Welcome back to Top Shelf Prospects, the column that brings you the next crop of professional hockey players. As we go through the summer of 2023, each day our LWOS Prospects Writers will bring you a look at one NHL team’s top prospects or other topical article. Be sure to bookmark the site, follow Ben Kerr, Kyle Pereira and Frederik Frandson on Twitter, and spread the word for the site that will bring you analytical and critical profiles and scouting reports! You can find all the articles here as well as our extensive NHL Draft preview. Today, we look at the 2023 Detroit Red Wings Top Prospects.
For those wondering, the cut-off for what is or isn’t a prospect is typically about 50 NHL games played (including playoff games) or is 25 years old. These are not hard or fast rules though, and we may make some exceptions depending on the circumstances.
2023 Detroit Red Wings Top Prospects
1.) Simon Edvinsson
Simon Edvinsson is a special player. The Red Wings drafted Edvinsson sixth overall in the 2021 NHL draft, and he has rewarded them with stellar play. The 6’4” and 198-pound defender clearly has the size, but unlike most his size, he also has excellent skating ability. What makes Edvinsson even more special is his puck skills. Whether it’s transitioning the puck up the ice himself or by finding a teammate, he gets it done. Once he moves the puck into the offensive end, he then attacks with excellent stickhandling and vision to complete difficult passes.
Despite suffering an injury last season at the AHL level, he still managed 27 points in 52 games. Mind you, he was 19-years-old playing at the AHL level last season. He more than held his own. However, that injury that was mentioned will delay his debut, but there’s very little doubt he will get his NHL debut this season. His size, physical abilities, and offensive talents make him an intriguing talent to push the Red Wings closer to playoff contention. The Detroit Red Wings prospect pool is highly ranked, and Edvinsson is a big reason for that.
2.) Nate Danielson
Nate Danielson was the Red Wings first pick in the 2023 draft at ninth overall. With the strength of the draft, plus the fact that Zach Benson and Axel Sandin-Pellikka were both still available at that point, the Danielson selection was a head-scratcher. But make no mistake, Danielson is an excellent prospect. With the pick, Detroit added a big centre (6’2” and 187 pounds) who does all the little things right. Danielson forces turnovers and does a lot of the dirty work for his linemates. Additionally, he almost always makes the smart play with the puck on his stick as a passer. All he needs is to add a bit more pace to his offensive game and take more risks, and he could unlock a whole new level to his game.
But, the bread-and-butter of Danielson’s game is his defensive zone abilities. He is incredibly refined in his own end and knows how to use his long reach to its fullest potential. Danielson forces the opposition to make quick decisions by taking away options at high-danger. So, while he may not be the most flashy player, he is effective. The Detroit Red Wings prospect pool is a strong one. Yet, he comes in as one of the best of the pack.
3.) Marco Kasper
Marco Kasper, who was drafted eighth overall in the 2022 NHL draft, stands at 6’1” and 187 pounds. Like Danielson, he isn’t the flashiest of players, but he plays a complete game down the middle. Last season, he played 52 games at the SHL level and scored 23 points. That performance goes down as one of the best of all time for a 19-year-old in the top Swedish men’s league. After the SHL season concluded, he made the jump to the NHL, where he only managed to play one game. However, he sustained a knee injury that knocked him out for the remainder of the season.
Kasper is expected to return to the Red Wings lineup with every opportunity to make the NHL this season. Similar to Danielson, he is a very complete package, with a strong defensive game that he combines with effective but conservative offensive skills. Kasper is more physical than Danielson to this point, and is more of an energy player versus Danielson’s smart and high-anticipation game. But Kasper very well could be a strong center option for the Wings as soon as this season.
4.) Axel Sandin-Pellikka
Axel Sandin-Pellikka was ranked as the top defender heading into the 2023 draft by us here at Last Word. However, he would be the fourth defender taken, and he would fall all the way to 17th overall. Sandin-Pellikka already looks like a steal, and adds even more depth to the Detroit Red Wings prospect pool. But not just any depth. Sandin-Pellikka has a high upside, with excellent skating and puck-moving ability.
