he’s excellent in scoring opportunities. He brought much-needed energy boost to Griffins’ roster, which, as mentioned earlier, had a tough roster in February.
While an upper body injury may have hindered the chances of Red Wings fans to see him wearing his winged wheel uniform this season, Lombardy’s game continues to speak for him, and it’s just a matter of time when we all see him in some capacity.
2024-25 regular season is exciting
While the Red Wings are looking to return to the Stanley Cup playoffs, they want to bring their current team to the same location at any level they are on when it comes to potential clients within the organization. These are just some of the prospects for strong February.
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