Red Wings Foreground Layer: Untouchables & Trade Chips – Hockey Writer – Red Wings Foreground

Since Steve Yzerman took over as general manager of the Detroit Red Wings, he has built his team from scratch through the draft. We have seen his labor fruits – Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond are the cornerstones of team leaders and franchise.

Now, Red Wings are about to break through for the first time and make the playoffs since Dylan Larkin’s rookie season.

They are not a perfect team, and of course there are areas to improve. However, they do have a sufficient pipeline of prospects and have reached the point where priority quality rather than quantity is required. After all, not every prospect will arrive in the NHL. Some are the key to Detroit’s future. Others are expendable.

To illustrate this, I split the foreground pipeline of Red Wings into layers:

• Level 1 – Participant establishment
• Level 2 – There is a future for the NHL, but fewer roles
• Tier 3 – The opportunity to become a low-priced NHL contributor
• Level 4 – Probably the highest point for AHL contributors; the chance of reaching the NHL is small
• Level 5 – unlikely to reach the NHL

Related: Red Wings Top 25 Prospects: 2024-25 Mid-Season Update

With this information, we can thoroughly explore the depth of Detroit prospects and have a better understanding of potential costs as we approach the trade deadline. Note that players are listed alphabetically in each layer.

Red Wings Foreground – Level 1

These five players are the future of the Red Wings. In trade discussions, they should be out of reach – unless the focus is on controllable All-Star players.

• Trey Augustine – G
• Michael Brandsegg-nygard – RW
• Sebastian Cossa – G
• Nate Danielson – C
• Axel Sandin Pellikka – RD

Red Wings Foreground – Level 2

Although these prospects do not have the highest potential, they still have NHL ceilings. Ideally, Detroit holds these players as deep fragments. That is, unless there is a Grand Slam trade offer.

• Dmitri Buchelnikov – RW
• Carter Mazur – RW
• Max Plante – C/RW
• William Wallinder – LD

Red Wings Foreground – Level 3

Similar to Level 2, these players have NHL upside, but are at the bottom of the character. If another team values ​​them more, Detroit should consider moving them to a more influential lineup in the short term.

• Shai Buium – LD
• Jesse Kiiskinen – RW
• Amadeus Lombardi – C/LW
• Emmitt Finnie – C/LW

Red Wings Foreground – Level 4

This layer may be solid AHL players who can taste the NHL action. Same as above – If another team sees higher value, then Red Wings should explore to strengthen the organization’s trade.

• Ondrej Becher – LW/C
• Brady Cleveland – LD
• Liam Dower Nilsson – LW/C
• Noah Dower Nilsson – LW/C
• Cross Hanas – LW
• Dylan James – LW
• Anton Johansson – RD
• Larry Keenan – LD
• Red Barbarian-c
• Antti Tuomisto – RD
• Eemil Viro – LD

Red Wings Foreground – Level 5

Finally, these players are unlikely to reach the NHL. Some won’t even get entry-level deals. Detroit If there are interested parties, Detroit should trade them, and the reward can help in some way.

• Brennan Ali – C
• Kyle Okoin-LD
• Austin Baker – LW
• Kevin Bicker – LW
• Kienan Draper – C
• Alexandre Doucet – C/LW
• Charlie Forslund – LW
• Rudy Guimond – G
• Carter Gylander – G
• Max Kilpinen – LW
• Owen Mehlenbacher – C
• Landon Miller – G
• Jack Phelan – RD
• Jakub Rychlovsky – RW
• Fisher Scott – LD
• Sam Stange – RW
• John Whipple – LD

The last sentence

Given the composition of Detroit’s prospect pipeline and franchise conditions, it’s wise to avoid trading prospects and 1 and 2 deals. These players, along with Larkin, Seed, Raymond and Simon Edwison, are expected to bring the Red Wings into the future.

Level 3 and below should be regarded as bargaining chips. Obviously, the return needs to justify the cost. For example, it would be unwise to move Amadeus Lombardi to a deep rental. That is, these players can be replaced. If a smart deal is to be reached, Detroit should effectively utilize its depth of prospects.