Sandin-Pellikka has high hockey IQ, plays a fast pace that could translate well to the NHL level offensively, is one of the better puck movers from the back end coming out of the draft over the last few years, and displays a solid ability to defend against the rush against men in the SHL. The biggest concern is consistency. Can he put all the pieces together and do so at the NHL level? He’ll need time, but the Red Wings can afford to give him that time to develop. Sky’s the limit.
5.) William Wallinder
William Wallinder is yet another defenceman on this list, but unlike those before him, he was taken in the second round. Taken 32nd overall in 2020, the 6’4” and 192 pound blueliner had a huge season at the SHL level last year. In fact, he won the 2022-23 European Hockey Club’s Young Player of the Year award. That came after he produced 26 points in 50 games against men in the SHL.
Wallinder is expected to play in North America this season, after getting a taste with the Red Wings AHL affiliates, the Grand Rapids Griffins. While his puck-moving skills are incredibly high end and his offensive game improves every single passing year, his defensive game is still a question mark. On a smaller ice surface, will his defensive game improve? It’s the single biggest red flag and the reason he fell to the second round despite many first-round grades. But with the season he is coming off of, there aren’t many people out there betting against Wallinder right now.
6.) Sebastian Cossa
The first goaltender on this list, Cossa is an intriguing player to look at. Taken 15th overall in the 2021 draft, he was the first goalie off the board. He was selected before Swedish star goalie, Jesper Wallstedt, which was a head-scratcher at the time. But, Cossa is a massive man at 6’6” and 210 pounds. That size, especially in today’s game, makes any General Manager drool. Add to that size the fact he is athletic and technically sound, and you have the prototype of what GM’s are looking for.
However, since that selection, his stats haven’t returned to what they were in his draft year. Coming into the 2021 draft, Cossa had a .941 save percentage and 1.57 goals against average in 19 games with the Edmonton Oil Kings. He followed that up with a .913 sv% and 2.28 GAA, albeit in a bigger sample of 46 games. But last season proved to be the toughest of them all. Cossa would make the jump to the AHL for three games, where he would post a .783 SV% and 5.57 GAA. His stats in the ECHL were much better (2.56 GAA and .913 SV% in 46 games). However, he is slated to play in the AHL this season. He cannot struggle like he did last season again.
7.) Trey Augustine
With Cossa having a tough start at the AHL level last year, the Red Wings decided to look at bolstering their goalie depth. With that, they took arguably the best goalie prospect in the 2023 class in Trey Augustine. Augustine put up video game numbers, as it was almost laughable to see the graphics before games of his record. Granted, he played on a stacked USNTDP team, but it was crazy nonetheless. With the NTDP, he had a record of 29-1-2, with a .926 SV% and 2.13 GAA. He is slated to play with Michigan State University next season in the NCAA.
Augustine stands at 6’1” and 179 pounds, putting him on the opposite end of the spectrum, in terms of size, from Cossa. However, his reflexes, athletic ability, and poise make him a special goalie. If he can perform at a high level for multiple NCAA seasons, he could bolster his value. The Detroit Red Wings prospect pool got exponentially better by adding Augustine to their crease.
8.) Elmer Soderblom
Elmer Soderblom is a giant. He stands at 6’8” and 238 pounds, making him an absolute beast on the ice. After he was taken in the sixth round (159th overall) in 2019, he has done nothing but prove the other 30 teams (at the time) look silly. In his draft year, he had 17 points in 44 games in the Swedish J20 league. Then, he had 55 points in 36 games at that same level the following year, earning 10 games at the SHL level (no points). The next season, he would play 28 SHL games, recording five points. Then the year after that, he had 33 points in 52 SHL games.
After doing nothing but taking leaps in his development since being drafted, he would make the jump to North America. Starting the year in the NHL, he impressed the hockey world right away. Playing in 21 NHL games, he managed to score eight points (including five goals). He would be sent down to the AHL, but he did fine, scoring eight points in 20 games there. While an injury cut his season short, expectations continue rising for the giant winger.
9.) Red Savage
Red Savage had the best name in the 2019 draft class, and now he may be one of the bigger steals too. Alongside Soderblom, Savage was taken in the 2019 class, but was selected 114th overall. Standing at 5’11” and 181 pounds, Savage was a leader for the USNTDP in his draft year, wearing the captain’s “C” on his jersey. He would wind up playing for Miami (Ohio) in the NCAA for the next two seasons, going on three this upcoming year. Since joining Miami, he has scored 30 points in 67 games, a solid but not jaw-dropping statline. This past year, he had 14 points in 32 games.
Savage’s game is predicated on his two-way abilities, however. So, while his NCAA production may not be what one may have hoped, it’s his efficient style and complete game that still lands him on this list. Savage still projects as a future middle-six winger, but the potential is still there if he can break-out at the NCAA level this upcoming season.
10.) Carter Mazur
Carter Mazur, who was taken 70th overall in the 2021 NHL draft, rounds out the Detroit Red Wings prospect rankings list. The 6’0” and 172 pound winger is coming off back-to-back impressive seasons in the NCAA with the University of Denver. Additionally, he impressed in a short stint at the AHL level last season. In his draft year, he finished below a point per game in the USHL with the Tri-City Storm. Since then, he posted 72 points in 81 NCAA games.
Last year, after finishing with 37 points in 40 NCAA games, he came to the AHL with the Griffins and had six points in six games. What makes Mazur special is his simple style. He plays a north-south game. Mazur is extremely physical and doesn’t get pushed around easily by anyone. However, that style may not translate to NHL production like it has in the AHL and NCAA. But he has a pro-style and is willing and able to engage physically. Mazur could very well make his NHL debut this upcoming season because of that.
HM (Round 4 or Later): Carter Gylander
Gylander is not (yet) a known commodity in the hockey world, but he should be. Taken in the seventh round (191st overall) in the 2019 NHL draft, the 6’5” and 190 pound goaltender has done nothing but impress. First off, Gylander was drafted out of the AJHL where he had a .915 SV% in his draft year followed up with a .924 SV% the very next season. After those two years in the AJHL, he made the jump to the NCAA with Colgate University, where he has spent the last three seasons. In order, he posted a .901, .908, and .914 SV% in those seasons. He kept getting better.
Last season, his best season yet, he had a 19-15-5 record, with that .914 SV% and 2.46 GAA, en route to winning the ECAC championship. Not only did Colgate take home the trophy, but Gylander was named the tournament MVP and was the goalie listed on the All-Tournament Team. Gylander’s clutch performances in the ECAC tournament, on top of the constant improvement year-over-year, make him a very intriguing goalie to watch. While the Detroit Red Wings prospect pool holds both Cossa and Augustine ahead of him, there could be some value in the former seventh round pick moving forward.
In The System
Currently, the Red Wings have notable youngsters in Jonatan Berggren, Lucas Raymond, Joe Veleno, Michael Rasmussen (on Injured Reserve), Moritz Seider and Jared McIsaac currently projected on their NHL roster. Additionally, on top of those guys and the featured top-10 above, the Red Wings possess talent in Alexandre Doucet, Cross Hanas, Eemil Viro, Albert Johansson, and Antti Tuomisto coming up through the ranks.
While the Red Wings have been in a very long rebuild, and fans are growing restless, they have built a strong prospect pool. It’s evident that Steve Yzerman has targeted all aspects of a roster. With two high upside goalies, strong blue liners, and several impressive forwards. The Detroit Red Wings prospect pool is one to be excited to watch grow.
Main Photo: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports
